by Olivia Ash
It’s a few long tense moments as the two stare each other down. Savannah refusing to show fear, and Soren desperately looking for the one miniscule sign that Gideon is wrong. Soon, the fire covering Soren’s skin disappears as he takes in a deep breath. Letting it out, his shoulders relax, and his hands ease out of the tight fists.
The static-filled tension in the air fades.
Faint footsteps lead away from me. I sit there, forcing myself to calm down from everything that just happened, running the thought of losing my men to those wolves through my mind. Replaying how those last few moments in Arizona slipped through my fingers, along with my shot at saving my father. The more these thoughts run their course on a never-ending loop, the angrier I become.
My attention turns toward Gideon’s office. We need to discuss what happened and come up with a plan to get my father back. I stare at the charred grass and feel a small lump of guilt. It’s a sobering sight. I damaged a piece of my home in my anger. Maybe that’s what they wanted? To throw me off balance while they get the upper hand.
Well played, Jackson Cane.
He may have won the battle. But he most definitely will not win the war.
I’ll see to it personally.
Inside Gideon’s office, Savannah forces a healing potion down my throat as the men are gathered around discussing what happened. I’ll never get over what could be the worst possible taste ever. Bitter with an underlying sour taste mixed in with the sludge-like texture and smell of something putrid. I know it’s meant to help heal me from the fight, but still. Does it have to be horrendous?
“Someone knows of her and her power, Gideon.” Soren paces the room. He’s going to create a worn-down path of wood in the floor if he doesn’t stop pacing soon.
“I know, Soren.” Gideon pinches his nose. His squares his stiff shoulders, and his expression is one that suggests one wrong word will send daggers shooting from his beautiful blue-green eyes.
Savannah pushes the potion to my mouth again. I growl.
“Take it like a woman,” she says.
“I like her.” Jesse points to Savannah. “She knows how to handle Wren.”
I glare at Jesse, telling him with my eyes to keep his comments to himself, as Savannah chuckles. I gulp down the last of the potion and shiver as the bitterness holds onto the back of my throat. This stuff is awful. Still, the slight warmth starting in my stomach spreads through me, easing the tenderness in my ribs and torso.
“Good girl.” She smiles and winks at me before taking the cup and putting it in her bag. She plops down in a chair at Gideon’s desk.
I return to my favorite perch on Gideon’s window sill.
“Could it be the Order? I don’t recall shadow wolves being a part of any government not their own.” Milo’s voice speaks from the corner of the room, where a bookshelf stands filled with tomes of who knows what. Gideon is the headmaster, it could be expansive knowledge of higher levels of magic. After what he did back in Arizona, that’s where my money is at.
Gideon shakes his head. “They’ve been known to exchange favors for some sort of gain. So, there is no telling who is behind this.”
“Deacon Lawrence must’ve let knowledge of Wren slip to the others.” Soren leaves his line of pacing to lean over Gideon’s desk.
I roll my eyes as I continue to stare out the window. The setting sun casts golden rays over the changing autumn colors, creating a beautiful scene that I don’t want to pull away from. “We all knew it was a risk. That’s why we went in prepared.”
Gideon nods. “We’ll need to take each step more carefully than before. Especially with Wren.”
I snap my head toward him. “What?” My voice comes out angry. Fire burns within my veins, and pressure builds in my wrists. My magic seems to be pissed with that thought too. I take a few deep breaths to calm myself a little.
Soren stands straighter. “It’s too dangerous for you now.”
I stand from my seat on the sill, shoulders back and chin in the air. “Then we’ll just have to train harder and make it less dangerous. I already feel responsible for your involvement and injuries. Now that I’m in this deep, I can’t stop now. I can’t hide and let whoever Jackson Cane is working for think they’ve won. With you all by my side, I’ll make it right. But I need your help.”
“She has a point.”
Every head turns toward Savannah.
She shrugs. “What? It wouldn’t be fair to cut her out now.”
“Nor you, you sneaky little vixen.” Jesse takes the seat next to her.
“Indeed.” Gideon nods in agreement. “Your involvement helped us at the moment we needed it most. It was dangerous.” Gideon levels his gaze on her for a moment. Suddenly he’s the headmaster again. And like a flash, my powerful teammate is back. “But thank you, nevertheless.”
“I knew what I was getting into.” Savannah turns her gaze to me. “With the vision I had, I couldn’t sit back and wait.”
I step in front of her and look into her eyes. “What did you see?”
Her eyes darken and gloss over. She squeezes her eyes shut and a crease forms between her eyebrows as they knit themselves together. Whatever she saw, it was painful.
“I saw glimpses. Still images, like pictures. It was bloody. And all of you were lying face down on the ground.”
Gideon and Soren exchange shocked expressions. “Yes,” Gideon says, “there is much more to you than meets the eye.”
Gideon seems… impressed. If he senses anything negative about her, he doesn’t show it. I highly doubt there is, though. This is Savannah. She just risked her life to save us and earned a great dose of respect not only from me, but my entire team. She’s also earned my trust as well. For all intents and purposes, it seems like she found her niche in our group. The group that is rapidly becoming family to me. And that means more to me than anything.
Family.
“Thank you from all of us,” Soren says. “We really couldn’t have done it without you.”
“I’d do it again if I was given a chance to.” She tilts her head from side to side. “I may need to make me one of those potions. My neck is tense.”
“Let’s hope you don’t have to help again. I’m not in the business of letting any of my students jump into dangerous situations.” Gideon sits back in his seat. “I’ll call on some more of my connections. See what we can uncover. What movements are happening.”
“I’ll research tracking spells.” I look at Milo.
He nods. “I’ll help.”
I smile gratefully. He does too.
“Jesse,” Soren says, “see if any of your Winterwolf house members know anything about shadow wolves and their leader.”
“Assuming he is the leader,” Jesse adds.
Soren huffs. “Fine. Just whatever you can find.”
Jesse nods. “Aye-aye, capytan.”
Soren faces Gideon. “I’ll reach out to my magusari connections. See if perhaps they heard any chatter of possible Order movements or members, as well as any other helpful information. Afterall, if Michael is a suspected criminal, they’ll be looking for him too.”
“Not. A. Freaking. Criminal.” I huff and cross my arms over my chest.
Gideon holds up a quieting hand, drawing my attention to him. “We don’t know that yet, Wren.” He abruptly turns his attention to Soren. “I’ll handle Wren’s training while you are gone.”
Soren nods in agreement.
“Well, if this is all done, I’d like to get to the infirmary myself.” Jesse stands up and rubs his hands together.
I shake my head. “I’ll go with him to make sure he stays out of mischief.”
He smirks. “You know me so well.”
“Yeah, yeah. Come on.” I make my way across the room and push him out the door as soon as we reach it. Just before I step through, I look at Milo. “I’ll meet you in the library after.”
“You got it.”
Chapter Thirteen
Jesse is all bandaged
and making the special potion he made for me during the trials. He sips the potion as I sit on a counter. He hands me some and I sip it slowly. The liquid is warm but does nothing to fight back the cooling sensation that Jesse’s nearness puts my magic through.
“Bout time I get you all to myself for a while.” He smiles, and there’s a hint of something much more naughty flashing through his eyes that makes heat rush down my neck.
I chuckle. “You’re impossible.”
“Mm… but I’m charming.” His steel blue eyes ensnare me, pulling me in. “I’ve been wanting to make good on the promise I made you back during our trials, for a few weeks now.”
I chuckle. “Dare I ask?”
“I don’t hear a question.” He places himself between my legs, setting both hands on either side of my legs. His thumbs brush erotically against my thighs.
I shake my head. “What is that promise?”
“Now was that so hard?” He leans closer, eyes focused on my lips.
“Uh-huh.”
His lips press into mine. His tongue enters my mouth, flicking expertly along mine as his hands move to my ass.
My hands move up his arms and to his long, wavy brown hair. My fingers weave into his soft locks and a moan escapes his mouth, prompting a rise out of me. He slides me closer to him, and I can feel his growing erection bulging against the restrictive fabric of his pants.
My shirt lifts from the waist of my pants, and his thumb gently brushes my exposed skin. Pressure and warmth fills the space between my legs. A small voice in the back of my mind whispers that we should stop before I become too consumed by him.
But my body doesn’t listen.
I really don’t mind. Jesse is a fantastic kisser.
A tugging pulls at my consciousness. I give in to that sensation, and to images of us wrapped together in the sheets, naked as he thrusts into me repeatedly, at first slowly and then faster. It shifts to me pressed against the wall as I cling to him, riding me into a full-on orgasm. Another picture enters my mind of him beneath the sheets and me clutching the pillow on both sides of my head.
When you’re ready… rushes through my mind as soft as a whisper and as tender as the touch of a feather along my skin.
My body switches between the heat of passion and the cooling sensation my magic takes on with Jesse’s presence.
Damn it all, I’m tempted to make him good on his sweet, erotic notions right here and now. But I’m sore, and the infirmary is hardly a romantic spot. Anyone could walk in on us at any moment.
He breaks the kiss at that thought, as though he heard me think it. He pulls away gently.
“Let’s get you to the library.” He holds out his hand toward me, a devilish smirk stretching his lips.
I nod, breathless, and take his hand.
Hopping from the counter, I follow him out of the door of the infirmary. Though I have to admit, a big part of me wants to stay and continue watching those delicious images play through my mind.
Before long, we stop outside of the door to the library. Before walking through, he turns and faces me. His face is serious, which shocks me. “You know that whatever you decide, wherever you go, I will be by your side as long as you’ll allow me? No matter what.”
I smile. “Where is this coming from?”
He narrows his eyes in a manner that makes me weak in the knees. “I just want whatever will make you happy.”
“I appreciate that Jesse. I’m kind of fond of you too.”
He quirks an eyebrow. “Kind of?”
I smile, blushing. “You know what I mean.”
“You are truly a force to reckon with. Never met a girl like you. Never want to. Not anymore. I’m yours. Until my last breath.”
I chuckle. “You must’ve gotten hit in the head pretty hard.” I kiss him on the lips and turn toward the library.
Chapter Fourteen
I arrive at the door to the library as Milo is walking out with a stack of books piled to his nose. He peers at me from over the stack. “Hey, you.”
“Hey, you got a lot of books there. Taking them back to your room?”
“Yeah. I figured you could use the break. Savannah is already in there.” He nods behind him. “She helped me get all of these gathered up.”
I nod. “Oh. Okay.”
I admit, part of me is disappointed. I really hoped he and I could spend some time together. But I appreciate the effort he’s putting into it, and when Milo pours himself into his research, he goes all in. That’s part of what I adore so much about him.
He uses a foot to keep the door open for me. “Go ahead. Enjoy your girl time.”
I giggle. Ever the gentleman, even when his hands are full. “Thanks, Milo. Let me know if you want any help, okay? I don’t want you doing it all on your own.”
He shakes his head. “I’ll let you know if I find anything. You go. Let me handle this.”
As I walk in, I find Savannah sitting at my favorite table in the library. She looks up and smiles, tapping the side of the table across from her. I smile back at her and take the seat. “How goes the research?”
She frowns. “Slower than I would like. But that’s the point of school, right?”
I nod. “You know that vision that caused you to show up to the fight?”
Her eyes darken a bit as she nods slowly.
“Thanks.”
She smiles widely. “I’ve already been thanked.”
“Not by me. Personally.”
She reaches across the table and covers my hand with hers. “That’s what friends do. They help each other out. Besides, who else is going to get you dolled up for dinner with your fancy aunt?”
I chuckle. “But really, I appreciate your friendship. I don’t know many people that would risk their life for me or my men as well.”
“Hey, it’s a package deal, right?”
“Right.” I laugh under my breath.
I want to tell her more. Open up to her completely. Especially about what happened with Professor Lawrence. But the library isn’t the place.
“Wanna go hang out in my room?”
“I could use the break.” She slams her book shut and we share another laugh.
As Savannah sits at the foot of my bed, I tell her everything that’s happened up till now, and she absorbs every word as though I spoke the gospel. As soon as I finish, she shakes her head. “I knew he wasn’t right. I saw some strange and disturbing things with him, but I couldn’t make out most of them. They were all too blurry.”
My head bobs in agreement. “You’re taking this really well.”
She shrugs. “Like I said, I knew he wasn’t up to any good.”
“That’s true.” A flash of memory burns through my mind. A picture of me exploding magic on him. I shudder.
“So, your father’s rescue was a bust, huh?”
I sigh as I spin and plop down on my bed next to her. “Yep. Looks like it.”
“Whatever I can do to help, I will. Even prove his innocence. It’ll just take time.” She falls back onto my bed and stares at the ceiling.
“That’s the thing.” I turn to face her. “My father may not have time. There has to be something we can do to find him. And soon.”
She rolls to her side and props up her head with her arm. “Though the future isn’t written in stone, I know we’ll find him.”
“But how?” Frustration rises in me, and I jump up from my bed and start pacing my room.
Savannah shakes her head. “I don’t know. But, between the six of us, we’ll find a way.”
“I just hate… waiting.”
“Well, at least you have one family member you can talk to, right?”
“Sort of.” I face Savannah. “She’s distant. It just doesn’t feel right sometimes.”
“It’s been a while since y’all have spent time together.”
“True. That’s what I keep telling myself too.”
“But…”
I wait for her to continue. When she d
oesn’t, I bite the bullet. “But what?”
“Just be careful. I can’t get a good read on her. It’s not often I come across people like that. So, with that in mind, just be extra cautious, okay?”
“What do you mean?”
She sighs. “Often, experience has shown that whoever I can’t see clearly is going to great lengths to hide something. Or, it could mean they’re warded and harder to read than the average mage.”
“She is a very proud woman and keeps herself protected. It’s not surprising that she sets up a few wards around herself.” I bite the corner of my bottom lip.
“Like I said,” she smacks the bed, “I don’t experience it often.”
“Like trees growing from runes?” I ask with a laugh.
“Right?” she joins in the laughter.
We spend the rest of our time talking about our runes class and joking about making a tree grow or something just as shocking… into a weekly deal.
Chapter Fifteen
The night before Soren leaves, I’m sitting in his room, staring at the fire burning under a stone mantel. Holding a steaming cup of sweet-smelling hot chocolate out to me, he smiles and gestures for me to take it. I smile up at him from the chair and take the warm cup.
“You certainly know your way to a girl’s heart.”
“Shut up and drink your damn cocoa.”
I giggle. “Thanks.”
“You know I wouldn’t be leaving if I didn’t think it was necessary.” It wasn’t a question but a statement.
I look at him from over the rim of my cup as I blow away a bit of the steam. I take a sip and let the hot, creamy liquid settle in my mouth, savoring the sweet chocolatey flavor. I swallow it down and enjoy the sensation of heat filling my core and spreading outward. “Getting sappy on me?”
He growls, and I can’t help but chuckle. He’s too easy to rile up sometimes.
“I know you’re doing what you think is right.” I stand from the chair and set my cocoa on the mantel as I approach him. I look into his amber eyes and slide my hands around his torso. “I also know you wouldn’t leave if you didn’t feel like you absolutely had to.”
