Page 56 of Midnight Reign
I nod, feeling a lump form in my throat at the sincere expression in his fiery eyes. “I know, and I appreciate it.” I can’t look at them for long because their support makes everything feel too real.
Zaiah clears his throat. “So, are we going to ignore the fact that there’s a shadow creature following you around like a lost puppy, or what?” He gestures towards the pet at my feet, which has taken to imitating a cat, curling itself around my ankles.
“No, but we need to rally the troops. If MistHallow has fallen to these other creatures, then we need to take it back.”
“Okay, how?” Zephyr asks, his gaze fixed on mine with an intensity that makes my heart thump.
“I don’t know, yet. What did you mean when you said, ‘the shadows are her servants’?”
He smirks. “Something my dad said about you.”
“Sounds like the elders know more than they’re letting on,” Corvus says, pissed off.
“What else is new?” Zaiah asks.
“Yeah, the elders are cocks,” Ignatius snorts.
I grin at the lighter atmosphere, but it doesn’t last. We are an academy of students without an academy. It has been taken over by creatures out to destroy us. “We need to do this ritual and see what happens to Crimson.”
“And what if she kills you?” Corvus asks bluntly.
“Then I die, but at least we tried to save MistHallow.”
How noble.
“Unless you have answers, you can shut the fuck up.” I see her miming zipping her lips and I roll my eyes. “The sooner we get this done, the better. She is pissing me the fuck off.”
“Agreed,” comes the unanimous mutter back at me.
24
IGNATIUS
I glance at Addy,noticing the strain etched on her face and the dark circles under her eyes. She’s holding herself together with sheer willpower, and I admire her resilience. Zaiah’s right – there’s a shadow creature attached to her like a… err… shadow, but that’s the least of our worries.
“Okay. Let’s focus on the task at hand. We need to organise the students and figure out a plan of action. If these ‘others’ are as dangerous as we think they are, then we need to be prepared.”
Zephyr nods in agreement, his gaze thoughtful. “As soon as the students are sorted, we will head to the stone circle and do this ritual. I feel it may entail more than just sex, though. In fact, I don’t think that is the cornerstone of this at all, the more I think about it. It’s got to be blood.”
“Always, blood,” Corvus nods in agreement.
“Aw, so no sex?” I ask with a sassy smile at Addy.
She laughs. “Oh, there can still be sex.” She pulls out the book from the back of her leggings and hands it to Zephyr. “Do you want to see if you can find out anything in here?”
He eyes it warily and then Addy. “You’re quite possessive over it, princess. You sure you want me to take it?”
She smirks. “As long as you give it back.”
I see Blackthorn talking to some other members of staff and leave the group to the book while I sidle over. “Professors,” I say. “How can we assist with the student relocation?”
“We’re contemplating sending everyone home,” Blackthorn sighs. “For now.”
“Luke,” Professor Hartridge hisses as he clearly gives away too much information for her liking.
“Enough, Lucinda. This is a done deal. Until the threat is dealt with, we can’t have the students out here in the middle of the forest indefinitely.”
“I and the other House Captains can spread the word,” I say. “Get everyone to contact their parents.”
