Page 42 of Deadly Alliances

I stole one last desperate kiss from her lips. “You’d better,” I said, half-teasing, half-completely-fucking-serious.

We stood like that for a long moment, caressing and kissing and embracing, until finally we pulled our bottoms back up and retreated back into the tent. With a thousand unspoken words hanging between us, we held each other tightly through the night.

I still couldn’t sleep, though Shea had seen to it that I was thoroughly exhausted and drained. I was certain that I would never sleep again. Not until she was back in my arms, far away from the monsters who sought to destroy us all.

Chapter 16

Shea

I cursed under my breath as I trudged through the snow, hugging my coat tightly against me to no avail. The air seemed to get colder the closer I got to the black towers that loomed over the lonely branches of the frozen forest. No surprise there. I always imagined Hell as a place devoid of warmth and light rather than full of fire and brimstone, and you couldn’t get much closer to Hell on earth than Heritage Prep.

Leaving Caesar had been especially difficult, but I took great comfort in knowing Aunt Janette was there to protect him with her magic. We’d spelled the campsite enough for them to remain undetectable, but I couldn’t help being nervous with them so close to the vampire headquarters.

Though, let’s be honest, the real reason that my stomach was more twisted than a writhing nest of snakes was becauseIwas about to walk right into said headquarters. I’d put on a brave face for Caesar, but now that I was alone with my feelings and getting closer to my possible doom, I was fucking terrified. Especially considering I had Aunt Janette reverse the Sun Kissed spell—I couldn’t exactly convince a bunch of vampires I was here to join them if they burned just from touching me.

But doing stupid things despite my fear was kind of my M.O. And Julian and Arya needed me. I didn’t really have a choice this time around. I just hoped that luck stayed on my side, that I hadn’t run out of my nine lives when I needed them most.

I shuddered and pulled my hood lower over my head, then thought better of it and pushed it back down. I didn’t wantmy vision obstructed lest one of the “students” was wandering around out here. The fear was irrational, of course. I had chosen to make my entrance in the morning for that very reason. And if they denied me at the door, I at least had a snowball’s chance to flee.

The closer I got, the more ominously the towers loomed. I swallowed my doubts and kept trudging forward. I prayed the castle would be warm. Or at least warmer than it was out here. Even hiking, I was having a hard time shaking the chill.

I groaned when the trees opened up and the front entrance came into view. Stairs. Hadn’t I been through enough? I sat down in the snow, not caring that my ass was getting cold. My legs needed a break, and I wanted to gain my bearings before I entered Satan’s armpit.

Movement in my periphery startled me. I whipped around and stumbled on the frozen snow while trying to get up.

“Who are you?” asked a voice behind me, and I froze.

I knew that voice. I pulled off my beanie and turned toward Adam, trying to give him the most unimpressed expression I could muster. My heart beat in my throat, and I had to forcefully swallow against it.

“I’m a new Initiate.”

Adam squinted at me. “Do I know you?”

I stifled a snort. Heshouldknow me, after the weeks he’d spent stalking me. Looked like the memory spell I’d cast had been more effective than I realized.

I shook my head and shrugged. “It’s my first time here.”

I kept my face angled down. Hopefully, he’d take it as a sign of respect and not recognize the fear coursing through me—or myface.

Adam grunted. “Hey, Thomas!” he called as another person approached.

I let out a breath when the new guy came closer, also looking very human.

“Have you heard anything about a new Initiate?” Adam asked Thomas.

Thomas shook his head. “No, but they’d be more likely to tell you than me.”

“Sekha hedjefa,” I breathed, and both boys froze, getting a glazed look in their eyes. My heart fluttered. I wasn’t sure if that would work on more than one person at a time. Thank fuck that it had.

“You will forget the past five minutes. You just met me and you were expecting me. You’re supposed to take me to Hadrian.” I hoped that would do it. “Hetem,” I said, finishing the spell.

Their eyes lost that glossy look, and they smiled at me.

“Let’s get you to Hadrian,” Adam said.

Thomas nodded and grabbed my bag, making light work of the contraption that had fought me all the way here.

A few other Initiates stood around the grounds—apparently acting as guards during the day—sending curious looks at us. They seemed to defer to Adam, though, and since he seemed confident, they didn’t question it. I was both grateful and terrified that Adam held that much power. I just needed him to not recognize me. But if everything went smoothly, surely I could avoid Adam in such a large structure.

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