Page 56 of Blood and Hexes

"Oh, we'll kill them,” Eirikr said smoothly.

Levi rubbed his temples. "We can't take the chance. We need you on the island."

Seth gritted his teeth. "There's nothing happening there but sex and blood parties. They aren't letting me close enough to the queen to be of any help, as tonight showed."

"You're our only voice inside," Levi persisted.

At the back of the crowd approaching the castle at a leisurely pace, the huntsmen held a similar debate. Most wanted to be on the front line. Jack was categorical. “You can't keep up with vampire speed, not against however many will reach our walls. You should protect the Institute. The students and Adairford inhabitants can retreat to its walls.”

"I can keep up," Tris protested.

"You were made half an hour ago. You're literally a baby vampire. You're staying around the Institute.”

“I’m not. I’ll guard your six at the borders.”

Diana tuned them all out. She wasn't asking for permission; she'd be at the borders.

They'd almost reached the gates of the school when Chloe took her aside, leading her away from Mikar. Her eyes checked for eavesdroppers.

Low, she asked, "Do you think...do you think I’m all good? You know."

Diana did know. She wet her lips. "I don't know." She wasn't a specialist in vampire pregnancies. She'd seen a few pregnant women in her life on Night Hill, but her knowledge was too basic. "You should get checked out. Maybe Alexius can help?"

Chloe had tears in her eyes. She sniffled and nodded. "Yeah. I…you know, I wasn't sure about this for weeks, but now…I hope it's okay. I hope it more than anything in the world." She cried, wiping her eyes. "I'm so, so grateful, Diana. If you hadn't done whatever you did, I wouldn't be here, and there would be no other chance. I never thought I'd die. Not now. I'm twenty-six today. Just twenty-six. Even if I wasn't supposed to live forever, it would be too soon. I had to make sure Greer was safe for everyone here. She’s the most important person in Oldcrest. But without you…"

Diana hadn't expected the hug. She hadn't expected it to be so strong and desperate, like Chloe held on to her like a lifeline.

And then, she knew. She realized something that had evaded her until this very moment. Why she so vehemently rejected the idea of leaving. Why she’d fight. Like Mikar, she belonged in Oldcrest. She belonged right here, with her family, with her new friends. She belonged to this strange clan made up of witches, werewolves, vampires, and Eirikrsons. She wanted to stay. Not just past tonight: she wanted a life here. She wanted her home and…

Forcing any other thought back down, Dianahugged Chloe right back, and kept holding her hand as she walked through the gates of the Institute.

It was Diana's first time within the walls of the inner courtyard. The witches had held their ceremonies outside of their gates, never quite trusting vampires enough to let them in. The sanded court was empty except for a few ravens playing high up in the trees and a young boy reading a book in the moonlight. He glanced at them, and his eyes widened, taking in the procession. Inside, the halls were quiet. There were classes at night, but Diana was convinced almost everyone had skipped them in favor of the Samhain party.

Levi led them to a hidden room behind a fireplace, right in the entryway.

"I never knew this was here," Blair mused, looking around.

The vast room's brushed steel walls were covered with weapons, and Diana spotted old, precious artifacts, some for protection, others for the opposite. There were glass shelves with enough ingredients to make any witch flutter with happiness.

"You." Eirikr tilted his chin to Gwen, who looked stunned and terrified.

"Me?" she croaked.

He tossed her an amulet that looked vaguely familiar. "Activate this."

There was a blue stone at the center of the pendant. Gwen concentrated on it, pushing magic through, till it started to vibrate in her hands."Done."

Eirikr shot her a wicked smile, showing too many teeth. Gwen’s heart thundered hard enough for Diana to hear it without trying. "You're strong," he stated.“I’ve known water witches who would have taken hours, not seconds.”

Though her skin was dark umber, Diana would have sworn she blushed, handing it back to him.

Eirikr moved to Chloe, tying it around her neck.

Levi frowned. "That won't be much use. It's a protection for mortals."

Eirikr smirked knowingly. Diana remembered where she'd seen such an amulet. Pregnant women on the hill had worn them, because while they were immortal, their children weren't, not yet.So, Eirikr had sensed the child, somehow, which meant it was still alive.

She squeezed Chloe’s hand.

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