by Luna Pierce
I open my eyes to have them immediately met with Sydney’s. A green aura covers his body, and I find myself absolutely amazed.
He smiles weakly. “You okay?”
My mouth parts, and I’m startled by the sudden ability to form words. “Yeah.”
“Damn, Willow, you reek of booze. Are you drunk?” Sydney scrunches his nose.
“Ugh, no, I can’t drink, it’s a family thing.”
“That explains what happened then. You must have drunk something you shouldn’t have; alcohol must be your glitch.”
“What the hell is a glitch? You make it sound like I’m defective.” I firmly place my hands on the bed, pushing up to the seated position. I spot Silas a few feet away.
Worry and concern trail his eyes, despite him looking hopeful I’m coherent.
“All witches have one, and they’re not all the same. It’s nature’s balance. Some weird thing that if we consume it, it suppresses our magic completely and basically paralyzes us.”
“That’s exactly what it felt like. That was brutal.” I rub my neck and remember how horrible it felt to not be able to even run away when danger presented itself. My eyes widen. “Deghan, you said he was still out there?” I frantically look between them.
“He’ll be fine,” Sydney offers, a comforting hand patting mine.
Somehow his reassurance isn’t enough, but it’s not like I can really go back out there and risk endangering anyone else in the process.
“Thank you,” I manage, straggling my consideration to the men in front of me. “Both of you. Silas, you saved my life out there, and Sydney, you saved my life in here.”
“I don’t really want to give him any credit, but Deghan stopped his friend from mauling you, so it was a bit of a collective effort,” Silas says, the pain of his admission showing in his jaw. “I told you it was dangerous out there.”
“I know you did. I’m sorry.” I shake my head. “I really am.”
“You warned her?” Sydney interrupts.
“Numerous times,” Silas confirms.
Sydney looks back at me. “He’s not joking, Willow. Their territory is off-limits, especially on a full moon. There are many new recruits who don’t have any control over their bloodlust. The paths that take you out that way, did you see how there were three of them?”
I nod.
“The far-right is the wolf territory; the far left is the witches’. But none of us go out there on a full moon during the wolves shift. It’s too dangerous.”
“How did you even find me? If you weren’t meant to be out there tonight?”
Silas frowns, shifts his gaze to the floor, sighs, and looks me straight in the eyes. “I knew you were in trouble.”
“How?” I whisper.
“I just did. I could feel it.” He swallows, flicking his notice to Sydney for a split second.
Sydney stiffens. “What do you mean you felt it?” He stands, arms folding over his chest defensively.
Silas shrugs and I smirk at seeing him so… not like himself. He’s avoiding something. Hiding something. I have to admit I like seeing this side of him, though.
“It’s none of your business.” Silas grimaces. “So, stop pressing.”
“I swear to everything, if you hurt her, I will tear you apart, limb by limb,” Sydney sneers.
I pause at his possessiveness, a new side of him being uncovered, too.
Silas laughs. “You could try.”
Sydney uncrosses his arms, squares up to Silas. “Don’t test me, scum.”
I get to my feet quickly, pleased with my body following my direction. I place myself between the two guys, setting a hand on both of their chests in an attempt to stop them from their spat. A wicked bolt surges through my hand, and Silas flees across the room at an insane speed.
“How the… how did you get over there so fast?” I shake my head. “Are you okay? Did I hurt you?”
“You.” Sydney’s aggression is replaced with confusion and intrigue. “You can’t touch her.”
“You didn’t hurt me, I’m fine.” Silas’s words are filled with compassion. “Let it go,” he says to Sydney, replacing the care with a fiery rage.
A laugh bubbles up and out of Sydney.
“Willow, if you’re well enough, I think you should probably get to your dorm and rest. You had a rough night.” Silas nods toward the door, ignoring Sydney’s growing hysterics.
Allowing the thought to settle, I realize I am beat and still a little bit fuzzy. “Yeah, yeah, you’re probably right.”
“I’ll walk you to your room,” he suggests.
“I bet you will,” Sydney says sarcastically.
“Are you okay?” I ask him, utterly confused about what got into him.
“I’m great.” He beams. “Absolutely perfect.”
“Okay…” I look him over another second. “Um, thanks for fixing my glitch. Hopefully that’ll be the last time that happens.”
His face goes serious. “Of course, and yeah, stay clear of alcohol. The longer it’s in your system, the worse damage it does, and it makes it more challenging to siphon.”
“Noted.” I pat his shoulder, unsure of whether a hug would be inappropriate. He did just save my life and all. I stand there an awkward second and finally he moves.
He lightly embraces me, and somehow, I know without looking that Silas is scowling. Either from jealously of not being able to touch me himself, or because it’s Sydney who’s hugging me.
Silas turns the knob and opens the door, waiting for me to exit.
It’s then that I take a fleeting moment to look around the room. Only one bed has anything around it, Sydney’s. His items seem to overflow into the other spaces, but if I had to guess, Sydney has a room to himself. I don’t know if I find that sad or lucky.
“After you,” Silas chimes.
“Thanks, again, Sydney.” I smile.
Out in the hallway, the north wing energy is thick and murky. A blanket of ease caresses me once we cross the threshold, making our way onto the all-glass garden top. The view is equal parts unsettling and stunning.
Silas manages to keep a few feet between us on the short walk to my dorm in the south wing. The urge to reach out and grab his hand is strong, but without knowing the reason we can’t be closer, I keep my distance.
“I’m sorry if I hurt you,” I murmur.
His voice cracks faintly. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”
I slow my pace approaching the entrance to the south dorm. I desperately plead with time to slow down, to give me more with him. As daunting as the night has been, the thought of not being with him is even more upsetting.
“Silas,” I say, stopping to face him.
He takes a cautious step, not letting us be too close, never close enough. His eyes are gray and violet and have a shimmering metallic tucked into one corner. They’re breathtaking. The striking arch of his jaw is clenched firmly in place.
“Willow.” He sighs.
“What can I do to fix this?” I don’t look away.
“I don’t think you can.” His words slice through me.
“There has to be a way, please. There has to be something,” I beg pathetically.
He exhales, his arm moving toward me, only to stop dead in its tracks, leaving a space for the energy to crackle between us.
“I don’t understand, what is it? Why us?” I force my mind to comprehend the power keeping us apart but end up failing time and time again. “Will it be this way forever?”
He pushes the gap, sending sizzling energy flying, grimacing until he pulls away.
“Is it painful?” What a stupid question, he wouldn’t resist if it weren’t. “I can fix this somehow,” I say. “Just tell me what it is… why it’s happening? I’ll fix it.”
“Oh, Willow, there’s nothing you can do. It’s fate and a curse all wrapped up in one.”
Chapter Eighteen
After being interrupted by a loud and drunken Remi and Kyra, I painfully part f
rom Silas and enter my room. A deep hopelessness courses through me, and I do my best to fight away the misery that creeps in, staking a home in my being.
Lillian sits next to me on my bed. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” I lie.
“I was worried until Carter came back from taking a leak and said you were with Silas.”
That explains why no one searched for me.
I meet her eyes and really look Lillian over, a happiness seeping from her that wasn’t quite there prior.
I shift the focus to her. “How was your night with Ethan?”
“Wonderful, absolutely wonderful.” She peers over her shoulder at the girls, lowering her voice. “I like him.”
My heart swells for her and her newfound adoration. “That’s great news! I’m so happy for you, Lills.”
“He wants to get breakfast in the morning,” she continues. “It’s almost like a date.”
“It totally is a date,” I confirm. “That’s so cute.”
“Will you come with me?” she pleads.
“Come with you? To your date?”
“Yes, please, I’m so nervous. Cameron will be there. Will you be my wingwoman?”
I sigh, remembering I totally left Cameron hanging at the party. Not like I did it on purpose, I sort of got accidentally drunk and nearly died in more ways than one. And he thinks I ditched him for Silas, making the betrayal that much worse. If anything, I should tag along to explain to him what part of the truth I’m capable of sharing.
“I’d love to.”
She squeals, grabbing me into a hug. “Thank you so, so, so much, I owe you big time.”
“That’s what friends are for,” I say.
She practically glides to her bed, floating on her love-stricken disposition.
I sink into my own, not bothering to change out of my clothes, the sadness taking back over when Lillian goes to her side of the room. I pull my blanket over my head, breathing the crisp linen scent in intensely.
An eternity passes, and finally, I fall asleep.
I wake, unrested, groggy and stiff, to the sound of the girls stirring.
“Morning, sleepyhead,” Remi teases.
Making quick work of getting ready, I swap out my clothes, brush my teeth, and throw my hair into a low ponytail. I grab a makeup remover wipe from Kyra, and once I’m done, I splash cold water on my face to try to wake myself up. It works but not well enough. A cup of coffee might do the trick. I’d kill for Sydney to make me one, but because of Lillian pacing the space behind me, I settle on the dining hall breakfast blend.
She and I leave the girls to finish getting ready, and head to breakfast.
She fidgets with her hands, her nervousness distracting me from the ever-growing pit of despair I’m being swallowed into.
I nudge her. “Hey, it’s going to be okay. Other than it being daylight, this is no different than hanging out at the party. Pretend we’re getting breakfast like normal, and he just happens to be there.”
She bobs her head. “Yeah, good idea.”
Her uneasy energy lightens a little, but not much.
I stop her at the bottom of the stairs, my hand on her forearm. “Hey,” I say, looking her straight into the eyes. “Really, everything will be fine. Don’t stress.” I push my calming thoughts into her, willing her tension to leave.
Her shoulders wiggle, like she’s shaking it away, and she smiles. “Okay.”
That was easy.
And then I understand, I just did fucking magic.
Cameron doesn’t skip a beat when his gaze lands on me. He springs from his seat, jogging the distance between, and pulls me into a hug. “Hey.”
“Hey, Cameron.”
Ethan makes his way over to Lillian, slower than Cameron, but his growing smile gives away his excitement in seeing his girl. Stopping in front of us, he holds out his hand to me. “Not sure we’ve ever formally met. I’m Ethan.”
We shake, and I note there are no funky blasts of energy—he must be human.
“I don’t think we have either. I’m Willow. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.” He shifts to Lillian. “You hungry?”
She nods, and they walk toward the food. Lills glances over her shoulder at me, leaving me and Cameron behind.
“Listen, Cameron,” I say. “I wanted to apologize about last night. I didn’t mean to leave you at the party like that.”
He cuts me off. “What? You don’t have to apologize. You’re allowed to do your own thing. I was just worried about you disappearing like that until I knew you were safe.”
So, he’s not mad?
“I didn’t want you to think I ditched you or something. Because that’s definitely not what it was.”
He rubs my shoulder. “Not at all. Carter said you were with Silas, which is totally fine.”
“Yeah, but it wasn’t like that. I accidentally drank someone’s alcohol and got stupid sick. Silas was merely helping me get back to the school.” It’s partly true—about the only part of the truth I can give him.
His expression saddens. “Damn, Will, you okay?”
“I am now. I had to take some medicine. I’m like allergic to it or something. It runs in the family.”
“That’s crazy. You’ll have to pay more attention. I’ll try to keep a better eye on your drinks next time so this doesn’t happen again.” He pulls me in for a light squeeze. “I’m glad you’re okay now.”
“Thanks, Cameron. That’s sweet of you.” I nod at the new couple. “What do you make of those two?”
He side-eyes me playfully. “They’re adorable. He’s pretty much already in love.”
I slap his arm. “No way, seriously?”
“I wouldn’t be surprised.” He grabs a cup of yogurt from the stand.
I eye the selection, sizing up my options. I settle for a bowl of oatmeal and a cup of fruit. Something to comfort my aching body and hopefully re-nourish my energy.
Cameron grabs a tray and holds it out for my items. He gentlemanly carries them to the table and places them in front of me.
His niceness is a bandage over my aching soul.
I’m nearly finished with my breakfast, ready to head back to bed, when a commotion from the entrance startles me.
Deghan bolts through the doorway from the patio and hysterically searches the room until his eyes meet mine.
Not wanting to cause more disorder, I gather my trash.
“I’m not feeling so great, guys. I’m going to head back.”
“Can I check on you in a few hours?” Cameron asks.
“Absolutely. Thanks, Cam.”
At the sound of his nickname, he smiles a bit brighter, and it warms my tender heart.
I’m out of the room hastily, intercepting Deghan the second he barrels through the walkway, knowing I’m exactly what he’s looking for.
His hands on my shoulders to steady himself, he takes pause, settling his gaze over my body, head to toe. Hesitating for my response, he yanks me in for an extremely tight and welcome hug.
“Christ, Willow,” he says, out of breath. “I’m so sorry. Are you okay? What the hell happened?” He pushes away again, like he may have missed something, and does another scan.
“I’m okay, I am now.” I look around the area, various glances from random students meeting us. “Can we maybe go somewhere more private to talk?”
He nods. “Are you okay with my dorm?”
A few tense moments later, we step into his room. I do a swift examination and am surprised that another guy has a dorm to himself. Maybe there aren’t as many supernatural students as there are humans.
“You have the room to yourself?” I question.
“For now, yeah,” he says shyly.
Drawings cover an entire bed, and he does his best to shuffle them together and out of sight. He puts them into a random dresser and picks up the loose articles of clothing off the floor and tosses them into his wicker clothes basket. He sits on his large bed and then pushes h
alf of it away, and only then do I realize he had secured two of the beds together to make one big one. When the beds are a little over a foot apart, he pats the one opposite his and motions for me to sit.
“This blanket is cozy,” I say, rubbing my hand over the dark-gray fleece.
His voice low, he asks, “What happened last night, Willow?”
I exhale, scooching back on the bed to find a more comfortable spot. “I unintentionally drank alcohol.”
“So, you were drunk?” He squints like he’s trying to figure out what exactly I mean.
“No, not really. Or, well, I don’t know. My body reacts very badly to booze. Umm, what did Sydney call it?” I rub my chin. “Oh, he said it was my glitch.”
“Your what?”
“That’s what I said.” I hesitate. “I’m not sure how much of this I’m allowed to say to you…” I run a loose thread through my fingers.
“Because of the oath?”
“Mmhmm.”
“You can talk to me.”
“Oh.”
“I mean, literally, you’re allowed to. It’s just the other faction that we can’t talk to.”
Right, it said human students, not the supernatural, and I have to remember now, Deghan is supernatural. He’s a werewolf. And here I am, sitting, knee’s touching, alone, in his bedroom.
His aura is sincere, a fuzzy blue and warm haze radiating off his broad shoulders. His dark hair with golden hues, cascading onto his forehead, illuminating his golden-chocolate eyes. His shirt, which happens to be inside out, hugs his chest. Deghan is a sight for sore eyes, and I am incredibly fortunate to have his interest, even putting into perspective what happened last night. The incident wasn’t his fault. I shouldn’t have been so reckless. I shouldn’t have been on their territory. I should have been more mindful to what the hell I was drinking. If this is anyone’s fault, it’s mine, and mine alone.
I take a breath. “A glitch is some natural balancing loophole to screw with a witch’s power. Mine is alcohol. I drank someone else’s drink and pretty much became paralyzed.” The words come out in a rush. It feels strange and exhilarating all at once, being able to say these things out loud.
“So, you’re a witch,” he says.
