He motioned for me to follow him down the hallway again. We passed a few more classrooms before I noticed a set of double doors at the end. In all my years at this coven, I’d never been through those doors. No student had. It led to another part of the academy that was strictly for staff and high council members.
Once we reached the restricted area, I grabbed the handle, hoping it would be unlocked. Much to my dismay, the knob didn’t twist. Whoever had left moments ago had locked the door behind them.
Zander scanned the door and the frame before his eyes met mine. “No keys?”
I shook my head. “I’ve never been past these doors before. To my knowledge, no student has.”
He leaned closer to the door, sniffing around it, then pressed his ear to the wood. After a brief period of silence, he eased away. “We’ve searched for Rose and Natasha in every inch of this coven, except whatever is behind this door. I’ve found no trails leading away from this place.”
I didn’t like the grim expression he gave me. “Is there something else you want to say?”
Zander’s eyes shifted past me toward the other end of the hall, as if he was checking to make sure no one was coming. “I’ve picked up on both of your friends’ scents in different areas, but it’s strongest in this section of the building.”
His finger extended toward the double doors. I stared in the same direction, unsure of what to say. The first real clue we had couldn’t give us any answers because it led us to a part of the building we couldn’t access. What was behind these doors, and why were Rose and Natasha’s scents strongest in an area where students weren’t permitted?
Twisting the knob again, I shook the doors inside their frame and focused on the lock. It wouldn’t take a hard spell to open it. Yet the second I spoke the words in a low voice, the doorknob glowed blue.
“Shit. There’s a defense shield around this lock. Magic can’t open it.” I growled my frustration under my breath. “Do you know how to pick a lock?”
Zander’s lips stretched wider as he nodded. I guessed I wasn’t the only one who liked to get into trouble. He pulled a hairpin from a curl behind my ear and contorted it until it was straight. The pin slid into the lock, moving back and forth as he worked to get it open.
The knob jiggled harder when Zander pushed the pin farther inside. Something clicked a second later. When he glanced up at me with a crooked smile, I knew he’d been successful.
As much as I wanted to grab the handle and open the door, fear paralyzed me. If our elders caught us in the restricted area, I’d lose my place in the coven.
Danger vestra.
The voices returned. Danger awaited me. My skin prickled at the new message.
Sumat per haec verba.
Heed these words. Who was infiltrating my mind? The fact someone could do that scared me.
Nec metuunt.
Do not fear us? Who was us?
Maiorum.
Ancestors. My heart slammed against my chest. These voices were that of my people, of witches long past. The magic in my body swirled and pulsed in response, confirming they spoke the truth. Great goddess, this was unbelievable. No wonder Zander hadn’t heard anything. It was a telepathic conversation between witches.
That fact had me second guessing the idea of sneaking into a forbidden part of the academy. If my ancestors were reaching out to me from the other side, their message had to be important. Still, my friends needed me…
Wringing my hands together, I gazed at Zander.
He stood from his crouched position and touched my shoulder. “Are you okay?”
“I’m having second thoughts,” I said. “Something is telling me not to go inside. Part of me wants to listen. The other part wants to do whatever it takes to find Rose and Natasha.”
“It’s up to you, Samara. I’m only here to help you. You’re the one who will be reprimanded if we’re caught. I can’t tell you what to do.”
I bit my lip, debating my choices.
Cogitare preudenter.
Think wisely. My ancestors were correct. I had to make not only the best choice but also the right one.
Without knowing exactly what was on the other side of the door, I ran a chance of getting caught and losing everything I’d worked so hard to gain. I’d be punished for trespassing, put on probation, and who knew what else. One thing was for certain—I wouldn’t be able to search for my friends anymore. I was better off leaving and finding someone else to help me locate Rose and Natasha.
“What the hades is going on?”
Blood drained from my face as I spun toward the voice. When I spotted Draven, all the adrenaline rushing through me spiked. Though I was relieved to see my other boyfriend, I worried what he would say if he found out we’d tried to break in to the high-clearance section of the academy.
“Don’t scare me like that.”
“I’m sorry, Samara,” he apologized before regarding Zander. “I didn’t realize I was interrupting date night. I heard a noise and decided to see who was in here.”
Though Draven and Zander got along better than they had in the past, I still sensed some animosity between them. They weren’t jealous of each other because of my relationship with both of them. It was the whole wolf and mage rivalry that spanned across Zander’s pack mates and Draven’s mage order. Testosterone—plain and simple.
“It’s not date night. Zander was just helping me look for something.”
Draven glanced past us to the door. If he saw the pin sticking out of the lock, he’d know exactly what we were doing. As soon as I glanced at the lock, a wave of relief flooded me. The pin had disappeared. The instant I peeked at Zander, he winked at me and tucked the pin into his jeans. Thankfully, he’d remembered to remove it. He was a lot better at spying than I was.
When I refocused on Draven, he huffed. “Why does it feel like you’re hiding something from me, Samara?”
He was onto me. Even though I could easily play off the situation and get around answering him, I decided not to. Draven was a strong mage and fluent in magic. If I wanted to find answers without getting myself into more trouble, I needed to reach out to the people who wouldn’t betray me. Neither Zander nor Draven would hurt me on purpose. Aside from my guardians, and Rose, they were the only people I trusted.
Before I could answer him, voices and footsteps sounded behind the door. Both Zander and Draven glanced at me, eyes wide with fear. If one of the council members or any of the staff caught us, we’d be questioned, and I had no excuse for being here.
“Follow me,” Draven whispered. We crept down the hall, searching for a place to hide. The first door on our right was locked. Thankfully, the second opened.
We slipped inside the darkened classroom, careful not to make too much noise. Zander and I stayed close to the door, near the hinges. Draven shut it softly, keeping his hand on the knob.
The voices grew louder, the footsteps, closer. I held my breath, listening to a conversation that was meant to be private. One person passing the room sounded like Professor Greenwich, who taught one of the lunar magic classes. She was a favorite of many of the students in the academy and one of the few teachers who never lost her patience with me.
I connected the second voice to Professor Corbin, our astrology teacher. The third I recognized as my least favorite council member. Melynn.
Pressing my ear to the door, I listened carefully.
“One of my students said Professor Xavier was the last person to see Rose. Do you know if that’s true, Melynn?” Professor Corbin asked.
“No one has confirmed that rumor,” Melynn answered. “There are many details about these supposed disappearances that aren’t adding up. Samara Haylan is stirring the proverbial pot, and if she’s not careful, she will find herself in a heap of trouble.”
I huffed at her response, realizing too late that I’d been louder than I should have.
“Did you hear something?” Melynn asked her two companions.
“Yes,” Professor Gr
eenwich replied. “It came from the potions lab.”
My heart dropped. If they opened the door, they would bust us. Melynn would enjoy knowing she was the one who caught me going against the council’s wishes. I would get in so much trouble.
I glanced at Draven and Zander, the reality of what was about to happen showed on their faces. Once again my decisions had cost me, but this time, I’d made Zander and Draven accomplices. Maybe if I went out there alone, I’d prevent them from being seen.
When I went to move toward the door, Draven shook his head and held up his index finger. I wanted to argue with him, but he pulled out his phone and opened the door before I could say a word.
He tapped the screen on his phone like he was sending a text message, then he glanced up in surprise. “Oh, hello.”
“Mr. Bishop,” Melynn addressed Draven. “What are you doing in the laboratory after school hours?”
“I’m looking for my mother. I thought she was meeting Professor Forbes before she left for the night. I must have misunderstood. I just sent a text to see where she is.” He waved the phone in his hand while he blocked the doorway.
Though I was grateful he had distracted Melynn and both professors from entering the classroom, he shouldn’t have taken the risk. This was my mess to clean up.
“Will you be sure to lock up on your way out?” Professor Greenwich asked. I didn’t miss the smile Draven gave her.
“Of course.”
“Enjoy your evening, Mr. Bishop.” Professor Greenwich’s voice carried into the room once more, followed by their retreating footsteps.
“Thanks,” Draven responded as he began to shut the door behind him. Within a matter of seconds, he reopened it and motioned for us to join him in the hall. The close encounter had my stomach in knots.
“Thank you for covering for us, Draven,” Zander said. “We both know the severe repercussions Samara would face if anyone found her here after hours.”
I stepped into the comfort of Draven’s arms. No matter how much I hated it, he’d risked his reputation for me.
“I’ll always protect her.” Draven pulled away and met my gaze. “You know that, right? All I want is for you to be honest with me.”
We were back to his question from earlier before something interrupted us. “You’re right, Draven. I am hiding something. What I’m about to tell you, you can’t repeat to anyone. Promise me.”
“I promise.”
I moved out of his embrace. The concern in his gaze gave me the courage to continue. There was no doubt in my mind he wouldn’t speak a word of what I planned to tell him.
“Long story short, Rose and Natasha are missing. I’ve already spoken with the council, but they were more interested in blaming me for whatever has happened to my friends. I have to find them and prove to the council that this has nothing to do with me.”
“My mother hasn’t said a word to me about this. Then again, I haven’t seen much of her lately. This must be why. What can I do to help?” he asked.
“Do you know of a tracking spell we can use to locate Rose and Natasha?”
Draven tapped his index finger against his lips as he stared past me. A second later, his eyes met mine. “Aside from what you’ve probably already tried, no. I’ll see what I can find in my Tome of Magic.”
It wasn’t the answer I’d hoped for, but it was better than nothing. At least he could provide me with the help I desperately needed. In the meantime, we had to leave before we ran into anyone else. My class would start shortly, and I needed to grab a book from my room, first.
“Thank you, Draven. I appreciate your help.”
His forehead creased. “Do you want me to talk to my mom and see what I can find out from her?”
I shook my head, even though part of me wanted to say yes. I refused to cause problems between him and his mother, Rayna. With her being the high priestess of our coven, I did my best to stay on her good side and not piss her off. We had a hard enough time with her accepting our relationship, as it was.
In truth, I hoped to succeed her as the next high priestess, and possibly the grand high priestess someday. In the meantime, I needed to convince the existing council that changes had to be made. The old ways no longer worked. The world had moved forward, yet the council still embraced the ancient beliefs. Either I would be in charge of all the covens in the witch realm one day, or I would dissolve the council completely. Those were the only two choices I had if I wanted to reconnect the Pararealm with the human one.
5
I entered the fragrant garden at the edge of campus. I only had a few hours before my next class and this was the one place I could go where no one would bother me. I needed time to process everything that had happened over the past few days. Especially after what we learned in the restricted wing last night. Every minute that passed was another minute that something horrible could happen to my friends.
The tingle of magic in the air brushed against my skin as I walked toward the center of the garden. Magic allowed the flowers to grow year-round.
Bypassing the wooden bench, I dropped to the ground and tucked my legs under me. The cold, damp grass seeped through my pants, but I didn’t care. Having direct contact with the earth should have been a comfort to me, but after my night with Zander, not even this could soothe the ache in my soul.
My friends were missing and I had no idea what to do. The council was somehow involved, which meant I had to be even more careful about the things I said and did.
I plucked a red rose off the bush next to me and held it to my nose. The fragrant bloom reminded me of my best friend. A tear slipped down my cheek. Rose and I loved coming to the gardens. It was so peaceful here, and coincidentally, roses were her favorite flower. Only now, in her absence, the flowers had begun to wilt as if they too were mourning her loss.
I shook my head, refusing to believe that she had truly left this world. I would find her no matter what it took.
The tattoo on my wrist pulsed. I didn’t need to turn around to know that Slade stood behind me. Of all my guardians, our bond was special. I could pick out his energy without even trying.
“What did I do now?” I asked. I really didn’t think I could handle another scolding when I was so close to my breaking point. All it would take was one word to cause me to crumble.
He stepped around me and squatted down. Even in this position, he still towered over me. He quirked a brow. “I don’t know. You tell me.”
I swiped the tears from my cheeks and blew out a frustrated breath. “If you’re not here to scold me, then what do you want?”
His expression softened as he rested his hand on my knee. “I came to check on you.”
An unladylike snort slipped out. “If you’re not careful, Slade, I might actually think there is a heart under that stone exterior.”
He leaned in and whispered, “If you accuse me of it in front of the others, I will deny it.”
For the first time in days, I actually laughed. Slade always knew how to put me at ease. They weren’t just my guardians, they were my family. While their overprotectiveness tended to grate on my nerves, I did care deeply for all four of them. I had no siblings of my own, but my guardians were the closest I would have to older brothers.
Slade stood and held his hand out to me. I clasped it, allowing him to pull me to my feet. He held my hand and guided me to the bench. Once I lowered myself to the smooth wooden surface, he sat beside me.
“What is going on in that pretty little head of yours? Whenever you come to this garden alone, you are usually plotting something.”
Sometimes it was scary how well Slade knew me. I couldn’t tell him that I was using old magic to track my friends. I knew my guardians were loyal to me, but their first duty was to protect me, even if it was from myself.
Slade squeezed my hand, his intent gaze searching mine. “What is it, Samara? You know, it’s okay to ask for help. You don’t have to carry all of the burdens of the coven alone.”
I s
tudied Slade for a moment. While I trusted my guardians with my life, I was always careful with what I shared with them. Maybe it was time I changed that. The ancestors hadn’t chosen them as my guardians because of their strength alone. They were meant to be my mentors as well.
I whispered the words for the barrier spell, enclosing us in a soundproof bubble.
Then I said, “Have you ever thought about what it would be like if we could live outside of our world—if we could live among the humans?”
“Is this about Thomas?”
I knew how Slade felt about my relationship with a human. He constantly reminded me how every time I was with Thomas, I put myself at risk.
“Thomas is part of it. I mean, why can’t we all live together? I don’t expect us to integrate overnight, but with time, why couldn’t we?”
Slade hesitated. I could tell he was carefully choosing his words. “You know that my brothers and I have seen what happens when humans are faced with things they don’t understand. Fear is how wars are started.”
I shook my head at him. “Things in the human world have changed. People have evolved. Have you seen the television shows and movies that are popular? Most deal with the supernatural. Why would it be such a stretch for them to find out it’s real? How will we know if we don’t try?”
“Because fantasy is just that. Fantasy. What happens when humans realize that the romanticized characters they see on television are real and deadly?” When I shifted my gaze, he cleared his throat and continued, “You know that breaking the veil will release those who don’t value human lives as others do. Would you want to put Thomas at risk?”
I shuddered at the thought. “No.”
“I know you want what’s best for all supernaturals, not just your coven. But this isn’t a change that can be taken lightly.”
Slade’s argument had merit. Even though I was a witch, I still had to be wary of other supernaturals. Prejudice wasn’t only found in the human realm. We experienced it here, too.
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