“Awesome,” Moira breathed. Her grin slid to Alys.
“And that will be all for this lesson, students,” Professor Grim said.
“Wait. We’re going to release them, right?” I asked, shooting Sparky a reassuring smile. Soon, he’d be back with his friends, playing whack-a-dandybucklion in the eastern pasture whenever the moon rose.
“They’ll remain here in the greenhouse lab for future experiments,” Professor Grim said, rubbing his ashen, skeletal hands together.
Horror filled Patty’s eyes and mine must’ve mirrored hers.
“We can’t keep them in captivity,” I said.
Even though I couldn’t see his face, I could hear the frown in our Professor’s voice. “Such is the way of life, Fleur.”
As if he knew anything about life. All he’d dealt with was death.
“We’re starving them. They need to be free.”
Alys grunted. “They’re plants. I can’t believe you’re advocating for a salad.”
“Let it go?” Moira said to me. “I promise. They don’t mind.”
“You’re not much of an empath if you can’t tell they’re unhappy.” I waved to the table. “Look at them. They’re half-dead already. This isn’t life.”
“They look peaked because they’re hungry. Professor Grim will continue to feed them.” She tilted her head toward the former grim reaper. “Won’t you?”
“Of course, Moira. I only withheld nutrients to ensure they’re parched prior to a class.” He tapped the butt of his sickle on the surface of his desk. “Class dismissed. I’ll see you on Tuesday, when we’ll tackle a new assignment. I’m sure you noted that trana capture and descaling is next on the syllabus.”
“Trana,” Moira sighed. “They love fire as much as me.”
I still hadn’t figured out how pyromania played into her empathy skapti. Wasn’t sure I wanted to know, either.
Patty came around the table and joined me. “Tranas. Ugh. Now we’re going to get scale gook underneath our fingernails.”
“Scale gook?” What in the fae was a trana?
“Don’t forget to purchase your butterfly nets and bring them with you to our next class,” Professor Grim shrieked. He swooped to the door and tugged it open, urging us with a wave of his sickle to exit. “You can purchase them in the hardware store located in the mini-mall. I’ve instructed the proprietor to stock a variety of sizes.”
“We’ll get the biggest ones they’ve got,” Patty said as we walked across the room. “Because I am not touching a trana until I absolutely have to. Yuck. They’re not only gooey. As you yank out their scales, they release a puff of smoke that reeks like baby poop.”
With twenty-seven siblings, Patty would know more about baby poop than me.
I turned to look back at Sparky, who’d perked up a bit since I’d fed him. I’d ignored Professor Grim’s instructions. Bad me. Instead of one cup of water, I’d fed Sparky three. And I’d given him ten drops of nutrients instead of two. His head pointed toward the clear ceiling. The moon had risen, and he hummed and swayed, his branch arms extended as he drank in the light.
This wasn’t anywhere near over.
At Professor Grim’s insistence, we shuffled out of the greenhouse, into the inky night.
Since Jenny and I were kidnapped mid-flit and attacked by the nightlace clusters, security had been tight at the Academy. The Council had sent a herd of Seekers—all centaurs—and armed them with Searing Shears. They patrolled the grounds, hunting down anything that moved. If a nightlace cluster even thought about slinking past the perimeter, it would be snipped to pieces.
“Want to get ice cream?” Patty asked, pausing on the stone path. “Bryce had to run to the mall, so I’ve got time.”
I leaned close to her. “After.”
Turning to me, her face screwed up. “After what? Why don’t I like the sound of this?”
Snagging her sleeve, I dragged her around the side of the greenhouse. Hidden, I peeked out as the other students left and Professor Grim shut off the interior lights. He locked the door and pocked the key.
Patty yanked on my Academy jacket hem. “What are we—”
I placed my hand over her mouth. “Shhh.”
Bug-eyed, she nodded.
Once our professor had floated down the path, heading for the main entrance of the Academy, I crept out of the shadows and scooted toward the greenhouse door.
“Not liking this idea already.” Patty’s steps pattered behind me.
“We can’t leave them here. You heard Professor Grim. He’s going to keep them locked up forever. And experiment on them.”
“I agree it’s not the best life for a bucklion, but what can we do? He locked the door.”
Tria was going to kill me, but…
I tilted my head. “You up for some dandybucklion rescue?”
Chapter 27
“As long as it means we’re doing something for the dandybucklions, I’m in,” Patty said. “What’s the plan?”
“Sneak in, grab the plants, and return them to the eastern pasture.”
“Theft.”
“Is it truly stealing when they don’t belong to Professor Grim? We’re the ones who caught them.” Two plants, that is. “Never would’ve done if I thought they’d be locked up in the greenhouse lab for the rest of their lives.”
“Valid points. Let’s do it.”
We stooped down. I pulled power to create my finger glow light to see what I was doing.
“Whoa. Cool trick!” Patty shouted but then covered her mouth. “Oh. Sorry. Centaurs.”
“Yeah,” I hissed. “Don’t want them catching us, because I have a feeling it’ll be Searing Shears first, questions after.”
She shuddered.
I peered at the lock, wondering how the fae I’d pry it open, then wiggled my knife tip into the narrow slot.
As I shifted my blade, hoping the door would magically unlock, a mindspeak ping chimed in my mind. Not now! My hands stilled, and I internally groaned, because I recognized that signature and for damn sure didn’t want to answer.
My sadness had decided irritation was a lot more fun.
Another ping.
Impatient, wasn’t he? Sure, go for days without responding to my pings and then double-ping me when I don’t pick up the second he finally decides to call.
A third ping.
Grumbling, I answered. This isn’t a good time.
Fleur! Don’t hang up.
Wasn’t thinking of it. Yet. What do you want, Donovan?
You sound good. Relief poured through his voice. Great, actually.
Did you ping me just to listen to my mindspeak voice?
Yes and no.
There he went again. Which is it? Yes or no?
Both.
Silence stretched between us.
Is that all you wanted to say? I poked harder at the lock with my blade. I really need to—
Can you meet me on the roof? Please?
Been there, done that already. It’s cold up there when you’re alone. I’d done my best to turn my heart into stone.
I can explain, he burst out.
My chest cramped, making it hard to breathe. I wanted to say yes, but after days with nothing, my pride stung.
Fleur? You still there?
It’s not a good time.
Just give me a chance?
Did I dare let him back in? He’d hurt me. I can’t right now, but…
He waited, and I knew I could say we were finished and he’d accept my answer. But I did want to hear whatever excuse he’d come up with, even if seeing him gave me more heartache.
What if he said he’d chosen and it wasn’t me?
Tomorrow? I said.
Has to be tonight.
I released a low growl.
“What’s taking so long?” Patty whispered. “Want me to try?” She reached for the knife, but I held up my other hand and tapped my temple. “Oh. You’re mindspeaking. Who with? If it’s D, he better be gro
veling. Tell him that. Totally groveling.”
For sure.
It can’t be right now, I mindspoke to Donovan.
I understand. The words came through stoic. Accepting. Even resigned. Was he giving up already? What kind of relationship did we have if he didn’t fight for us?
And what kind of relationship did we have if I wouldn’t fight for us?
He’d hurt me. It wasn’t easy setting that aside.
Okay, I huffed out. Give me an hour, and I’ll be there.
I’ll wait.
We ended the conversation.
“So, um,” Patty said, her eyes widening as she gazed past my shoulder. “Can you go quicker? I…hear something.”
“Nightlace?” I hissed. Pulling elemental magic, I thought, open!, but nothing happened. Damn problematic elemental magic.
“No. Not something.” She frowned. “Footsteps. Someone’s coming.”
My heart bolted, galloping in my chest. Faster! Wiggling the tip of my blade in the lock, I jiggled the handle, twisting it back and forth. “I’m trying. I’ve never done anything like this before.”
“What’s up?” a voice said cheerfully behind us.
I tumbled back onto my butt, the knife slipping from my hand, and stared up at Bryce. My breath wheezed out and my heart decided it didn’t need to plunge through my ribcage. Yet.
Bryce rocked back on his heels with his hands tucked into his jeans’ back pockets. He glanced around, as if we were out enjoying the night air, not trying to pick a lock in front of him. “Why we hanging out at the greenhouse? Class ended…oh, fifteen minutes or so ago.”
“Fleur’s breaking in,” Patty said casually. “She’s gonna steal—”
“Patty!”
She released a happy smile. “Well, you are. We are.” Tipping her head back, she blinked up at Bryce. “Great timing, by the way.”
“It’s not great timing,” I said. “He’s turning our heist into a party.”
Patty pivoted on her heels, toward Bryce. “We’re rescuing the dandybucklions and returning them to their natural habitat.”
I cringed. “You don’t need to be a part of this, Bryce. Might be better if you’re not.” He was a decent guy and Patty really liked him. But after what happened during Orientation, when a slake attacked a student and teacher, Bryce needed to be careful. The last thing he needed was to draw the Headmistress’s attention. I couldn’t do that to him.
“Sounds fun. I’m in.” He dropped down onto the ground beside Patty. His arm slid around her waist, and he gave her a quick kiss. “Didn’t like the way we were treating the little fellas as it is.”
Thumps a short distance away sent me spinning back to the lock, where I renewed my efforts. The longer we remained on this side of the door, the better our odds were of being caught.
“So,” Bryce said as the lock, thankfully, clicked. “You think the dandybucklions will cooperate?”
“I think so,” Patty said, scooting to her feet and offering him a hand to pull him up to stand. “They’re so freakin’ cute!”
Rising, I glanced around but didn’t see anyone rushing our way.
The door creaked open at my touch, and we shuffled inside.
“Aw,” Patty sighed. “They’re singing.”
I lifted my finger and created light.
“Definitely need to teach me that trick,” Patty said. “The second we flit back to our Coven room.”
“Seconded,” Bryce said.
The dandybucklions still sat in their buckets on the table, but their heads were tipped back and their perky faces drank in moonlight. They swayed and hummed as we inched closer.
“Where we taking the little guys?” Bryce asked.
“To the eastern pasture.”
“Best choice, but…in buckets?” His gaze scanned the room. “Seeing ten of them here. That’s going to be…problematic. No way will we get past the centaurs lugging them around.”
“No choice,” I said. “We’ve got to try. Maybe we can combine them into three buckets? Then we can make one trip.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Patty said.
Footsteps on the path made me freeze. I blinked out my light, leaving us isolated in darkness. Only the gentle whoosh of the plants swaying and a soft buzzing of their song broke the silence.
When the plodding sounds grew louder, we dropped to our knees on the floor. A quick glance over my shoulder made me want to groan. We’d left the door partway open.
While my belly cramped, the gap widened.
My skin crawled. I turned a panicked gaze to my friends.
Bryce nudged his head to the right, and we scampered away from the door, looking for a place to hide. Fleeing around the Professor’s desk, we huddled together by the far wall. I held my breath, willing my heart to stop thumping like a drum on parade.
Clump, clump, clump. Paces so light on the greenhouse tile floor, I barely heard them. The dull sounds encircled the table then paused in front of the desk.
Muted breathing revealed someone watched and listened.
My limbs tingled, telling me to bolt from the greenhouse and keep running until I reached my Coven room, but I clenched my muscles and held myself still.
Additional thumps suggested someone else had entered the greenhouse. The plodding of hooves paused in the middle of the room.
“Find anything?” someone whispered.
“Nah,” the other bit out. “Nothing but a bunch of plants. Teacher must’ve left the door open. There was a class here a short time ago.”
“Sure. Leave the door unlocked. No, why not leave it wide open, eh?” The other guy snorted. “Don’t they realize we have to investigate things like this?”
“Always, dude. Always.”
The centaur standing in front of the desk plodded toward the door, his steps heavy on the tiles. “Let’s lock ’er up and get back to the perimeter.”
I carefully moved to the end of the desk and peered around the side as one of the centaurs exited through the doorway, followed by the other. Slumping onto my butt, I swiped my damp hair off my forehead. Phew. That had been close.
Behind me, Patty sneezed.
My mouth flashed dry. Crap.
Growling, the second centaur spun and his intent gaze sliced through the room, seeking…
The second centaur crowded back inside and they nodded to each other, then split and stalked around the outside of the room.
We were so cooked.
Caught, we’d be hauled to the Headmistress’s office and who knew what punishment she’d dream up. Was breaking and entering a classroom enough to send us to Demon’s Gate Penitentiary? I could feel chains dragging on my wrists already.
Sparky’s lava-pool eyes slid my way before centering on the centaur moving in our direction. He lifted his stick arms and, tipping his head back, did a good imitation of Patty’s sneeze.
The centaurs halted mid-trot, their attention focused on Sparky, who started humming and swaying again, his head tilted toward the ceiling.
“I tell you,” the centaur closest to us said. “Some of these Academy creatures are downright creepy.”
Like a Council Seeker in the form of a centaur wasn’t creepy in his own right?
He waved. “Look at those things. What the fae do you think they’re doing?”
“You see the fangs on ’em?” the other guy said, poking at Sparky’s teeth with the tip of his Searing Shears.
“Doubt we’ll find anything here,” the first one said.
“If I was a kid—” He nudged his chin at the dandybucklions swaying together, their voices brimming with harmony. “These things would downright give me nightmares. In fact, if I was a kid, I’d get my butt out of the greenhouse and go to my Coven room pronto.”
How did he know we were here?
That’s right. Council Seekers. Just like Roark, they could detect a fly hiding on a black wall.
“Kids,” the other centaur said as he trotted through the door, his shoulders at ease. �
�You’d think they’d know we can smell ’em.”
The door shut but the lock didn’t engage.
“That was freakin’ close!” Patty said. “I almost peed my pants for a second there.”
“No kidding,” Bryce said with a nervous laugh. “Not my idea of a fun date, Patty. You gotta do better next time.”
She grinned. “I do like to liven up an evening, don’t I?”
They shared a quick kiss I studiously avoided watching.
I didn’t feel envious. Or so I told myself, despite the disappointment churning through me. Donovan and I…We were going to talk. That was enough for now.
We stood, and I had no problem acknowledging that my legs quivered like rubber bands for a variety of reasons.
“Should we listen to their suggestion and go?” Patty gnawed on her thumbnail. “It sounded like they won’t come after us if we leave. Like…if we head out now, they’ll let us off. This once only.”
“We’ve still got to rescue the dandybucklions,” I said.
She nodded pertly. “Kinda hoped you’d say that.”
“So, Sparky,” I said, crossing the room to stand in front of him. “Really appreciate the save.”
His lips peeled back, revealing his fangs. Took that as a smile.
“We’re going to get you and your friends out of here,” I said.
His head dipped.
“Let’s flit them,” Bryce said.
Easy. Why hadn’t I thought of that?
Sparky shook his head.
“We’ll hold tight,” I said. “You can flit along with us.”
Sparky growled and waved his stick arms in the air.
“Some creatures don’t…flit well,” Bryce said with a frown. “The magic has a hard time putting some back together.”
A spine-chilling statement.
“Looks like we have no choice, then,” I said. “We’ll carry them. It isn’t far. Just partway around the main Academy building.”
“Plus, a short trip across an open field,” Patty added, ripping into her thumbnail.
“Can we time it to miss the centaur patrols?” Bryce asked. “Heard they’re like clockwork.”
I shrugged. “Guess we could try.” If we could figure out their pattern. If we got caught, well, I’d deal with it. Say it was my idea. That Patty and Bryce had been…making out. I’d stumbled over them while I was carrying buckets. They weren’t involved at all.
Crystal Wing Academy- The Complete Series Page 42
