by LJ Swallow
I gently pull her hand away. “Why are you worried?”
She frowns. “Because we went to the Winterfall estate and you were distressed.”
“I wasn’t,” I lie and turn away from her.
The sensation from Maeve's touch remains on my face even though she’s no longer close to me, and the gnawing desire for her bites harder. No. The more I spend time with Maeve, the more I could become desensitised.
I snort to myself. Sure, I can.
“What’s funny?” she asks.
“Nothing.”
Maeve rubs her nose and instead of sitting on the sofa, she sits on the floor. She places the book in front of her, then reaches into her blazer pocket before pulling out a small leather pouch.
Silently, she unfastens the pouch, then tips the stones on top of the book.
Rune stones.
“Did you find something you wanted to share?” I ask, wishing to hell she hadn’t brought this magic into the room.
“Jamie deciphered the runes.”
I perch on the edge of the sofa, close to where she sits. "All of them?"
Maeve nods and points at each rune. Her face wrinkles in concentration as she touches them, and I can't help smiling at her mouthing the words as she hesitates between each one.
"You need to memorise the shapes better," I say.
Maeve's lips purse. "I will."
As Maeve describes to me what each runic symbol means, I attempt to memorise them too. "And the one on your pendant?" I ask and gesture at her.
She pulls the pendant from inside her shirt. "Gateway."
I tense. "What?"
She pushes at one of the stones. "I wanted to use the runes to trigger a vision, so
I—."
"What?" I repeat. "Alone?"
"Don't look worried. Jamie was with me and persuaded me not to."
"Good," I say softly. "From now on, I don't want you performing any magic without my presence."
I insist I'm involved partly due to worry for Maeve's safety, but mostly because the ache I carry for her grows worse every day. Is this because we're headed to the end? That I'm binding closer to her and nearing the time I’ll fulfil my cursed role?
She nods. "Alright, but I don't think you need to protect me from Winterfall magic."
And that's my other concern. Will the magic repel or harm me?
“Perhaps, but you must listen to me and do what I ask.”
She barks a laugh. "Yes, Professor Whitlock."
"Don't call me that," I snap back and Maeve's face falls. "Sorry. Just don't. I hate that name coming from your mouth."
Blowing air into her cheeks, Maeve looks away from me.
“While you’re here, I’d like to speak to you about the attack on Kimberly.”
She looks back. “Including my attack on Yvette.”
“That did concern me, yes, but I’m referring to the issue with the hemia students’ strange behaviour.” I pause, aware my next question could cause issues. "Is Andrei’s behaviour normal?"
She chuckles. "When is his behaviour ever normal?"
"I mean, has Andrei shown any signs he wants blood from you?" Maeve turns her head sharply to one side and my stomach clenches. Quickly, I sweep her mind for images—and the parts of her skin I can see for marks.
She's pink and avoids my eyes, but I don't see or sense any signs he's lapsed. "Tobias. I'm a witch dating a vampire. The blood issue hangs over us all the time, especially now I'm aware of the sexual element."
The what? No. I stand and close the space between us then look down at Maeve. "Theodora is prepared to dismiss what happened to Kimberly, but I'm not. Students continue to behave oddly, and I'm convinced there'll be another attack. I've seen hemia loitering outside Walcott at night again."
"Don't buy into the prejudice, Tobias."
I stare at her in disbelief then laugh. "Do you remember the night Andrei came to me and you discovered what he is? How disgusted and prejudiced you were?"
"People change," she says through gritted teeth.
"Yes. And hemia are changing. I'll speak to Theodora about the situation again and hope she listens." Maeve's annoyed look doesn't leave. "Don't you ever allow Andrei to taste your blood, Maeve, especially not now."
"I don't need your permission for what I choose to do with Andrei." Maeve stands too and her furious eyes meet mine. "You don't tell me what to do."
I lower my voice. "I'm here to protect you. I didn't realise this included protecting you from your own stupidity "
A blanketing silence falls for a moment and Maeve's cheeks redden. "Don't talk to me like I'm a child," she says, her voice shaking with anger.
"I'm trying to keep you safe," I retort.
Maeve's heated skin intensifies her fragrance, and I step back before the friction sparks something more than anger.
"And who will protect me from you, Tobias?"
I falter. “You don’t need protecting from me, Maeve.”
“Really? You say I do, all the bloody time.”
Her truth hurts and achieves her aim—Maeve silences me.
But I've seen how the hemia behave. Watched Sergei move from practically campaigning for total abstinence to denying he attacked a witch. Again, my attempt to communicate my concerns to Theodora, including my certainty Sergei attacked Kimberly, failed. I’d speak to Sofia, but I don’t trust her.
Why can't Maeve see sense either?
"Are you jealous?" she whispers.
"Of Andrei and your relationship? No."
She tiptoes so she's closer to my face. "Liar."
I suck in a breath. "Stand back."
"Tell the truth and I will."
I swear quietly. Why did I bring the conversation in this direction? "I struggle when I see Andrei with you, yes, but because he makes you happy and I can’t. Of course, I wish things were different and I could have the same type of relationship with you." I fight against reaching out and touching her. "But my words are worry for your safety, not jealousy. You forget I once cleaned up Andrei’s mess."
She drops from her tiptoes but continues to hold my gaze. The anger in her eyes is replaced by hurt. "Why do you only tell me how you feel when I push you?"
I moisten my lips. "Because I can deny the truth if I don't say the words."
Her expression softens and the sharp energy between us that triggered our argument switches to something different as Maeve's warmth replaces the cold.
I catch an image in her mind. "I won't kiss you again, Maeve," I whisper. "Step back."
"Why?" Her small hand touches my face and I jerk away from the instant buzz.
Because the Winterfall memories haunt me. Because I'm terrified of what woke inside me that night at the Blackwoods.
Summoning up the strength to break away from Maeve's winding magic, I peel her fingers off my skin and move back instead. "What time should we all meet tonight?"
Maeve's jaw clenches at my sudden subject change, the very thing that heightens her frustration with me. Turning away, she kneels and reaches out for the pouch. Maeve snatches the runes and shoves them back inside. "You know what I think?" When I don't answer, she turns her head, hair spilling across her face. "I think you're scared. You're worried that you'll die."
I concentrate on a neutral expression and blocking my mind from hers. I push against the killing need to take hold of Maeve and kiss her again; to fall further towards the hell waiting for me.
Doesn't she understand that the curse has more than one possible outcome?
Maeve still doesn't understand that the monster living inside me wants to, and could, kill her.
Chapter Forty-Five
MAEVE
I'm keen to catch up with the others as soon as possible, but there're three hours before sundown, and Andrei becomes grumpier that he misses daytime meet-ups. I agreed the situation is unfair on him and from now on—unless an emergency—no more meetings without him.
We finally meet an hour after sundown.
/> Ash’s news about the shifter parties and Vince fills us all with silent horror.
Tobias abruptly stands and walks to the cottage window, leaving us sitting on the sofa and chairs. The Winterfall book and runes lie on the table between us, but suddenly they feel less important. “Vince’s plans continue,” he says, voice strained. “He’s actively planning something.”
Ash drags both hands down his face. “We need to know how many are involved and if anything is planned. I have to go to that party.”
I clench my teeth to stop shouting out ‘no’, because Ash made his decision already.
“Not alone,” says Tobias and turns. “I’ll go with you. Only me.”
“But last time—” I begin.
“If Vince is behind this, he’ll expect Ash. I’m not giving him all of us on a plate again. I’ll deal with the situation,” says Tobias.
“Deal with? You don’t know how many or who’ll be there!” I retort.
“We know Tobias can deal with large groups,” says Andrei softly, then looks to Tobias. “Sorry, but it’s true.”
A muscle ticks in Tobias’s jaw but he doesn’t reply.
“He can wait nearby and watch,” says Ash.
“I don’t know…” I trail off. “You’re taking a big risk, Ash.”
His large hand closes around my knee. “I’d rather look for them before they look for me.”
They. Vince? Someone else?
“He has a point,” says Jamie. “Proactive, not defensive.”
“That sounds like Alaric’s words,” says Andrei and laughs. “I’m not joining his army.”
“We’re in this together,” I remind him.
Andrei looks at Tobias. “I’ve enough with one person trying to run my life.”
“Okay!” says Ash and claps his hands together. “Don’t start the snark again, Andrei.”
I slip my hand into Andrei’s. Tobias and I know that his snark rises to the surface when he feels threatened, and this has intensified since my vision last night.
“I’ll discuss the matter with Ash later,” says Tobias, firmly. “Maeve, tell the others about the runes.”
“Yes, Prof—” I begin sarcastically and wince as Tobias mentally flicks his fingers in my mind to silence me.
I glare.
The runes scatter across the table as I tip them from the pouch. As usual, Ash looks confused at the idea stones could cast spells, and Andrei listens impassively. I fidget, impatient to move on and try to channel a vision.
I returned the book to Jamie after visiting Tobias and we sat together in the library attempting to decipher the language, but nothing made sense. Frustrated and with a headache, I left him to his research, partly guilty that I do, but I could tell he became frustrated with me too.
No translation means we need to rely on the runes.
And tonight.
I kneel with Jamie on the floor and hold my pendant in one hand. What do I do with the others? I spread them into a circle the way April placed the Blackwood runes. This may not help, but anything is worth trying.
We link hands with the stone pendant between our palms and the leather strap hangs onto the table. Who looks most worried? Andrei or Tobias? Andrei dropped some of his hostility towards Tobias in the last couple of days—if only Andrei knew what Tobias said to me this afternoon.
"I can sense your apprehension, Jamie."
"Are you surprised? This is your first time using the runes."
"And I believe they'll help, not hurt," I whisper. "I'm going to try to put myself into the past vision beneath the academy." I squeeze his palm and the runestone digs into my skin, and heats more than when the pendant rested against my collarbone.
"Okay?” Jamie whispers.
I bite my lip and nod, gazing at the stones on the table as I do.
I've spent time drawing and memorising the symbols since Marie gave them to me. Perhaps if I hold the runes in my mind, I can sharpen my focus? Jamie's magic energy travels between us and melds with mine until I can't sense whose is whose. I close my eyes and the gateway rune scorches on my vision in bright white.
The headache begins—a vague buzz at first, then builds into a throb and pushes against my temples. As I hold my breath, a realisation hits: I haven’t ‘lost’ my visions recently—I've fought them. After the horrors in my last realistic vision of the future, I’ve shied away from a key skill I need to work on.
Something else joins the aching in my head, quiet at first, but the slow steady sound grows until the heart beats in my ears. Instead of speeding up, mine slows to meet the heart's pace. Somebody whispers but the thudding noise covers the words.
Acid fills my mouth and I snap my eyes open, expecting to see somebody in the room with us.
But I'm not in the sanctum.
I'm in the tunnels wavering between fear and a determination to walk forward. I'm not here in physical form. I'm safe.
Jamie's voice replaces the whisper. Okay, Maeve?
Yes.
I've never heard Jamie in my vision, and I'm comforted by this new connection, as he grounds me with more than a physical touch.
After the evening in the tunnels, we spent time figuring out exactly where they ran beneath the grounds and have mapped them between the buildings. We figured out that my first vision started in a place approximately below the witches' sanctum, and that the stone barricade is beneath Petrescu.
This makes the Petrescu cellar a target location—at least Theodora has firmly secured and warded that.
Now, where am I? I touch the wall and look ahead, orienting myself. A faint light shines through the tunnel behind me, like sunshine forcing through a cloud. I must be halfway between the entrance and the place that the tunnel stops.
No fire.
No voices.
I push aside my disappointment. This has to be a significant moment.
"Do you have them?"
I startle at Theodora’s voice and a torch flashes in my eyes. She lowers the torch and her tall figure stands between me and the end of the tunnel. Theodora points to my hand. "Are the runes in there still?"
Confused, I glance down.
I'm holding the weighted pouch.
"Yes."
Theodora's lips purse. "Are you alright, Maeve? All you need to do is perform the spell again."
I nod.
Her face still lined by confusion at my response, Theodora leads me to the end of the tunnel. The heartbeat in my ears grows with each step into the dark.
"I can't see anything," I whisper. "Switch the torch on. I need light to—"
I halt.
Two runes shine, one above the other on the rock in front, similar in luminescence to the ones I saw in the Petrescu cellar. I think? I only glimpsed those for a few seconds.
Not my Winterfall runes.
I step closer, drawn to them, and as I touch one, I recoil at the sharp pain in my fingertips.
Theodora steps up beside me and the scent of lilies drifts between us.
I point. "Can you see these?"
She shakes her head. Crouching down, I tip the Winterfall runes into my lap and stare down at them. The thudding in my ears grows painful and I squeeze my palms against them.
"Focus," comes Theodora's muffled voice.
"I can't." My mouth fills with acid again and I retch. No. Blood. "What do I do?" I say as nausea grows.
Her face blurs and the pounding hits my temples until I swear my head will split open.
"Match the Winterfall to the Blackwood again."
Again? "I can’t see properly," I protest, voice thick. The nausea overwhelms me, and my head starts to spin as a sudden claustrophobia sucks the air from around me. Although the walls either side of me are far, I picture them closing in like the nightmares I had after my time with the Blackwoods.
As I lurch to my feet, the runes fall from my lap and clatter to the ground. More blurred shapes appear on the stone barrier, and I blink them into focus. The four new shapes create six rune
s in a circle in front of us.
"I can't," I say and wrap my arms around my head, squeezing my eyes tightly shut to push away the imaginary walls. "I don’t know what will help."
"You know what to do, Maeve," says Theodora as she drags my arms from my head. "We can't waste time. Not now you’ve failed once."
"I don't understand." The world continues to blur in and out of focus, warning that the vision will end.
"Did you forget?"
"I'm not here," I whisper. "Theodora. Tell me what's wrong."
I gasp as I drop backwards and tense, convinced I'll hit the floor. My eyes snap open as I jerk out of the vision.
"No!" I shout and grip Jamie's hand. "I saw what to do, but I didn't know how." My arms tremble as the last vestiges of magic shudder from me.
"Maeve. I can't." Jamie drops my hand and the stone bounces across the table, hitting a second, which spins to the opposite end of the table.
With a glance at his pale, drawn face, I press my fingers to my temples, eyes closed as I try to take myself back to the tunnels and Theodora.
Frustrated tears push at my eyes as I see nothing and hear no more than Jamie's rapid breathing.
Stumbling to my feet, I snatch the runes from the table.
One still remains separate from the others and I take hold of that one too.
Dawn.
Chapter Forty-Six
MAEVE
I'm unsurprised when Theodora calls me to her room before I can get to class after our meeting. "Maeve. Welcome back. I'd love a debrief on your... field trip yesterday." She's every inch Professor Lancaster today, from her dark skirt suit to perfect make-up enhancing her model features. But when I move towards Theodora, the same mingled unease and distance as last time we met surrounds her.
Should I tell Theodora I saw her in the vision I’m still reeling from?
"Of course."
Each time I step into Theodora's office recently, I'm filled with nervous anticipation. Will a Confederacy member lie in wait too? Or my aunt with more stories? A clue? More information? Anything.
Empty. I’m surprised that Sofia isn't with her and that she only asked me—not Tobias or Jamie.
