Page 59 of Radiant Shadows

My will to resist had been drained. My legs moved maladroitly, following Marguerite’s guidance like an injured animal.

As she towed me through the doors and into the Great Hall, she whispered, “You should have taken my offer.”

Chapter 22

Shea

There were no words to describe the way I felt after the other night. Even now, two days later, I still couldn’t put it into words. That had been the best night of my entire life. Both of the men with whom I was head-over-heels for—at the same time! And it hadn’t felt weird or clumsy or too much. It had felt right. And I’d been walking around with rose-colored glasses ever since.

But I knew I couldn’t keep my head in the clouds forever. My love life might finally be in an incredible place, but Arya’s was in danger. Based on the twenty or so messages I’d received from Tobias within about an hour’s span yesterday, he was dangerously close to tripping his curse. If I didn’t find the right counterspell soon, they’d both be doomed, and I couldn’t live with myself if that happened.

But how the hell was I going to do that? The damn book sure wasn’t yielding, and even though Gram was finally teaching me magic, I didn’t feel right about coming to her with this, not yet.

I would give it one more try today, and if I couldn’t figure it out, I’d come clean to Gram about the grimoire. Even if she decided to cut me off after that, how could she deny someone the chance at true love?

I came home after school with the intention of going straight to my room, but Gram was waiting for me in the kitchen with an eager smile.

“Ready for your next lesson?” she asked. “I wanted to show you a spell for erasing your scent.”

Damn my stupid timing. After years of wishing for her to ask me that question, I would have to reject the offer. Just this once.

I frowned. “Didn’t I already learn that one?”

“Yes, but that was specific to vampires. There’s a variation on the spell that helps with weres—hounds, specifically. You know, I dated a hound once. He was a real dog.” Gram winked, and I burst out laughing.

“Are you pulling my leg, Gram?”

“Maybe. Maybe not. So, you want to learn the spell or what?”

I tugged on a lock of hair, digging the toe of my shoe into the wood floor. “Actually, I think I have to skip the lesson today, if you don’t mind. Homework.” I shrugged.

Gram gave me an appraising look, seeming more skeptical than surprised. “I suppose that’s fine. Your schoolwork is more important, after all. We can continue tomorrow.”

“Thanks!” I gave Gram a quick peck on the cheek before heading to my room.

After locking the door, I performed the reveal spell and retrieved my grimoire.

Thegrimoire, not mine,I reminded myself.

I sighed. It didn’t seem fair, being in possession of the key to unlocking my magic and still not being able to use most of it—stupid magic rules.

But the rules are there for a reason,Gram’s admonition rang in my head. I couldn’t help but be reminded that my parents had died at the hands of unguided magic. At least I had something, even if the grimoire refused to yield all its secrets.

And I didn’t need all its secrets. Just one.

I flipped through the pages to the love spell I’d marked, hoping to find inspiration for Tobias’s dilemma.

“Ow!” I hissed, jerking my stinging hand from the offending edge. “Papercut.”

I examined my finger, then pushed it into my mouth in hopes of sucking away the sting. But something caught in the bottom of my peripheral vision, and I looked down at the book in my lap.

A speck on the page began to glow, and my eyes widened. That was my blood on the page. And the book was reacting to it.

“Oh no!” I licked my thumb and tried to rub at the spot, but my attempts only managed to spread the blood further. And the light was growing.

“Crap, crap, crap!”

Gram had said something about blood and magic, so whatever this was couldn’t be good. My heart hammered, and I tried to slam the book closed, but it felt as if a weight was on top of the pages.

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