Page 66 of Deadly Alliances

Chapter 25

Shea

The wall of numbness that I’d built to cage my feelings was on the verge of collapse as I ate dinner with my fellow Initiates. No one spoke to me, treating me with just as much caution as they did the vampires; Once word got out that I was a witch and would be performing a powerful spell on their leader this very night, they no longer regarded me as a normal human peer. But I preferred it that way. I was in no mood to chitchat.

Everything that had already happened today was overwhelming, and it was far from over. Hadrian had vampires collecting the ingredients for the spell as soon as the sun set, and it was only a matter of time before he called to collect on my promise.

There were so many chaotic emotions scratching at my wall that I didn’t know which was which. Guilt for burning Julian, and even more for enjoying him biting me after I healed him. Gratitude toward Marguerite for letting me heal him warring with intense hatred for her treatment of him. And fear, both of what Hadrian would do after the spell was performed and for the bite that Marguerite expected tonight. I didn’t want to endure either of those things, but I couldn’t refuse.

I only hoped that Marguerite would be sated by my blood and not force me to watch or engage in anymore torture of my beloved vampire in her custody.

“Hm-hm,” someone humphed behind me, startling me to the point of dropping my fork onto the pile of almost inedible cornmeal on my plate.

I turned to see Kristen looking down her nose at me, wiping aspot of yellow mush off her cheek that had splashed off my plate. I gave her an apologetic smile.

“Lord Hadrian has sent for you,” she said in her oh so charming tone. “He’s asked you to meet him in the Trophy Room.”

And there it was. My time had run out. Some part of me had been holding onto hope that Hadrian’s minions wouldn’t find a moonflower, at least not tonight. I had hoped to be closer to getting my friends out before having to follow through with the spell, but everything was happening so fast. I was no closer to rescuing anyone than I was before entering this castle, and now I was giving the most evil, most powerful vampire in the world a ticket to freedom.

“Thanks,” I said, shouldering my bag and scurrying out of the dining room and up the stairs.

I wanted to meddle with the spell, try to make it temporary like I’d done with Julian’s reversal, but I didn’t want to risk making things worse. There were notes with the daywalker spell, notes about the dire consequences of not following it precisely, and I just couldn’t afford to botch the spell with Hadrian. I’d never make it out alive if I did. Ultimately, it wasn’t worth the risk.

I knocked on the trophy room door, gripping the strap of my bag as I waited.

Hadrian opened it with a smile. “Excellent. Time for the fun to begin.”

I smiled as I entered and hoped that Hadrian wouldn’t notice that it didn’t meet my eyes.

“Nervous?” Hadrian asked as he closed the door.

We took our seats at the desk, the moonflower sitting in a cup of water, its roots looking like pale worms magnified by the curveof the glass.

I shrugged. “Yeah. I’m nervous. I’m doing a big spell for a big guy.”

Hadrian laughed, the sound musical and disarming. “Honesty. I like that. I’m sure you’ll do fine.”

He gave me an encouraging smile, and I tried to regulate my heart rate so he wouldn’t hear how truly terrified I was.

“Shall we begin?”

With a single nod, I stood and removed the bag from my shoulder, muttering the reveal spell before pulling the book out. I set it on top of the desk and exerted my will the way Gram had showed me, and the grimoire opened, pages flipping magically until landing on the daywalker spell.

Hadrian chuckled. “Very impressive.”

I cleared my throat and grabbed the flower, tearing off the petals and roots and placing them in a pile. They smelled a bit like lemons, and I wondered if they’d taste that way, too. Hadrian handed me a bag of sunflower seeds, and I made a new pile with them. I sat back and eyed the parts, then nodded. They looked about equal to me. Hopefully.

I pushed both piles toward him. “You’ll need to eat all of this first.”

Hadrian lifted a brow, then shrugged and began consuming everything I’d measured out. The moonflower was poisonous to humans, but I knew it wouldn’t affect Hadrian. Though, apparently, the flavor was less than appealing because he grimaced as he swallowed, not even bothering to chew. When he was done, he sat back.

I took a deep breath and turned the grimoire to face him, thencame around the desk. I heavily resented the fact that I needed to be touching the person for the spell to work, and the idea of any form of physical contact with this dangerous monster had chills skittering across my skin.

I swallowed as I placed my hand tentatively on his shoulder, as if the touch would somehow wound me.

Hadrian eyed me, a wry smirk curling his stupidly gorgeous lips. “It’s okay. I won’t bite you.” He smiled, flashing his deadly fangs, and I gave a nervous giggle that made me feel even more foolish.

“Sorry. I’m just trying to make sure I don’t screw anything up,” I said.

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