“Do they know we were gone?” I asked.
“No. Kane wants everyone there to redo the patrol schedule. A few seniors are being sent with Victoria to CHAS headquarters, to help deal with the Lexington’s disappearance.”
“She’s leaving?”
“CHAS wants to hype it up, help get support for tracking these Werewolves down.” He shrugged. “They want Victoria to cry on camera and make people feel bad.”
“She’s okay with that?” I couldn’t imagine being thrown into the spotlight when my mother had gone missing.
“I guess so.” Alex leaned down to grab his cooler. “See you in the morning,” he said, and then he disappeared into the trees.
“You ready?” Cord asked.
I chugged the rest of my water, and we grabbed our bags. We weren’t even out of the clearing yet when Cord started in.
“So… you two are what? Friends with benefits?”
“What? No!” I glared at her and took a deep breath, trying to unclench my jaw enough to speak. “Alex and I are just friends.”
“Whatever. You don’t want me to tell Wes. Fine. But at least call it what it is.”
“I am. And you don’t need to tell Wes because there’s nothing to tell.”
“Okay, either you’re lying to me or you’re lying to yourself. And you suck at both.”
Cord sped up, and I hurried to catch up with her. I could not leave this conversation to end this way.
“Fine, Alex has… feelings for me. I haven’t done anything to reciprocate those feelings.”
“But you haven’t done anything to stop it, have you?” Cord eyed me. “Take it from me, this sort of thing will knock you right off that pedestal you’re enjoying. I hope he’s worth it.”
I let out a harsh laugh. I could feel the temper inside me building. It didn’t help that I felt guilty that she might be right. It only made the anger worse.
“And what would you know about relationships?” I snapped. “I don’t exactly see the guys lining up for you. Don’t expect me to take advice from someone who can’t put away her bitch card long enough to snag a man.”
“You don’t know me.” Cord spoke through clenched teeth. “You don’t know a single thing about me. So don’t pretend like you do. You think because you have two of them falling all over you, you can stand there and judge me? There you go, misusing that pedestal again.” She stepped closer to me, and I could feel the hot anger rolling off her, onto me. “I’d be happy to knock you off it, though. If you need to be reminded where you came from – and where you’ll return to, in the end.”
“How many rejections does it take to make someone a bitter, old hag who can’t stand to see someone else in the spotlight? One? Five? Everyone she’s ever met?”
Cord blinked and backed off, like someone had thrown a switch in a dark room. “You’re a bitch,” she said, with less anger and more of a “matter-of-fact” tone.
I bristled, the desire for a fight still making my blood boil. “And you’re nobody. So, stop sticking your nose in where you’re not wanted.”
“Stop giving me a reason.” Her expression remained clear. I wondered how she could let go of the overwhelming anger that had been there moments ago. “And you might want to get that insane temper checked out. You look like you’re about to either explode or rip my head off. Neither one would leave you in one piece.”
“Try me,” I said.
“Not my type.” She grinned, like she knew her lack of angry response would only make me angrier.
It did.
“I’m bored of this so I’m going now. Try not to explode.”
She walked away and I let her go, not entirely sure she was wrong about my two choices had she stayed. I took deep breaths but it was a long time until I felt my control return.
Chapter Twenty Eight
Logan walked out the front door of Lexington Hall as I came in the back.
“Logan, wait up,” I called, but he was out the door before he heard me. I picked up the pace. Through the glass doorway, I could see him carrying a suitcase in each hand. I slowed when I realized who was walking next to him.
Victoria had her own, smaller version of the bags Logan carried slung over her shoulder. Logan was walking faster than her and must’ve realized it because he stopped and waited for her to catch up before resuming his trek. He said something I couldn’t hear and she responded. He slowed his pace to match hers and they continued on, either oblivious of the looks they were getting from the kids scattered throughout the courtyard, or ignoring them.
Most of the stares were filled with curiosity at seeing the unlikely pair together, but I caught a few glares aimed their way as well; mostly from minion-looking wannabes.
“That’s new,” I muttered to myself.
Cord appeared next to me. “What is?”
I sucked in a breath, determined to be civil. If nothing else, I had to prove to myself that I was in control of my temper. “Logan and Victoria. I mean, I didn’t think Victoria even knew his name.”
“I thought she was with that Levi guy,” Cord said.
As if on cue, Levi appeared from around the hedged corner that led to the courtyard’s atrium. He halted in front of Victoria and it looked like he was saying something, but I couldn’t hear. Then a girl appeared beside him and his arm snaked possessively around her shoulders. Victoria’s back stiffened, and Logan pulled Victoria away, towards Griffin Hall. Levi and his partner continued this way, and I saw who his new flavor was.
Merona. Victoria’s former minion number two.
Demi came up beside them and said something to Merona and Levi, and they all turned their backs on Victoria and disappeared around the hedge.
A low whistle sounded beside me. I looked over and found Cambria staring out the window. “That was an official dethronement right there,” she said.
“But how? Or why? I mean, even with Victoria’s parents missing, she would never step down, or let someone else do that to her,” I said.
“She’ll be alright. She’s strong,” Cord said.
“I wonder what Logan is doing with her,” I said.
“Um, I would think it’s obvious.” Cambria grinned. “He’s making his move.”
My eyes widened. “No way. You think?”
“Only one way to find out.” Cambria planted her feet. “I’ll be waiting right here when he gets back.”
“Hmm. Tempting, but a shower’s calling my name. Fill me in,” I said, heading for the stairs.
“Yes, please, don’t leave out a single detail,” said Cord, rolling her eyes.
I threw her a look.
There were moments that Cord’s sarcasm reminded me a lot of Sam, but there was a different edge with Cord, something darker and altogether nastier underneath the light bickering that made it hard to laugh at anything she said.
*
Cambria leaned against the front doors, waiting, when Cord and I got back upstairs.
“Where’s Logan?” I asked.
“Being secretive, as usual. He didn’t even stop or say hi when he saw me. Just took off for his room.”
“Were you already interrogating him at that point?”
Cambria stuck her lip out. “Maybe.”
I laughed. “I’ll catch up with him later. See if I can get anything out of him.”
We went up to dinner side by side, talking about anything I could think of that would leave Cord out of the conversation. She seemed content to trail behind us, anyway. I looked back once and saw she had her phone out and was texting.
My eyes narrowed. “You get service here?”
Cord looked up and slid the phone into her pocket. “Looks like.”
“Who were you texting?”
“What are you, my mother?”
I rolled my eyes and let it go.
Victoria’s table was as loud and annoying as ever with the jocks vying for the attention of the new queen bee–Demi–and the girls laughing and crowing over something the guys had sa
id. The horsing around was reminiscent of junior high, and even though I didn’t like her I had to admit, the whole thing had held a much classier element when Victoria had been in the spotlight. At least they hadn’t been loud enough to interrupt my meal before. Well, not much.
“Um, hi. Cordelia?” said a voice behind me.
I turned and found Nina standing there, twisting the corner of her shirt in her hands, and looking completely terrified of the blond sitting across from me.
“It’s Cord.” The tone of her voice made it clear what she thought of being addressed by her full name.
“Oh, uh, Cord. Okay, well, Vera said to come get you. There’s a meeting with her, Professor Kane, and Headmaster in ten minutes. She wants you there.”
Cord rose. “Thanks.”
Nina nodded and looked relieved to be done with her message delivery. She drifted off, towards the line for food. Cord dumped her tray and headed for the door without a word to me.
I slumped in my chair and watched her go. “They could call her in for a top secret meeting, and not me?”
“Stop pouting, it doesn’t look good on you,” said Cambria.
“She –”
“Gets under your skin, doesn’t deserve the attention, you don’t need a babysitter, blah blah blah. Yeah, I know. But has it even dawned on you that you actually have some alone time, without her shadow weighing you down, for as long as that little meeting lasts?”
I blinked.
“That’s what I thought. Why are you still sitting here? Go.” Cambria shooed me away.
I hurried out and raced down the steps and out the front doors, into the darkening evening. I stopped there and caught my breath as a few people passed by, into the building behind me. The courtyard wasn’t empty yet, but it would be soon. We weren’t allowed out here after dark without a senior escort.
I hesitated.
If I wanted to talk to Wes, I had to get on that roof before the meeting ended and get back to Lexington Hall before curfew. But when Cambria had pointed out my few precious minutes of freedom, I knew I didn’t want to spend it fighting on the phone with Wes. And I didn’t want to be alone with all my thoughts. Too many of them were scary and involved danger I couldn’t do anything about right now. There was only one person I thought of.
I stopped, not sure where I’d find him. The only place I knew to try besides his room was the garage, but if I was wrong it would be dark before I could get back and getting caught would mean trouble. I hesitated only a second more and then plunged into the woods, cutting through brush to get to the trail that would take me to the garage.
I was almost there when I heard it. Grunts and growls that were unmistakably Werewolf – and unmistakably violent. No sooner had the sound reached my ears than I felt the goose bumps spread over me. I broke into a run and tore through branches and leaves. I knew better than to call out and alert them to my presence, but I was terrified Alex needed me, and I wouldn’t get there in time. I had to bite my lip to keep silent.
I broke through the trees into the gravel that led to the garage and Alex’s truck. I scanned the yard. Nothing moved. From the other side of the garage came a growl, before it turned into a yelp and was cut short. Then, nothing.
I slid up against the wall of the garage and peered around the corner. The fractured moonlight was made brighter from the break in the trees but not by much. All I could make out was the form of two bodies, lying motionless, not far from me. My heart constricted as I tried to see who it was on the ground. I blinked and everything adjusted.
A man lay less than five feet from where I stood. He was bloody and naked and unmoving. I saw the steady seep of red liquid from small, rounded wounds; one in his arm and the other in his neck.
What struck me weren’t the gashes in his flesh but the fact that he was flesh. The only other Werewolf I’d ever seen become human again in death was Liliana. I’d always assumed it was some sort of personal choice on her part and had basically forgotten it. Seeing this guy made me wonder again. I moved beyond him without bothering to check for a pulse; I knew there wouldn’t be one. The goose bumps had already faded to nothing along my skin. The threat was gone.
I hurried to the next body.
Alex lay in the dirt several feet away, unmoving except for an almost imperceptible rise and fall of his chest. I ran to him and dropped down beside him, searching for some sign of consciousness.
“Alex.” I shook him by the shoulders, gently at first and then harder when he didn’t respond. “Alex!”
Even though he was breathing, panic crept in. Alex couldn’t be this hurt. He was invincible. He was… Alex. Unless that Werewolf had gotten his teeth into him. I yanked on his shirt and scanned his chest and abdomen for wounds. I didn’t see anything except a vicious line of scratches trailing down one arm. I eyed his pants, unsure. I had to know, because what if he’d been bitten. Was I going to let him die because it would be inappropriate to check for wounds? I reached for the snap on his pants and hesitated. I had a better idea and reached for the hemline and yanked the pant leg up as far as it would go. The fabric bunched at the knees. Alex’s calves and ankles were wound-free. I reached for the zipper again, already blushing in spite of the panic and worry.
“Are we at second base yet?”
The sound of his voice was so unexpected I forgot to be happy that he was awake and talking. I froze like a deer in headlights. A really guilty, really blushing deer.
“I was checking for wounds.”
“Good excuse, I guess. Here, want me to help?” He reached for his own zipper, and I smacked his hand, mortified.
“Geez, no! I thought you were –” I couldn’t say it but even the thought of it must’ve sobered him. His smile disappeared and he looked military-serious. “Are you okay?”
He sat up and shook his head, looking dazed. “I went down on that last round and must’ve knocked my head.” He was rubbing a spot on the back of his scalp and wincing. He caught sight of the dead Werewolf and his eyes narrowed.
“Here, let me see,” I said, moving behind him to look at the bump. It was raised and tender, like a golf ball, which meant a killer headache was on its way, but there was no blood.
“Is he dead?” Alex asked, walking toward the body.
“Yeah. He’s dead. What happened?” I followed for a little ways and then stopped. I didn’t really need a second close up.
“I don’t know. One minute, I was working on my truck, and the next, I was up to my ears in goose bumps and this guy comes barreling out of the trees. I didn’t even have a weapon on me.”
“But you staked him.”
“Yeah, with this.” Alex held something in the air.
I stepped closer, squinting. Whatever the object was, it was too dark to see. “What is that?”
“Screw driver.” Alex shrugged. “It’s what I had.”
For some reason, I thought of my plunger handle, and I had the irrational urge to laugh and high five him all at once. I held back on both counts and bit my lip. “Nice,” I said instead.
“We need to get back to Griffin Hall and alert everyone. There could be more.” Alex was already scanning the trees as he said it and I felt my whole body stiffen, on instant alert. But there was no trace of a physical warning so, for now, we were okay.
“Wait,” I said. Alex stopped and turned back. “Before we do, there’s something I want to say. The reason I stopped by tonight. I’m sorry about the way things turned out last night –”
“Let it go, Tara.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, let it go. I have. Well, maybe not completely, but I’m working on it. It’s the best thing. You’re involved with someone else, and it’s already way too complicated without me. I’m backing off. I’m going to let it go.”
“Oh.” I tried to think of something else to say, but I couldn’t. I wasn’t even sure how I felt about it. He was giving up? Of course, that was the right thing to do. I was with Wes and this was complicate
d.
“It’s the right thing,” he said quietly.
The sound of his voice pulled me out of my thoughts and I forced a smile. “You’re right. I’ll let it go.” And as I said the words, I forced myself to accept them and put it behind me.
He nodded and just like that, it was over. I wondered how he could do that so easily.
“We need to get going now. Alert the others,” he said.
“Right.” I struggled to focus on the task at hand. I could think about what this meant later. “Vera, Kane, and Whitfield are all in a meeting. If we hurry we can catch them all together.”
“Let’s get going then. I think it’s time Vera admitted her weakness and helped plug the holes it’s causing.”
He was still patting at the knot on his head, and I knew he was right. Vera’s illness had made it way too dangerous to be kept secret any longer.
“Did he say anything?” I asked. “The Werewolf that attacked you.”
“No. Just charged at me like he wanted to have me for dinner.”
“But he changed back to human form after he… you know.”
He shrugged. “Some do. It’s involuntary, subconscious. Some of them are more in touch with their human side than their animal side.” Alex shook his head. “Which is odd for that one, since he seemed all animal when he was coming at me. Definitely the most vicious I’ve fought in a while.” He rubbed his head again.
We made it back to Griffin Hall and right inside the lobby came face to face with Vera, Professor Kane, and Cord. They were coming from the hallway that led to Headmaster Whitfield’s office and speaking in hushed voices. Vera looked more tired than I’d ever seen her, with lines under her eyes and creasing her forehead. She walked very close beside Kane and for a second, I thought she was leaning on him, but when I looked closer, they weren’t touching.
“Tara? Alex? What are you two doing out so late?” Vera asked.
Cord narrowed her eyes at us like she could only assume. Great.
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