by LJ Swallow
“Are you going to wear the necklace?” asks Andrei. “When Jamie wore the Blackwood...” He trails off as Alaric’s face sours. “The pendant might connect you with the Winterfall energy.”
I wanted to wear the pendant straightaway, but sensed Jamie's worry. “Or instil me with the magical ability to read this,” I say flatly.
“Maeve,” Tobias says gently. “Don’t give up. You opened a Hermes Box today. That's big.”
“I’m not giving up.”
Yes, you are.
I glare. Disheartened.
“As soon as we’re back at the academy, we can start on the translation. You have me, remember?” says Jamie. “Magically and academically.”
"Try to read the pendant now, Jamie. Maeve give him the stone."
I blink at Alaric's abruptness. The pendant nestles in my jeans pocket and is warm when I pull it out. I'm disappointed that I didn't feel an instant connection, but I definitely don't want to give this away. Biting my lip, I hold the pendant over Jamie's outstretched palm and watch the black leather coil as I drop.
Jamie curls his hand into a fist. I'm apprehensive—what if Jamie sees something negative?
“Don’t all stare at me,” he mutters.
“Performance anxiety,” says Andrei with a chuckle.
“Don’t piss him off, Andrei,” says Tobias with a sigh. “You’ll interfere with his magic.”
Jamie says nothing, eyes focused on the stone. He glances at me and I reach across the table to take his other hand. I won’t see the images he does, but my Winterfall energy could help.
The room falls quiet as Jamie closes his eyes and his lids tighten the harder he concentrates. I’m glad I took his hand because I sense my spell energy trickle towards him and help. I long to reach into Jamie’s mind and share his visions of the past, but what if I interfere and corrupt the memories?
I drift away into my own daydreams as my head clouds from the magic, until I lose awareness of those around, apart from Jamie’s breathing and hand in mine. A familiar tingling begins across my scalp and by the time the sensation reaches my cheeks, it’s too late to stop the vision.
I’m somewhere familiar yet unfamiliar. The strong scent of lavender is clearer than the blurred surroundings and voices, which I recognise as Ash’s and Jamie’s. Fear for them draws me into the vision I’d aimed to resist.
I focus on the foggy view and the scene clears as if I’m short-sighted and put spectacles on.
I’m at the Winterfall house, but not the one I visited today. There’s no scaffolding and newly planted gardens have replaced the weeds. Unbroken windows shine and instead of the apprehension from yesterday, I’m filled with contentment. Ash and Jamie stand close to a blue sedan car I don’t recognise.
Jamie unlocks the door to climb in. “Maeve. Tell Andrei to get his arse into gear,” he calls to me.
Oh, crap. Not another immersive vision.
“Maeve?”
Stiffly, I walk towards the house and I’m suddenly aware of the bright blue sky and heat from the sun on my face.
Andrei’s figure appears in the new doorway, between open double doors, with the dark entrance hallway behind him.
No.
Not another death.
“Andrei!” I yell as he moves forward. “What are you doing?”
I can’t see his eyes. Has he taken Lix? Who cast a spell on him? Omigod did Gabriella succeed in influencing him?
As Andrei takes a step through the door towards me, my shout echoes around and bounces from the house’s walls. “Stop Andrei! You’ll die!”
My vision clouds as blood rushes from my head and I grip onto consciousness.
No. No. No.
“Maeve?” Jamie places his other hand over the one he holds, and I snap my eyes open. Everybody watches me warily and I swallow down the nausea that accompanies my visions.
“Sorry,” I mumble. “I zoned out there.”
Matt slides his eyes to Andrei, as does Tobias. Andrei stares at me stony-faced for a moment before turning to leave the room.
As the door clicks closed, I pull my perspiring palm from Jamie’s. “You all heard my words, didn’t you?”
The seconds tick by before Tobias speaks, “Yes. Perhaps talk to Andrei about what you saw.”
I find Andrei in the street, sitting on the low wall outside the house, and sit beside him—the vampire and the witch sitting in a cul-de-sac amongst the expensive cars. How on earth does Alaric blend in amongst these people? This takes hiding in plain sight to an extreme.
Unsure what to say, I link my arm through Andrei’s.
He rubs the side of his face. “Will you see all of us die in your visions?”
“Andrei...”
He turns his face to me, deliberately shaking his fringe in front of his eyes. “Your words were very clear, Maeve.”
“I didn’t see you die. That’s the truth.”
“Almost die?" he asks flatly. "Do you think you can stop what happened, the way you stopped Jamie’s death?”
“Andrei. I had a vision, or a daydream that I think was a vision.” I hug his arm tighter. “I was at the restored Winterfall house, but with Jamie, Ash, and you."
"And? Who attacked us?"
"I was with the three of you in the daytime, Andrei.”
He tips his head, revealing his eyes, which shine with a mixture of curiosity and fear. “I was outside?”
“No. Inside. You walked through the door from the house and my vision broke.”
“The vision broke just before my death, like Jamie,” he says and stares at his boots.
“Or maybe this is wish fulfilment.”
He jerks his head up. “What? That I’ll die?”
“No. I was with the three of you, and we were heading out somewhere. There wasn’t any stress or danger, and you were about to join us too, even though it was daytime. That's something I wish could happen.”
He studies me carefully. “Was Tobias with us?”
“No.”
“Then that wasn’t a daydream. If you wanted us all together and happy, he’d be there too, wouldn’t he?”
My chest tightens at his words and I look away. A vision of the future. Why wasn’t Tobias with us?
I’d tried to explain this vision with a new twist on things, but the truth about Tobias batters my theory I had a daydream.
“Matt and Amelia weren’t there either,” I suggest.
“Irrelevant. They live their own lives with Alaric's army.”
I swallow. “Maybe you don’t die. Maybe this really is you walking in the daytime.”
Andrei makes a derisive noise. “Sure, and maybe my mother will join the Confederacy. No Tobias means you didn’t break the Winterfall curse, so I can’t imagine how you'd cast a spell so I can sunbathe too.”
I unlink my arm and stand to face him. “I didn’t need to tell you what I saw, and I’m sorry that you can't accept my suggestion I daydreamed.”
Andrei stands and lifts my face, thumb and forefinger beneath my chin. “Your visions are never positive, Maeve. You change the future sometimes, so I can hold onto that. You saved Jamie; you can save me.”
“Please don’t carry this with you, Andrei.” I place my lips on his, but he isn’t interested in more than a brief touch.
“At least I was there,” he says quietly. “Tobias wasn’t.”
As he takes my hand to lead me back into the house, my heart hammers faster. Is Andrei right? If this event is wishful thinking, Tobias would have been with us. But if I did just witness my future, the vision tells me two things: the attack on the academy takes place before the summer.
And that I don’t break the curse.
Chapter Forty-Two
ASH
Am I jealous?
The ridiculous thought dogs me each time I think about Clive and his gang. I've a few months to go until I'm of age, but even if tempted, I can't risk shifting for a bigger reason than a wolf or bear—nobody could accuse a dragon of escapi
ng from a zoo.
Is my new frustration because I'm edging closer to legal shifting age? I’m avoiding things that anger me as much as possible to control that growing side, but each time something happens to Maeve, I'm on the verge of losing my shit.
If I'd reached Nikolai Blackwood before Tobias dealt with him, I would've ripped the bastard apart.
Now I’m dealing with veiled threats against her from Clive and Remi—they'll know how much this riles me. Are they encouraging the anger? Their comments triggered a rage I haven't felt since the day Vince described the perverse things he’d do to Maeve, which shook through me for hours.
I'll bring shame on my family if I take the risk and become a mid, and they have enough to deal with thanks to the ‘Vince’ who appeared and disappeared again. They’ll discover the truth eventually, and my heart breaks already at how this will destroy them.
Keeping away from the shifter gang is the most sensible option, but I can't. I originally suspected they spent their missing hours at the farmhouse Vince took us to on the moors, but Tobias checked the place over a couple of times. Clive and his mates weren’t there, and he found no signs that people had visited recently. The Confederacy knows Vince based himself at the farmhouse; the gang would be dumb to go back.
I've watched the group leave and return to the academy, noting the times, and calculated how far they could get based on what I know about wolf and bear shifter speeds. I've heard other animal calls around the same time—wherever the kids go, others join them.
But where?
If they shifted and ran in a straight line without stopping, they could reach the city outskirts, but running into a populated area would risk discovery. Maybe they embrace their freedom and run around the isolated areas on the moors before returning.
Hunting.
Whatever they do, their bodies continue to change. Clive and Remi aren't mids—yet—but they’re bulkier and their aggression is growing, not only to other students but in class too. Clive was asked to leave Potions last week and landed himself at Theodora's office for the abuse he gave Professor Turlington over a simple request.
Theodora can't turn a blind eye much longer; their behaviour goes beyond that from shifters who pushed boundaries in the past.
I hold onto the belief that whoever Vince works for wants me triggered and I also believe this is still on their agenda—either to take and manipulate me or ensure I'm caught and removed from their list of problems.
Taken from Maeve's protective circle.
The guys’ trips off campus become more frequent and my suspicion grows. I tried to follow once but lost them within an hour. Maeve naturally doesn't want me to follow. She voices several scenarios that scare us: what if I'm led to Vince? Or worse, the Blackwoods? Our last run-in with the family cornered the whole of our group in one place and prompted a rescue mission for Maeve; what if the Blackwoods and Dominion want something similar, but me this time?
I can't live with 'what ifs'. Unless Maeve envisions something, we can't focus on personal predictions. As a group, we deal with changing what she sees.
My head fucking hurts when I try to make sense of everything. Vince and the Blackwoods are connected to the Dominion somehow and want Maeve, but why would they help when shifters are increasingly at odds with witches? And how is this linked to the academy and whatever the fuck is underneath? We all know there's a connection, but the two motivations are a world apart: shifters want to split from the world and Dominion want to take over.
I backed away from the witch business to focus on the Gilgamesh kids. I understand how important Maeve’s magic and the new finds are, and that everybody should focus on this and the tunnels, but what about Vince?
Even if Vince isn’t leading whatever the hell Clive and his mates do, somebody is influencing them.
I've warned the gang of morons that they face a stint in Ravenhold if they don’t stop. The percentage of shifters in there compared to the other races scares me too and is another reason I avoid anger and a possible shift. One delusional part of me wants to never shift, because I want to remain the Ash I am; the one Maeve knows and loves. But, like Andrei, I won’t be the same in the future. We'll both change physically, but in what other ways?
Our group for the academy challenge fell apart straight after the vampire attack. Kimberly and Yvette remain in the infirmary, so we’re already down two members. Maeve and Andrei are away, which leaves four of us—if everybody bothered to turn up.
Katherine refuses to join in, now that another team is ahead of us. Sergei now won’t work in a group with Andrei because the pair had an argument about the attack on Kimberly. This leaves me and Seamus. After all the effort we put into the early stages, I’m pissed off we’ve fallen behind by not perfecting the potion.
Seamus hasn’t appeared. I bet he’s with Clive and Remi tonight.
I hang outside the Potions classroom for half an hour and text Maeve while I wait. They’ve arrived at Alaric’s and she’s safe, so I tuck my phone away to focus on my task. Nobody shows and I grumpily head back to Gilgamesh.
I use the group challenge as an excuse to collar Seamus when I spot him shrugging on his jacket and heading along the hall towards the exit. He scowls when I step in front of him.
“Where’re you going, mate? I need you to help with the challenge,” I ask.
“Out.” He tries to pass, and I step in the way.
“C’mon. We’re already down a few members. Don’t you want to win?”
“I couldn’t give a shit about academy games,” he says with a sneer. “Waste of time.”
“So, where’re you going?” I repeat.
Seamus scratches his nose and studies me. “Why ask? You know. Off campus with some mates.”
“Pub for a few beers?” I ask with feigned ignorance.
“Sure, mate.” He shakes his head. “Clive told me you saw him.”
“Yeah, the guys aren’t subtle.” I rest my shoulder against the wall. “How many are headed out tonight?”
His brow tugs down. “Why? Are you looking for an invite? I didn’t think this is your scene.”
I can’t tell if he’s genuine or mocking me, so I shrug.
“Clive thinks you’ll join eventually,” he says with a smirk and pokes me in the chest. “Until the witch arrived, you were Gilgamesh golden boy. You hate that he’s more popular than you now. Once you realise she’s using you, you’ll shove Clive out the way.”
“Since when were you an expert on my life?” I retort.
“Just saying. I’ve known you a few years, Ash. You’re not the same guy.”
“And you won’t be either, if you’re not careful.”
He claps me on the back, and I tense at his second invasion of my personal space. “Mate. Calm down. We’re not hurting anybody, just having some fun. You’re so bloody serious.”
Not hurting anybody? Not yet.
Gail approaches Seamus and her eyes widen when she sees me with him. This slim girl with her sleek looks is popular around Gilgamesh—too popular with Clive at one point because she and Katherine had a spat. Now neither girl pay Clive much attention, which amuses me.
“Ash,” she says and smiles. Her mother is French and the hint of an accent mesmerises some of the guys. If I’m honest, I considered making a play for her in the past, but only because everybody wanted her. God, I’m glad Maeve never met that shallow guy. “I haven’t seen you around for a while. Busy with the challenge?” she asks.
Her green eyes catch me off guard because they’re a different shade than I remember. They’ve always been a striking emerald green, but today they almost glow. I glance between her and Seamus. I’m no longer taller than the pair—last week, I was.
How many students are shifting?
“Catch you later, Gail,” says Seamus, and I clench my jaw as he uses her as an excuse to walk away.
“No-go with the challenge. Half my team are missing,” I say to Gail, watching Seamus head to the exit, then look back to h
er. “How’s your group?”
She shrugs. “Are you still dating the witch?”
I blink at her direct question. “Yeah.”
“Shame.” Her full lips pout and then she chuckles. “Is she around tonight?”
“Why?” I ask sharply.
“No need to be defensive, Ash. Are you headed out with us instead?” She gestures after Seamus.
Each time I see Seamus leave with Clive and Remi, I spot more people with them. I’m not surprised by some of the students who join—most of the Walcott rugby team are with them—but never realised that girls accompany the group. Okay, maybe sexist of me, but I'd presumed this was a 'boys' activity.
“Did Seamus tell you today’s meet-up place?”
“Uh. Nah. Do you know?”
With a small shake of her head, Gail pulls out her phone and swipes the screen a few times. “Usually the location is posted early evening. I hope they haven’t forgotten to tell me.”
Posted? I crane my head to look at her screen and she clicks off whichever social media app she’s using before I can see. “Can you let me know if you find where to go?” I ask. “On my own tonight. Bored.”
She tips her head. “This isn’t a normal party, you know that, right?”
“But there’ll be beers?” I ask. “I’m all in if a few drinks are involved.”
Slipping her phone into a back pocket, Gail steps closer and lowers her voice. “Clive usually has all the details. Ask him.”
I give a tight smile. “Sure.”
She frowns. “You guys need to fix whatever happened between you and if you want your place back, take it.”
“My place?”
She moistens her lips. “Ash. You’re better than him in every way. Gilgamesh looked at you to lead us. I don’t agree with him excluding you, if that’s what’s happening here.”
“Yeah. I missed out on the last few parties.” I give her the flirtatious smile she’s looking for. “Can you hook me up with an invite for the next?”
“Shifters only, Ash.” She bites her lip. “Do you know why?”
I’m right. Clive and his mates aren’t the only ones shifting and this is organised. Is Clive the leader or the puppet used as ‘face of’ the movement?
