by Elena Gray
When I noticed a hint of a smile, all thoughts fled my mind. Was this an attempt to make amends with me for the distance he placed between us, or had he remembered our make-out session before someone tried to kill me?
I would make myself crazy if I tried to figure out what was going on in Roark’s head, so I focused on Quinn instead. “Jax, Nicholai will get us up to Samara’s room where she’ll be waiting for us. If anyone shows up, we can fly out. Nicholai and Samara can vanish before anyone spots them.”
They all seemed to be in agreement on the plan, but I didn’t know where I fit into the grand scheme. “What about me?”
“I was wondering the same thing.” Samara frowned and crossed her arms. “It’s a great plan and all, but you made no mention of Katarina.”
“That’s because she’s not going,” Quinn said.
That answer was my final breaking point.
“What do you mean I’m not going?” Were they seriously considering leaving me behind? If so, they were crazy.
After a brief period of silence, Quinn’s throat wobbled. “We can’t risk taking you to the coven, Katarina. Whoever tried to kill you could still be there. We promised your uncle to keep you out of danger.”
“So where am I supposed to go? This plan involves you guys leaving me behind and alone. How is that safe?”
“You won’t be alone,” Quinn said. “We think it would be best if you stayed with your uncle until we return.”
“No way.” I shot back and stood from the sofa. “Don’t treat me like a child and leave me with a babysitter.”
“Your uncle isn’t babysitting,” Quinn insisted. “He’s protecting you.”
“That’s not going to work, guys,” Samara cut him off before he could say anything else. “Katarina has to go.”
“Absolutely not,” Roark’s thunderous voice made me shudder, but not out of fear. The sound actually turned me on. I loved seeing his protective side. At the same time, his hard-headedness had the opposite effect, so I stood there, flustered physically and emotionally.
“We don’t know who we can trust inside the coven,” Quinn reminded me. “Not to mention we’re sneaking into a room that we have no right to enter anymore. You can’t be involved in this, not after your uncle’s threats.”
I fisted my hands on my hips. “Quinn, come on.”
“No, Katarina.” He shook his head. “If something goes wrong, your uncle will end our bond. I’m not taking the chance.”
“But—” I tried to argue even though none of them would be quiet long enough for me to speak.
“Don’t be hard-headed, lass.” Roark chimed in again, apparently sensing my rebelliousness through our connection. “If something happens and we have to bail, we won’t have much time to get away.”
“So you think I’ll slow you down?” Did they honestly have zero faith in my abilities? After all of the training? I was even making progress with Nicholai.
“I hate to break it to you guys,” Samara began while gaining everyone’s attention, “but like it or not, Katarina has to go. The power I used to cast the spell and hide my book is now inside her. I cannot cast the spell without her being there, and even then, I’m not sure how well this will work.”
“What do you mean?” I studied Samara’s face, hoping like hell she’d tell me the truth.
“The power is no longer inside me, which means it could have evolved into something different. I should probably mention that I used old magic to cast the spell… and the spell we’ll use to locate Slade requires old magic too.”
Jax’s body grew rigid, Quinn’s mouth gaped, and Roark’s face reddened. This was not going to be good.
“You’ve got to be kidding.” Roark spoke first, and his harsh tone forewarned me that Samara had struck a nerve.
Jax pinched the bridge of his nose. “How could you be so reckless?”
“Are we really going to stand here and argue ethics?” Samara asked. “This is the one thing that could help us find Slade. Aren’t you willing to try for your brother’s sake?”
I saw the conflict in Roark’s eyes. The storm had begun, and he battled to keep it under control. As he stammered for a response, he finally gave up and resorted to shaking his head. When his gaze shifted to me, the bond between us pulsed with fear and concern.
“I’ll be fine, Roark,” I whispered. “If it was you missing, I wouldn’t be doing anything differently than I am now.”
“This is ludicrous,” Draven was next to voice his complaint. “Old magic is dangerous, Samara. Why were you delving in it?”
“Because I was desperate to find my friends. I knew something was wrong, and after hearing how Rose and Natasha are barely hanging on, it makes sense. I’m sorry if you don’t understand my reasoning, Draven, but life isn’t black and white. We can’t always follow the rules.”
Nicholai approached us with cautious steps. “May I add something? You’re forgetting that Katarina is no longer a human. She’s a reaper. It’s her job to locate souls. Between her abilities and her connection to Slade, she should be able to find him on her own. I’m only entertaining this plan to go to the coven because I believe what you said, Samara.”
Her brows folded as she asked, “Which part?”
“You said that in the wrong hands, this book could be detrimental. It’s important that we collect the book and put it in a safe place.”
“What about your boss?” Draven asked through clenched teeth. “I understand what it’s like to be fated to someone. Samara and I… You don’t know what it’s like to lose your soulmate. If something happens and Mathias breaks the bond between Katarina and her guardians, it will devastate them.”
“No, Draven, I don’t know what it’s like to be someone’s soulmate.” Nicholai regarded Samara as he continued, “But I know what it’s like to be drawn to someone to the point they become your sole focus. Mathias won’t break the bond between them. I will make sure of it.”
Draven scoffed at his response. “So we’re just supposed to take the word of a shade, someone who’s never been in love, a lowlife bottom-feeder sent straight from the pits of the underworld?”
“Stop it, Draven,” Samara warned. She floated toward Nicholai and hovered between him and her boyfriend. “You’re being rude and that’s not like you. I know you’re upset that I’m gone and he’s helping me, but don’t be selfish about this. This isn’t about you and me. It’s about Slade. Does his life mean nothing to you?”
“Of course it means something,” Draven snapped. “So does the bond he shares with Katarina. I know how painful it is when that bond is severed.”
“Just because you can’t physically touch me doesn’t mean our bond is severed,” Samara assured him. “Fated love doesn’t end. It’s infinite.”
She waited for him to acknowledge what she said. When he nodded, she focused on my guardians. “Are you guys going to fight this decision anymore?” When all three shook their heads, she moved toward me. “Then it’s settled. Katarina is going with us.”
“Wait,” Jax announced. “What if we had someone on the inside who could help us?”
“Like who?” Samara asked.
“Emma Pierce. She said she was willing to assist us with whatever we needed.”
“Hmm.” Samara tapped her translucent fingers against her lips as if she were contemplating the idea. “It’s possible she could help, though I do have to admit, I’m still leery about her.”
“She’s not the terrible person you think she is, Samara,” Jax added. “I know you two had grown apart, but she didn’t want anything to happen to you. She lives with the regret of not being there for you when you needed her.”
Samara drifted toward the window overlooking the sea. Her silence left me anxious. She just criticized Draven for his stubbornness. If she refused to accept Emma’s help, she’d be a hypocrite.
After a solid minute passed, she turned to face us. “I’m okay with Emma assisting us, though I’m not sure how useful she’ll be.”
“Well,” Jax said as he glanced at me and then the rest of our group. “She can let us know if anyone has moved into your room or if you’re belongings are still there. With a position on the Council of Peers, I’m sure she’s privy to information others aren’t.”
“She could also let us know if there are any guards patrolling the dorm,” Draven suggested.
“What?” Samara asked. “Since when did guards begin patrolling the dorms?”
“My mother arranged it after rumors spread through the academy that you were murdered and that other witches had gone missing.” Draven cast his eyes down toward the ground. I sensed he was trying to hide his emotions. Even though he could see and speak to Samara, he’d never get over losing her.
“It’s settled, I’ll call her now.” Quinn backed away from the circle we’d formed, he approached the fireplace. Fire flared around the logs smoldering inside. He stared into the flames as I sensed his energy shift. Was he using his element to help him communicate with Emma?
The thought no sooner went through my mind than a holographic image appeared just two feet away from him. Once it completely formed, it was as if Emma was standing in the room with us.
“Who summoned me?” She asked scanning the room. The instant she saw Samara, her eyes bulged and she covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh my goddess!”
“Hi, Emma.”
“Samara… Is it really you?”
“It’s good to see you, Em.”
Tears formed in the young witch's eyes. “I—I’m so sorry for what I said to you the last time we spoke. I never wanted anything to happen to you.”
“Emma, stop.” Samara waved off her apology. “You were only warning me of the inevitable.”
“What are you doing here?” Emma asked. “And why did one of your guardians summon me?”
Samara’s eyes found mine as she studied me for a moment. I held my breath, hoping with everything in me that Emma would keep her word to help and go along with the plan we’d created. “We need your help, Emma, and what we’re going to ask you means you’ll be breaking the rules. Are you okay with that?”
I remembered reading in Samara’s journal about Emma, how she was a top student in the academy who had control over her powers. She was also one of the most rule abiding witches in the coven. For her to agree to ignore the rules would mean going against everything she stood for. I didn’t expect her to accept a role in this plan. If she didn’t, I hoped like hell she wouldn’t rat on us to one of the elders—or worse—Rayna.
When she sighed, I prepared for her refusal.
“Count me in,” she said, much to my complete and utter disbelief. “Tell me what you need me to do.”
Chapter 11
~Quinn~
My heart slammed against my chest as I stood at the edge of the building adjacent to Samara’s old dorm building. A small group of students scrambled through the courtyard, rushing toward the backside of the estate. I assumed they were late for one of their classes. Samara had raced across campus at the same pace many times when she’d taken too long to get ready or lost track of time. Draven and Zander were normally the culprits responsible for her losing focus. I couldn’t help but wonder what caused these students to run behind.
Peering over my shoulder, I observed my comrades standing as silent and still as I was. After we’d made the decision for the entire group to come along, I worried we would draw attention. Perhaps that would be the case if Nicholai hadn’t helped us. I wasn’t sure how I felt about the shade Mathias assigned to Katarina, but at least he had useful abilities. Hiding in the shadows was one of them. And luckily it didn’t apply to just himself. He was able to enshroud all of us.
As the students’ voices faded, I glanced to the roof of the dorm. Roark perched himself on the peak, scanning the grounds. It was his favorite spot on campus because he could be alone while guarding Samara at the same time. Considering he was our lookout guy for this mission, it seemed the best place for him to sit and observe the estate. He would be able to see anyone entering the dorm from the outside and warn us if someone was coming, not that we expected anyone to come looking. My brothers and I were just being overly cautious.
Draven parted ways with us after Katarina teleported everyone to our home in the Witch Realm. That was as close as she could get us without alerting the guards to our presence. Nicholai got us the rest of the way.
Katarina grimaced as she checked her watch. “Emma’s ten minutes late. I hope she still plans to come.”
Jax placed his hand on her shoulder and massaged it. “Relax, Kat. She’ll be here. She may have been detained by one of her friends. Let’s give her a few more minutes.”
“What if she doesn’t show up?” Katarina continued.
“Then we sneak up to the room on our own,” I answered.
“Maybe I should teleport us in,” she suggested, but Samara shook her head.
“We don’t know if the new student has arrived yet. If we teleport into the room while someone is there, we’re busted.”
“So what?” Katarina grumbled. “Why can’t we just say we’re looking for your belongings? Jax or Quinn could say they want the picture you had on the desk of all of you.”
I thought about the photo Katarina mentioned. My brothers and I had taken Samara to our home on the Stone Isles after her first term. She was stressed from the grueling magic classes she’d taken, and we were a little homesick. The day the photo was taken, Zander had come to visit us. He was the one who’d snapped the picture. I couldn’t deny that I’d like to have the photo to hang on the wall in our house.
“That’s not a bad idea,” I confessed. “Why don’t we call it plan B.”
Jax tapped his finger on his chin like he was debating on whether to agree. Samara opened her mouth to say something, probably to argue as usual, but when she glanced toward Nicholai, she pressed her lips together. When no one spoke against the idea, I assumed we were in agreement.
Just as I scanned the dorm, I noticed someone walk onto the balcony of Samara’s room. After adjusting my eyes, I realized it was Emma. She glanced over the rail, toward the courtyard, most likely searching for us.
“There’s Emma.” I pointed to the balcony. “She’s already in Samara’s room. Nicholai, she needs to see we’re here. Release me from the shadows.”
With a snap of his fingers, the gray mist surrounding me disappeared, while still keeping the others hidden. I waved my hand to gain Emma’s attention, as well as Roark’s so he would know we would be going inside the building.
As soon as Emma spotted me, she motioned to come inside. Good. That meant there were no guards around Samara’s old room. I wasn’t sure if she’d checked all the floors so we’d have to proceed with caution.
Nicholai expanded the shadow until it covered me again. We made a mad dash across the courtyard, sticking close to the other building, until we reached the door. I took a quick peek inside to make sure no one was around. All I found was an empty hallway.
One by one, we filed into the building as Nicholai and I led the way to the staircase. Katarina and Jax stayed in the middle, while Slade and Samara followed behind them. We wasted no time ascending the steps, until we made it to the top level.
We crept down the hallway toward Samara’s room. I released the breath I’d been holding once we reached it. With everyone gathered around, I opened the door and waited for them to walk inside. After I pulled the door closed, Katarina gasped.
I spun, expecting to find a guard waiting. Thankfully, Jax had already tucked Katarina behind him. Searching the room, I found Emma standing near the balcony doors. Only she wasn’t alone. Melynn stood beside her, and both were staring our way. What the hell was Emma doing with a council member?
Fuck. We’d been set up.
“Why is she here?” Samara, who’d remained by the door with Nicholai, floated up beside me. The instant Melynn saw her, she gaped.
Great. We should have kept her hidden in the shadows with
Nicholai. Now the council would know we had communication with Samara. I didn’t know how they’d handle the news and honestly, I didn’t want to find out.
“Samara?” Melynn’s voice shook with uncertainty. “Am I imagining this, or are you really here?”
“Oh, I’m here—at least in spirit. Isn’t the soul as real as it gets?”
Melynn nodded. “It’s good to see you. I didn’t know something like this was even possible.” She shifted her gaze from Samara to Nicholai. “Are you some sort of necromancer?”
“Don’t worry about who or what he is.” Samara drifted closer to Melynn, her hands fisted. Even if she tried to hit her elder, it wouldn’t do any harm. It was just evidence of the anger flowing through Samara. “He’s an ally of ours. That’s all you need to know. Now, answer my question. Why are you here?”
“Did you set us up?” The words came barreling out of my mouth before I could stop them.
“No,” Emma scoffed. “Believe it or not, Melynn is here to help.”
“Yeah. Right.” Samara crossed her arms and glared at the two witches. “You bring the one council member who hates me. Why would you do that? Don’t you realize she’s going to run to Rayna and tell her everything?”
“No,” Melynn shook her head. “I won’t say anything to anyone. I know you don’t believe me, Samara, but I swear by Aletheia, I’m telling the truth.”
“How dare you swear by the great goddess of truth,” Samara snapped.
Nicholai placed his hand at her back, and though she didn’t look at him, the aggression on her face disappeared.
“Please give me a second to explain my past behavior,” Melynn begged.
Samara huffed but nodded her head. “Fine, but make it quick. The longer we stay here, the greater chance we have of getting caught.”
Melynn nodded. “I know you think I hate you, and as bad as this may sound, I’m glad you assume as much. If my actions convinced you, no one else would have questioned my intentions.”
“Why would you want people to think you hated me?” Samara glared at the elder witch, but the desperation she felt came through in her voice, the way it cracked when she spoke.
