Page 78

Going to have to ask a shifter for a ride back to my house.At least then if I’m dropped off and it pings some other erected ward at, say, Henbane’s main entrance, it will cause less scrutiny than one on the edge of the Everwoods.

Once Nero and I enter the forest, our surroundings grow unnervingly quiet.

I weave between trees, stepping over bits of discarded costumes. In the light of day, it looks particularly bleak.

I cut across the pumpkin-lined path. Today the lanterns hover a little lower in the air; a few of them have fallen to the ground altogether, their spells worn off. All of it has that post-holiday melancholy. The fun’s been had, and now life is expected to go back to normal. The campus-wide curfew isn’t helping, and I wonder how it’s affecting the Day of the Dead celebrations happening today.

I’ve nearly gotten my nerves under control when I finally make it to the thin, luminous blue line that marks the boundary between witch and shifter territory. At the sight of it, my dread instantly reforms.

I place a hand on Nero’s head. “Do you want to come the rest of the way with me, or do you want to go hunt?” I ask.

Nero gives me a look that I think says,I know you’re a fucking chicken, lady. But maybe I’m just reading into things.

Nero presses himself more firmly against my side, making his decision clear.

I take a deep breath and nod. “That’s—that’s really sweet of you.”

I force myself to make my way to the line. Once I’m there, I wait. The forest feels entirely abandoned. One minute goes by. Then two. Three, four…

I shift my weight.

Kane told me to meet him at the boundary marker, but maybe I was supposed to go to a different section of it. Or maybe after last night, Kane decided to stand me up.

I get a cowardly thrill at the idea of retreating back to my room and burying myself under my newly washed blankets.

The thought has no sooner crossed my mind than I hear the crunch of pine needles. From the shadowy depths of the woods ahead, I make out a large form.

I see the sandy blond hair and the angular cut of the man’s face.

It’s Kane.

My stomach knots itself up.

Judging from the stern set of his features, he appears even less thrilled to be here than I am.

And now I’m vividly recalling all the cringiest parts of last night and wishing I still had the ability to forget such memories.

“Hi, Kane.” I give him a dopey little wave.

He doesn’t wave back.

Nero leans into me again, and I return my hand to his head, my heart hammering away.

Kane is almost to me, his eyes briefly dropping to my familiar before coming back to mine.

Should I apologize about last night? Should I mention it at all? Or should I?—

Kane’s nostrils flare. “You smell like him,” he says in greeting. He looks openly disgusted.

All right, I guess we’re fucking talking about it.

“Is that a problem?” I ask, ignoring the way my cheeks heat.

“He’s the man whostalked you. Not to mention he threw me out of the third story of your house. Why would you choose that monster over me?”

Because…

I stroke his hair back, drops of my blood and tears hitting his armor.