Page 42 of Midnight Reign
We ascend the stairs, our spirits lifting with each step. The air grows fresher, and I can feel the magick of MistHallow growing stronger. Finally, we emerge into a gloomy corridor that I recognise as part of the east wing of the school.
“We made it,” Addy breathes, relief evident in her voice. She looks exhausted.
“Let’s get you back to your room,” I say, taking her hand and leading her back to the tower.
When we get to the door at the bottom, I pause and turn her to face me. I bend down and give her a soft kiss. “ We’ve got this, Addy. We won’t let you be taken over by Crimson.”
“Promise?” she murmurs, looking up at me with those dark, captivating eyes.
“Promise,” I reply, meaning it with every cell in my body. I won’t lose her. Not now, not ever.
17
ADELAIDE
As I climbthe stone staircase to my room, exhaustion hits me like a brick wall. The events of the night swirl in my mind - the hidden library, the ancient book, the revelation about Crimson Shadow and the ritual. It’s all a bit exhausting.
I stumble into my room, barely managing to kick off my shoes before collapsing onto the bed. The guys follow me in, crowding around the small space. Orby is hovering near the mirror and bobs up and down, coming to me when I curl up.
“You’ll be okay, princess?” Zephyr asks softly.
I nod. “Always.”
“Do you want us to stay?”
“No, I think I need to just be on my own for a bit.”
“What about Crimson?” Corvus asks.
“I’ll be fine. She can’t hurt me.”
“If you need us?—”
“You’ll hear me screaming,” I say with a smile I don’t feel.
Zaiah bends to kiss me on the forehead, and then they file out, closing the door behind them. As soon as I’m alone, I grab Orby. “What do you know?”
Aww, poor little vessel. Is it getting to you?
“Shut up,” I growl into my pillow. “Just shut the fuck up.”
Now, now, that’s no way to talk to your future self.
I sit up, anger surging through me. “You are not my future self. You’re a parasite, and I won’t let you take over.”
Oh, sweetie, you don’t have a choice. It’s already happening. Can’t you feel it?
I freeze, suddenly aware of a subtle shift within me. It’s like a shadow creeping at the edges of my consciousness, a presence that’s becoming harder to ignore.
“No,” I whisper, clenching my fists. “You’re lying.”
Am I? Think about it, little bitch. How easily you read that Latin text. How instinctively you found the way out of the library. That wasn’t all you, was it?
Fear claws at my throat. She’s right. I’ve been accessing knowledge I shouldn’t have, and doing things I shouldn’t be able to do.
It’s already started, little vessel. Our merging. It’s only a matter of time now.
“No!” I shout, jumping to my feet. Orby whizzes away, startled by my outburst. “I won’t let you. We’ll perform the ritual. We’ll stop you.”
