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I nod against his neck again. “And she was there this morning when I was walking home from the gym.”

He thinks for a moment. “You think she’s involved?”

I shrug.

“I think I uncovered something, too. We should meet in my office.”

Without another word, I slip from his lap. I can feel Luke and Zane watching as I slide my hand into his and lead him from the cafeteria. The headmaster summons a portal once we are out of sight behind the building, and we step through it into his office. At first, the room is exactly as it always looks, but then he waves his hand. The messages appear on the wall alongside several student profiles, with pieces of string connecting them.

“I’m not convinced this is regarding the rebellion,” the headmaster says, touching the line,From the mountains to the sky, I’ll make their blood run down her face. “We’ve been saying the killer is toying with us, and here it is again.” He points to the first part. “From the mountains, meaning Drãculea. The killer told us Alice was next.” He points to the second part. “To the sky.”

My heart stops, and my stomach twists in fear. “Connor…” I whisper.

The headmaster nods, looking at the wall. “They’re playing with us, giving us clues. He is next.”

I place my hand on my chest, unable to breathe. My heart, which felt like it had stopped beating, is now thundering hard in my chest. The headmaster steps in front of me, shielding me from the words. The only thing I can see is his molten silver eyes. “I will not let that happen, Miss Tuatha De Daanan.”

I look down, tears welling in my eyes. “I should just let them have me. Then everyone would be safe.”

“That is not the answer, and you know it.” The headmaster’s fists clench. “Killers don’t just stop. Once they have a taste, it never ends,” he says, his face thunderous. “This is a game to them. If it weren’t you, it would be someone else.” His lips curl slightly. “It is good that I am wearing his face.”

He turns and walks to one of the many bookshelves. Choosing a handful of books, he dumps them on his desk and starts flicking through them. He slices his finger and begins drawing runes on his arms, the blood turning inky black as they take shape. I watch him, frozen with an odd mix of fear and fascination.

“The more I am seen as Mister Morningstar, the more likely they take me instead.”

“But, sir, I-I don’t want you to be hurt either.” It’s true. Enough people have been harmed at my expense. It needs to end now.

“Those runes?—”

“Time-stopping runes,” he answers before the question is even complete. “Time is difficult to halt even for a breath. You don’t hold just the place frozen but all the realms. There is only…” He pauses, thinking about his words. “It is not something that should ever be taken lightly.” He looks up at me. “Dangerous things should be approached with caution. A deadly viper can look as docile as a piece of driftwood until it’s too late.”

“But so much fun to play with when tamed,” I blurt out. Where had that come from? It’s like the words have surged from my darkness into the light, tainting it as it goes.

His eyes flash to that swirling silver. “Some things only appear tamed.” He glances away as the sound of students moving past his door seeps into his office. “We should go.”

119

Summer

“Well done today,” the headmaster says as we walk into the Morningstar House.

“Thank you, sir,” I say, unsure how to take his compliment. He nods once and drops the glamor before disappearing through his portal. As soon as it closes behind him, I go in search of Connor.

Fear from our findings sits heavily on my shoulders, but I need to try to relax because the headmaster is right. The more he is seen as Connor and the less Connor is out of the house, the more chance the headmaster will be taken and not Connor. I am sure the headmaster is far more powerful than some serial killer. Isn’t he?

“Al! You need not to be around tonight!” I call toward Zach’s room, where she’s been staying. She pops her head out, frowning.

“Why?”

“Max is coming over to hang out with Connor and me, and he can’t know you’re alive.”

Alice rolls her eyes. “You’re lucky they’re running reruns of The Shifter is the Mistertonight.”

“You’re a rockstar,” I say.

Alice blows me a kiss and returns to her room just as Connor comes out of his. “Babe!” He wraps me in his arms and kisses me hard. “I missed you.”

I smile and press my body against his. “I missed you too, big guy.” Connor lifts me and carries me into his room, where we happily lose ourselves in each other.