by Jaymin Eve
I looked around to make sure we were alone and leaned in close. “He said he had a plan to eliminate the threat, and that he wanted us to find the library. We need to figure out how I fit into all of this. He thinks we’ll need my powers soon.”
He’d also told me not to leave the Academy until he returned, but I wasn’t sharing that, because if they went after Asher, I was going as well. End of story.
“For now we follow his advice,” Rone said seriously. “Asher does not make any decision lightly, and he will have a plan. If we don’t stick to it, we might fuck it up for him.”
No! No! NO! my body and mind screamed. I wanted them to go after Asher right now. Every second he spent with those people were seconds he was in trouble and out of my life.
Tonight I’d felt a much deeper emotion from Asher. The way he’d touched me at the dance. His face when he sacrificed himself for me. I was finally realizing that he felt the same way I did. Both of us had just been too stubborn and stupid to explore it. There was no way I was letting him disappear now.
But there was nothing I could do on my own. I needed all of their help to stand a chance.
“I’ll agree to the plan for now,” I said slowly. “We go back to the school and find the library.” My powers being freed was a new top priority for me. “Have we heard about the possible location in the demi-fey school?”
Rone shook his head. “We haven’t received permission yet. The demi-fey princeps is making it difficult. I think it’s time for us to put a little pressure on him.”
Yes. It was fucking time.
32
Rone remained protective as we entered a small living area. I’d been right about the courtyard; the rest of the house was very different to where I’d been held. It was painted in warm colors, and there was a large fireplace and wood floors.
There were bodies everywhere, some dressed in the full Arterian assassin outfit, others in normal street clothing, but I counted at least twenty bodies. “Are they all dead?” I asked, not sure I cared if they were. These assholes were part of some stupid fucking conspiracy that got me kidnapped and Asher taken from us.
“Some are dead,” Rone said, sounding as uncaring as I felt. “Some are just knocked out or badly injured. Asher kind of lost his shit when they wouldn’t return you.”
My eyes burned but I didn’t cry again. There would be time for that later. Time when I dealt with the torrent of raging emotions inside of me. For now, I was moving forward, following Asher’s plan.
Movement near the door had me on alert, but it was only Calen and Jesse. “Maddi babe!” Calen said, hurrying forward. He swept me up in his arms and I allowed him to hug me.
“I’m okay,” I said softly. “You arrived in time.”
When he set me down, Jesse moved forward, his eyes darker than normal. His expression was…
I choked back a sob.
“Mads, sweetheart,” he growled. “Don’t fucking do that to us again.”
I laugh-sobbed this time, and then he was hugging me. He held on longer than usual, and I tried to find comfort in this hug. It didn’t work. The arms I really wanted around me were not here, and I had no idea when I’d see him again.
Axl rushed in the door then, and I pulled back from Jesse just in time to get the strongest hug of all. “It worked!” He sounded breathless. “I knew if I pinpointed this location via satellite and worked out the exact numbers of hostiles inside, we could take them down.”
“It almost worked,” I said, chest aching.
Rone wasted no time telling them exactly what had happened with me and Asher. I filled in any details he had missed, and then Axl started calculating shit on his notepad that he always carried. “The magical tracker on Asher tells me that he’s still in the country,” he said. “We can catch him. If we leave now.”
My eyes locked on Axl’s face like it was a water mirage in the desert.
“No,” Rone said, dashing my hope. “Asher asked Maddison to give him time. And to find the library. He must know that simply rescuing him won’t put an end to whatever is going on. We have to do what he’s asked.”
“Well,” I finally said, unable to stand there a moment longer. “Let’s do exactly what Asher asked. Let’s find this fucking library.”
The car ride back to the Academy passed in a blur. I spent most of it dozing on Jesse’s shoulder, listening to them discuss how they were going to tackle the demi-fey problem. It was early morning, the sun rising steadily as we traveled. It felt like years since I was kidnapped, but it had only been about eight hours.
As the first impressive view of the Academy came into sight, I sat a little straighter. I loved that we were back home, but coming home without Asher was a punch in the gut. “What are we going to do about Kate and Chellie?”
I hadn’t forgotten those two bitches. Just thinking about them made me furious on a level that I wasn’t sure I’d ever felt before. The only other person to come close was Asher’s fake mother. She had made it to the top of my list.
“Asher already took care of them,” Calen said with a snort from the front seat. “They’re not going to be bothering you.”
“He killed them?” I asked, not sure if that should surprise me or not. I’d seen the carnage back at the hunting lodge.
“Worse,” Jesse said, his chest shaking as he laughed. “Death would have ended their suffering immediately. Instead, with the help of Princeps Jones, who he contacted as we were racing after you, he’s set everything in motion to ruin them. Their social status in our world is gone, their money, their families high paying job, and as an extra fun punishment, they might both face charges in the supernatural prison system.”
I gaped at him, and he smiled. “Yep. Asher has a lot of power and influence. His family was rich and connected, and they left him everything. He controls their corporation.”
“Locke Industries employs thousands of supes,” Axl added. “Including Kate and Chellie’s families.”
I hadn’t known that. I mean, sure, I knew they were rich—the cars and house and clothes and all the rest told me that, but that was next-level money.
“Why did they do it?” I asked, realizing I’d never stopped to wonder why.
Jesse tensed at my side. “They’ve been looking for a way to get rid of you. The Arterians approached them with the opportunity—rumors of your enemies reached far and wide.”
“They didn’t know what the Arterians wanted with you or where they took you,” Axl added. “All they cared about was getting rid of you.”
“You better be done with that bitch now, Jess,” Rone growled from the front. “No fucking more.”
“Or no more fucking, to be more accurate,” Calen joked, then shut up when multiple glares turned his way.
Jesse’s rumbling chest was so very leonine that I half expected to find a furry beast next to me. “As far as I’m concerned, Chellie no longer exists in my world. She’s changed so much since falling in with the Clovers. I don’t even recognize her these days.”
I reached out and took his hand, because I sensed that at one point or another he’d cared for that psycho. Maybe she really hadn’t always been insane. I’d known a lot of people who had turned unrecognizable, either from drugs, alcohol, or the people they brought into their life.
I wasn’t going to forgive her anytime soon, but I could extend sympathy to Jesse. He deserved it. The car circled around the Academy, crossing over a bridge. There were more guards than ever stationed there, and we had to undergo a car search, and then a magical scan, to ensure we were not concealing anyone or any weapons.
“Princeps Jones tripled security the moment you were taken,” Axl told me, spinning in his seat. “Too little, too late...”
Rone shook his head. “The Arterians can get to anyone. We have to be vigilant. Our priorities are keeping an eye on Maddison and finding the library. Asher is relying on us, so while he’s keeping those bastards busy, we will do our part.”
I was beyond determined
to find the library.
When we pulled into their garage and got out of the car, two familiar figures were standing just outside.
“Larissa,” I cried, running to her. Her face was puffy, eyes red as tears streaked from them.
“Holy shit, Maddi,” she whispered against my shoulder. “I’ve never been so scared in my entire life.”
I hadn’t either. Being drugged and kidnapped was the basis for ninety percent of women’s nightmares. I was no exception.
“I’m okay, though,” I said, pulling back. “The guys found me in time.”
“Where’s Asher?” Princeps Jones asked, his sharp eyes noticing the missing member of our group.
Rone told him the story, and when he was finished I spoke up. “The library … we can’t wait on that any longer. We need permission to access the demi-fey lands or we will go without permission.”
Princeps Jones pursed his lips. “Princeps Linstar keeps pushing me along the chain of command, all of the protocol bullshit. If you have a liaison there who would speak for you, I might be able to make something happen faster.”
“What about Mossie?” I said in a rush.
I hadn’t forgotten that little green goblin. He was my first “real” view of the supernatural world. It had been hard to ignore something so fantastical, even when my mind refused to accept what Ilia was saying.
Princeps Jones paused to consider. “Mossie is actually friends with their princeps. They’re old family friends. He might be exactly who you need.” He straightened, nodding. “I’ll make it happen. Stand by for more information.”
He focused on me, tilting his head to the side in a confused manner. “Your energy feels different,” he finally said. “Your scent has changed as well.”
Uh, awkward.
Larissa nodded. “Yes. I noticed it when I hugged you. I think the block on your power is shifting.”
Princeps Jones nodded as well. “Yes. I will contact Louis.”
I didn’t bother to tell them that I had been picking at the block since I got kidnapped. I mean, at the time it had seemed like a “what do I have to lose?” sort of situation, but now maybe it was better that my crazy power didn’t explode all over the place. I was playing the long game to save Asher.
Princeps Jones turned to leave; Larissa lingered for a few more minutes. “Will you be in your room later?” she asked.
I was about to nod when Jesse said, “No.”
“Maddison stays here with us now,” Rone added. “For her safety.”
I crossed my arms. “If you guys insist on that, then I insist on Larissa and Ilia being able to visit whenever they want.”
The four exchanged a glance, their expressions hard to read.
Rone turned back, his eyes lingering on my tiny friend for a beat longer than was necessary. “We agree.”
Larissa sagged forward. “Okay, great. I’m going to go and get some sleep now. I’ve been up all night. But I’ll be back later to see how you are.”
She hugged me tightly, before following the same path as her father.
I was exhausted too, but I was also angry, half-naked in my torn-up purple dress, and covered in all sorts of crap. I needed a shower, sleep, and then information. In that order.
“Someone better show me to my room,” I said softly.
We walked back into the garage, using that entrance to get inside the house, which was already as familiar to me as my room back in the magic wing. “The spare room isn’t actually set up for long-term sleeping,” Axl said when we were all inside, the doors magically sealed shut. He had some wicked security system set up on the entire place. “But … I think Asher would want you to take his room.”
My immediate reaction was to shake my head. I wasn’t okay staying there without checking with him.
“He would definitely want you in there,” Jesse pushed. “And for now, it’s the most comfortable place we can put you.”
“You were going to move me to the spare room last time,” I pointed out, feeling like they were trying to manipulate me somehow. “I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
“Nope,” Calen said, sliding in next to me. “It’s just got a lounge-bed thing in there, and you’ll definitely hate it after a few nights. Let me show you to Asher’s room.”
I wanted to protest. I really wanted to, but I was just too exhausted for another fight, so I let him lead me. “I’ll grab your clothes and personal belongings from the dorm,” Axl shouted after me. “Just get some rest.”
I waved a hand and followed Calen. Asher’s room was in the back part of the house, and it was just as huge as I remembered. I hadn’t paid much attention last time, but now I really noticed the soft ocean colors of the décor. The greens and blues soothed my soul.
“Asher has a private bathroom, so double bonus of not having to share with us,” Calen told me. His normally smartass grin was nowhere to be seen. “We’re going to get him back, Maddi. You haven’t known us that long, but you’ll come to see, we never leave a brother behind.”
I nodded, my throat so tight I almost couldn’t breathe. I didn’t want to cry in front of them though; I needed to be alone.
Calen left me, the door closing softly after him.
And I broke.
I broke into a million pieces, dropping to my knees, my hands fisting in the carpet as I silently sobbed my heart out, letting myself grieve. For that moment, I felt all the fear and anger and pain. I let myself worry and cry and miss Asher.
His scent was everywhere around me, but he was not here.
Eventually I pulled myself together and dragged my tired ass into his bathroom. Like the other bathroom I’d used here, Asher had a huge shower, with five showerheads and a ton of other cool gadgets that I didn’t bother to figure out. I just stripped off my clothes, washed myself with his bodywash, and climbed out some time later, cleaner but still emotionally wrecked. Naked, I entered his wardrobe and grabbed a soft shirt from his drawers. It was large enough to cover me while I slept. Hopefully my clothes would be here by the time I woke.
Crawling into Asher’s bed, I snuggled under his impossibly soft sheets. They were silky and warm, contrasting to the cool air. My eyes fluttered shut, and I forced all the dark thoughts into a box. A box I would examine tomorrow. For now, I needed sleep.
I drifted off to the scent of Asher surrounding me.
33
The next two months passed by in slow agonizing increments. Parents’ Day came and went, and I met Calen’s and Jesse’s parents, and they were both wonderful. Jesse’s left us with a ton of wine, and Calen’s parents proved Axl right with their baking skills. They’d brought us French apple-almond cake, Le Fraisier French strawberry cake, and a bunch of profiteroles. By the time they left, I considered asking them if they were open to adopting any new children.
The rest of my days were spent trying to unravel the mystery of the missing library, going over the notes Asher had on his desk, reading Atlantean texts in the hopes of finding something that the guys had missed, and generally not sleeping, eating, or functioning because I was angry and sad and pissed and furious and devastated all at once.
The excavated spot in the demi-fey territory was behind their school, and even with all of the pushing and Mossie coming in to bat for us, we only just got permission today to finally check it out. The one thing that stopped me from just taking the permission myself was apparently they had some sort of scary-ass creatures patrolling their grounds at night, and they were the eat first, ask questions later kinda scary.
“It’s been over two months,” I complained to Jesse as both of us finished another lap of the pool. I’d taken to daily swims, going for hours in an attempt to quieten my mind. “Asher has been with them for two fucking months and we’re no closer to finding him or the library.”
I slammed my palms into the water, sending an arc over the edge. “I mean, how do I even know he’s still alive?”
“He is,” Jesse reminded me. “Axl is tracking his movements, and they�
��re still consistent. Whatever they’re doing, it’s deep in the ocean, and it’s a daily back and forth.”
Small comfort.
“Guys, come on,” Rone shouted from the back porch. “The official form with the final permission just came through.”
I was out of the pool so fast that Jesse got a decent splash of water in the face from my wake. Rushing into my—Asher’s—room, I changed into my clothes—which now hung next to his in the wardrobe—and was out with the guys in a minute. “Let’s do this,” I said, my voice higher than usual.
Mossie met us on the path between the academies. Demi-fey Academy was smaller than ours, housing about a thousand students. Mossie was a proud tour guide, pointing out their different facilities.
“This is the main arena,” he said, his green skin shimmering lightly, “where we have our weekly fight tournaments.”
It was a large stone stadium; through the open entrances, I could see an arena and lots of chairs for spectators.
“So the area this library is supposedly in…” I said, because right now that was literally the only area of this Academy I was interested in. “Is it clear? Or is there a building on it now?”
I was clutching a map in my hands. It was a rough sketch of both academies and was somewhat correct, but there were a few things out of place from my Academy, which made me worry that things had changed since Asher’s family had hidden their library.
“It’s clear,” Mossie confirmed. “I scouted it this morning but couldn’t see anything. I know that Princeps Linstar has also been looking, which is why it took him so long to grant permission.”
“He was hoping to find it first,” Axl said, nodding like he understood. “Priceless information would be held in those walls.”
Fucking asshole had delayed us for months. It was not good enough, and he better hope he wasn’t here today or he would hear all about it. I had a lot of pissed-off to get out of my system. My power surged, even though Louis had only repatched it yesterday. He’d told me that we were running out of time, and that the next patch would probably be my last. Which meant I would have to stop school and searching for the library to learn how to control my power.
