Still his opponent persisted. And goblins? Do you know how to deal with them?
Yes. As Vlad did. By sending the wolves into the forest at night to fight them.
And how can you send the wolves to fight them when you yourself have never fought one? That smacks of cowardice.
I might not have fought a goblin, but I have fought a vampire. Need I remind you the outcome of that?
Murmurs erupted. The circle was tightened. Saliva dripped from the wolves still-bared teeth.
Finally the boy nodded curtly and rejoined the crowd. Once again, conversations resumed, and the circle expanded. Crisis averted, Aden thought, and yet, relief eluded him. Just how long was this unspoken truce going to last?
TEN
FOR ONCE, Riley didnt pick up Mary Ann to take her to school.
Had he heard about last night already? Was he angry with her?
Or had he been hurt at the vampire mansion?
Stomach churning
By the time Mary Ann realized he wasnt coming, Penny had already left. Which gave her two options. Walk alone, miss most of first period and be considered absent, or let her dad drive her, and deal with the tardy slip. Either way promised absolute mental torture.
She was a perpetual early bird. If she wasnt ten minutes early, she considered herself late. But trying to converse with her dadugh. Hed ask how things were going with Riley; he wouldnt be able to help himself. She wouldnt have an answer. Not now. So hed feel obligated to mention sex, condoms and STDs. Again. She would burn to ash with embarrassment, so of course shed be late forever since she would be dead.
In the end, she decided to walk. Her dad didnt try to stop her, but he did thrust an apple into her hand as she flew out the door. She still wasnt hungry, so she chucked the bright red fruit the moment she exited the neighborhood. A stray dog would appreciate it, rather than vomit at the very thought of taking a bite.
If she didnt develop an appetite soon, shed have to talk to someone.
Sighing, she picked up her pace. She stuck to the main roads, which would shave at least ten minutes from her walk time. Since Riley had pounced into her life, shed stopped taking this path.
Where are you, Riley? Are you okay? How had Aden handled the introductions? Had anyone attacked him? Mary Ann hated that shed been left behind. Next time shed What? she thought dryly. Demand they take her or shed give them the silent treatment? Cry alone in her room?
The school parking lot was full when she arrived, but there was no one out front and the halls were empty. Which meant the tardy bell had rung a while ago. As she reached for the front door, she paused. Frowned. Something warm and powerful was wafting through her, filling her nose and mouth and sliding sweetly into her stomach.
Delicious. For a moment, she closed her eyes, savoring. There really was no reason to eat when she experienced this. With every inhalation, she was stronger, better, happier. Then she recalled what had followed this same sensation last night, and dread overtook her.
The witch was nearby.
Mary Ann gulped and spun, hands fisting as Aden had taught her. Her gaze darted across her surroundings. Sunlight shone brightly, those stupid blackbirds singing overhead.
The yellowing grass stretched before her, interrupted only by a large oak. Perhaps shed been mistaken. Perhaps she was wrong and
The witch stepped from behind the trunk, and their gazes met, locked, clashed. Mary Anns heart thundered in her chest. This morning the witch wore a plain red T-shirt and jeans. Long blond hair curled over her shoulders, stopping at her waist. Sun-kissed skin soaked up the bright light haloing around her.
Ive been waiting for you. A musical voice, yet it dripped with anger nonetheless.
Every instinct she possessed demanded she run. Last time shed spoken to this woman, shed been cursed with death. Still, she held her ground. Shed wanted to question a witch. Now she could. Without resorting to kidnapping. Why?
Oh, no. You arent the one who will be given answers. I am. Why were you spying on me last night?
Mary Ann squared her shoulders and raised her chin. Time for a little braverywhatever the price. You placed a death curse on me. Why wouldnt I spy on you?
A gleam of admiration brightened the witchs eyes. True.
And I will be given answers. You commanded my friend to attend one of your meetings, yet never told him when and where that meeting will be held. Tell me, and Ill tell him. Please, please, please.
I dont have the information you seek. The witch never took a step, yet the distance between them was suddenly cut in half.
Mary Ann raised her chin another notch. Youre lying.
Am I?
Yes, she had to be. Do you want us to die?
Maybe.
Why?
You are friends with a vampire, a werewolf, both enemies to my kind, and a boy who draws us with a power we have never encountered before. To echo your question, why wouldnt I want you to die?
Her teeth ground together as her own strategy was used against her. Time for a new angle, she supposed. She forced her expression to clear, her tone to gentle. Whats your name?
Marie.
Mary Ann was surprised by the simply stated answer. Well, Marie, you should know that were going to do everything we can to stay alive.
As would I. Maries head tilted to the side, her study intensifying. Do you know what you are, Mary Ann Gray?
Hearing her own name used, when shed never offered it, was jolting. Me? She laughed; she just couldnt help herself. Im human. Average in every way.
No. Youre something more. I can feel you feeding on me.
Her eyes widened in horror. Feeding on you? Are you kidding? I am not a vampire.
I didnt say you were. But you are attempting to drain me, and I wont allow it. With every word, Maries voice sharpened.
Drain her? What Oh. Yeah. Drain must mean mute in witch-speak. I dont mute natural abilities, so you should be able to
Do you purposely misunderstand me? I said nothing about muting. You are sucking at my life-force like a vacuum, trying to take everything and leave a mere shell behind.
No. Im not.
Continue to lie to me, and Ill cast a truth spell on you. Now the witchs voice slashed. Never again will you be able to lie about anything to anyone. Ever.
Could she really do that? Mary Ann experienced a wave of fury, of frustration and helplessness. And with the emotions, more of that sweet power flowed through her, filling her up, somehow soothing her. Im not lying now. Im notsucking at you.
Perhaps you havent yet realized what you are, then. Maries eyes narrowed as she backed away, heading into the forest. Odd. She was pale now, her beautiful tan visibly fading. If you return to town, Ill assume youre there to finish this.
Finish this fight between them, she meant. You will assume correctly. Shut up. Just shut up before she attacks!
Mary Ann couldnt, though. She would not be the weak link anymore.
Marie disappeared behind the branches and leaves, and Mary Ann spun, quickly jetting inside the building. To safety. What had Marie meant by perhaps you havent yet realized what you are?
Riley might know. He had arranged his schedule to match hers, so, if hed come to school, shed get to talk to him during class.
The second period bell suddenly rang.
Doors flew open and kids raced into the halls. Lockers creaked open and slammed shut. Mary Ann had to fight her way through the crowd. Great. Shed missed first period entirely, and she had a test tomorrow. Great. Mr. Klien, if hed come to school after partying so hard last night, would have done a review today. Without that review, she would flunk.
Schoolwork didnt come easily for her. She had to slave for every A, and slave hard, but she hadnt been studying the past few weeks, her attention too focused on, well, staying alive. Last test, shed gotten a B. Her first. And the last pop quiz? Solid D. Another hated first.
She hadnt told her dad yet. When she did, he would flip. Make that if she did. She kept telling herself he was better off not knowing. He had enough to deal with. Besides, she would ace the next one and her overall grade wouldnt be affected.
Oh, who was she kidding? As her peers headed into their next class, she finally admitted the truth. She hadnt told him because she didnt want the hassle of being lectured, maybe even grounded. And hey, maybe Marie really had cast a truth spell on her. Now she couldnt even lie to herself.
Hey, Mary Ann. Brittany Buchanan walked briskly down the hall, grinning, a paper outstretched in her hand. Her chin-length red hair was the envy of every girl at school. Well, not her twin sister. Briannas hair was the exact same color, only longer. Glad I ran into you. Riley asked me to take notes for you in Chem.
Rileys here? she asked, claiming the paper.
Yeah. The redhead sighed dreamily. I almost passed out when he spoke to me. That boys voice is deep.
Thank God he was here. If he was here, he was okay. Where is he? And why hadnt he delivered the notes? Why hadnt he picked her up this morning?
Dont know. But, uh, are you two, like, dating, because Brittany bit her bottom lip. Yeah. Hands off! Were dating. She hoped. After last night, though, he could have changed his mind. Shed been so sure of herself, so stupid. She may have ruined everything. Now witches were even visiting the school. Thank you for the notes. I owe you. Big time.
No problem. And as for payback, if Riley has a brother, you could, I dont know, introduce me. Brittany started biting her lip again.
He has two. And both were dealing with curses of their own, she recalled. Anyone they were attracted to would think they were ugly. Anyone they werent attracted to would think they were gorgeous. Ill see if theyre free.
Thanks! A grinning Brittany flounced off.
Mary Ann rushed to her locker, threw her bag inside and grabbed her book and binder. The halls were now almost empty, the bell due to ring in less than a minute. Too much time gabbing, she thought, and she had to haul butt into the three hundred building.
As she barreled around a corner, a door in front of her opened unexpectedly. She stumbled as she darted around itor tried to. An arm reached out, hard fingers banding around her wrist and jerking her into a darkened room. The moment she was inside, the door closed, locking her in with her assailant.
Her textbook thumped to the ground. Crap! She could have used it as a weapon. Do something. Quick! Fighting panic, trembling, Mary Ann struck, slamming the heel of her hand into the guys nose, just like Aden had taught her.
He howled.
She stilled, recognizing that howl. Her heart slammed against her ribs. Riley?
I think you broke my nose, he said, but he sounded amused. That amusement didnt last long, however. He flipped on the light, chasing the shadows away, and she saw that his expression was etched in violence. His eyes were narrowed, lips pulled back, teeth bared. Didnt help that blood poured from his nose.
Im sorry. You just, you scared me!
The tardy bell rang, and she wanted to curse.
Dont be sorry, he growled. Be proud. And Im sorry I scared you.
He didnt sound apologetic. He sounded just as violent as he looked. She glanced away, needing a moment to calm, and saw that they were in a supply closet. The scent of disinfectant saturated the air. Cleaning supplies lined the shelves.
Deep breath in, out. Finally, her trembling eased and her heartbeat slowed. Why are you so upset? she asked, keeping her eyes away from him.
Im not.
She ran her tongue over her teeth. Someone needed a truth spell, and it wasnt her. So where were you this morning? I waited. And waited. Oh, God. Did he hear the whine in her voice?
After the vampire gig, I had to escort Aden home. As there was a wee bit of opposition from his new subjects, I was afraid someone would follow him and try to take him out, so I ended up camping outside his window all night and all morning.
Her hand whipped up to her throat as her gaze once again clashed with his. Did they? Try to take him out, I mean?
No.
So hes well?
Well, but tired. He still sees the fairy ghost, and that ghost prevented him from sleeping.
Tired and ghost-whispering were far better than mortally wounded. Where is he now?
Here.
With Victoria, she said with a nod. A statement of fact, not a question. Those two were always together.
No. Victoria didnt attend today.
Why? Was she hurt? And why wasnt Riley with her? Usually Riley glued himself to the vampires side, protecting her his first priority.
Tendrils of jealousy worked through Mary Ann, followed by tendrils of guilt. Their relationship shouldnt bother her. They were princess and bodyguard. If Victoria were injured, Riley would be punished. Perhaps killed.
Or maybe things were different now, under Adens rule.
Physically, shes fine, Riley said. Our councilmen want her to stay away from Aden so that he can date other people.
What? And shes okay with that?
Rileys lips twitched. Youll have to ask her.
If Adens king, how can the councilmen tell her what to do? He wouldnt allow it. Would he?
Aden doesnt live in our home. Hes new and no one knows what to make of him. Everyone is looking to the councilmen for answers, and right now, they support him. We dont want that to change, so were catering to their desires. Besides, to deny them would cause unrest among the people. That unrest would be dangerous for Aden.
Still. Having to watch your boyfriend date other girls? Absolute torture! The thought of Riley with someone elseher hands curled, her nails cutting past skin. Well, you could have called me. Let me know you werent coming for me.
He tangled a hand through his dark hair, all hint of amusement fading. The fury returned, darkening his expression. No, I couldnt have. I would have yelled.