Page 45 of The Last De Loughrey Dynasty

“Maybe you’ll remember in the morning,” I told her. “We’ll stay here tonight and figure out how to deal with it tomorrow.”

Her attention locked onto me. “What makes this place so much safer than the rest of the school?”

Naomi stood up from her seat beside me and knocked on the wall, where several portraits hung. She smirked before answering, “Because these walls are built from the same stone you’ve wrapped around your neck. That must have cost a fortune. Besides, most of the bookshelves have protection symbols carved into them. No spirit can set foot in our hideaway.”

“I honestly don’t think I’ll sleep after this evening. Can I just search through the library instead?” Dorothee asked.

Jesse grinned in response. “I’ll help you. To make it easier, I’ve written down a guide to the different genres in the library. It might look small, but it’s more extensive than the school’s library because of the variety.”

I can’t remember the last time I’d seen him this excited.

A dimple appeared on her cheek as she smiled tiredly. I was aware she had two, but only both showed when she smiled fully.

“You realise what this means?” I began. “You’re part of this now—this life, this legacy,of Umbra.”

“Archer—” Nathaniel tried to cut me off, but I ignored him and continued.

“You need to work with us, whether you like it or not. I don’t trust you, but I’ve got no choice.”

Her smile fell, and she looked at me, almost challenging. “What if I don’t want to be part of this?”

She wanted nothing more than to belong, but I kept pointing out the dangers and the path this could take if we defied fate.

“Then history will repeat itself, and we’ll both follow the path of Dottie and James.”

She turned pale at my statement, but it was the truth. We had to work together, or we’d end up six feet under by the end of this school year. We’d tried to keep her out of this, to defy fate, to keep her close—but not too close.

Tonight had proven it wasn’t possible. The spirits would take her before history even had a chance to repeat itself if we didn’t assist her in safeguarding herself. Whatever force was working to fulfil this fate, we had no choice but to form an alliance. Otherwise, our fate was sealed.

“That won’t happen,” she said, shaking her head and pressing her lips together.

“Are you going to help us find the rest of the prophecies, uncover what happened fifty years ago, and locate the Book of Shadows to prevent the future?”

She hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “I want you to teach me how to tell the difference between real people and spirits.”

I hadn’t expected her to ask for something in return. It wasn’t just my life that would be lost if she chose not to participate in this twisted legacy.

I nodded. “I’m spending the weekend with my mother and sister in London, but I promise to help you control the sight.”

Extending my hand across the table to seal the deal, I waited for her to take it. I wanted her as far from me as possible, but that wasn’t going to work. There were rules to follow, and avoiding Dorothee De Loughrey wasn’t an option.

She stepped closer and firmly shook my hand. Her touch sent a pang of longing through me, and it drove me mad.

What was it about this girl?

Dorothee let go of my hand and followed Jesse, who was already waiting for her at the door of the little library. He held it open for her, and as the door closed behind them, I kept staring.

This was a mistake.

I’d be her ruin.

I stood abruptly, trying to shake off the thoughts hammering at my chest.

“You can’t make her want you,” Mai said softly, her voice trembling.

I turned, looking down at her, her shoulder-length hair casting shadows over her face.

“What do you mean by that? I’m not trying to make her fall into bed with me,” I snapped, curling my lip in disgust at the thought of her believing so little of me.

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