Page 22

CELESTE

You’ll need to get your mates to bring you over soon.

Diana and I have apartments right next to each other.

AUDREY

I’ll talk to them.

I’m meeting Wraith and Donovan now. They have a surprise for me.

I’ll call you later. Love you both!

“Audrey!”

I glance up at the sound of Wren’s voice, spinning around to find her hurrying across the courtyard toward me. “Hey, Wren.”

It hasn’t quite been a week since my sister arrived, but it’s finally Saturday, which means a day off for all of us. I have no idea what they have in store for me, but I’m glad my sister found me before I left. When I stopped by her dorm room, she wasn’t there. I sent her a message but didn’t hear back from her. I figured I would catch up with her later in the day, but here she is.

“I was looking for you,” I tell her as she catches up with me.

She nods. “I figured when I saw you walking away from my dorm.”

“You didn’t have to chase me. I sent you a message.”

“I forgot my phone in my room.” She wrinkles her nose. “Honestly, I just needed a moment away from it all, you know? I’m a little surprised this is the first time you’ve come looking for me.”

I don’t like how hurt she sounds as I pull her into my arms. “I’m sorry. I was giving you space so you could adjust to the new normal. I remember how overwhelming it was when I first arrived here.”

Wren returns the hug, clinging to me almost desperately, and I realize just how badly I fucked up.

“I thought you were dead for months, Ree. Okay, you are dead, but I didn’t know I’d get to see you again. I don’t want you to give me space. I want you up my ass so I can be up yours,” she tells me as she pulls back, and I laugh.

“I’d rather neither of us was up the other’s ass, but I get what you’re saying.” I sigh. “I’m sorry. I won’t stay away anymore. Soon, you really won’t be able to get away from me. I’ll be helping out in at least two of your classes starting Monday. Since I passed my final, they gave me a few days off.”

Wren’s face lights up. “Does that mean you can come spend time with me?”

“I’m sorry, Wren. I’m actually on my way to meet up with Donovan and Wraith. They have a surprise planned for me.” I don’t like the way her face falls. “You know what? I’ll just call them and ask them if we can do this later. I’ve missed you.”

Wren shakes her head. “You’re not canceling your plans with your mates to hang out with me. Maybe we can hang out after you get back?”

“Oh! If we’re back in time for dinner, then we can have you over. Brenden is already pouting that he’s not allowed to come with us today. But I can spend all day with you tomorrow.”

“That sounds perfect. Just call or message me when you get back, and we’ll figure it out.” Wren hugs me again before stepping back. “Have fun.”

I hesitate as I realize Wren can probably help me fill in the one remaining hole in my memory. “Before you go…I seem to have a problem with crowds. It’s the only thing I haven’t remembered. Do you know why?”

Wren’s face falls as she nods. “It’s probably for the best that you don’t remember.”

Annoyance ripples through me, but I manage not to growl at her. “That’s all fine and dandy, but can you tell me why? It’s driving me crazy.”

“Are you sure?” She sighs at my nod. “When we were eight or nine, Mom took us to a concert—”

“I remember that. It was a supernatural music festival. We saw some great acts.”

She laughs. “We did, and we had a blast—for the most part. But hunters somehow found out about it and attacked the festival. Somehow, you ended up separated from me and Mom. You were almost trampled by the crowd. By the time someone grabbed you off the ground and we found you, you had a broken arm and leg. You haven’t really been able to handle crowds since then. You will if you have to, but usually only when I’m with you.”

A shiver runs through me as a flash of a memory rushes forward—me curled into a ball on the grass as people run over and around me, pain and panic coursing through me. It’s there and gone in a moment, and I think Wren is right. That’s one memory I don’t want back.