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“Jordan—” Saying his name hurt, and she winced before trying again. “Jordan’s gift won’t help him like mine helped me. I don’t know any other way for him to escape Aven. It’s a miracle that I managed it, and that was solely because of my willpower gift.”

“Then perhaps you need to follow the etiquette of a five-year-old,” the Shadow Walker said, somewhat mockingly, “and learn how to share.”

“I don’t—” Alex stopped talking when she realised what he was saying. “Do you think it’s possible?” she whispered. “Do you really think I can learn how to extend my gift to include others?”

“I wouldn’t have suggested it if I didn’t believe it to be possible,” he told her.

“I don’t know where to begin,” she said. “I’ve been trying, but I have no idea what I’m doing or how to strengthen it.”

“To build any muscle, you must exercise it,” he said. “Practice makes perfect.”

“But how am I supposed to know if it’s working?”

Caspar Lennox stared at her with a calculating expression before he nodded once as if to himself. He flicked a glance towards the others in their group and then turned back to her, stretching his hands out. The cloud of Shadow that wasconstantly at his feet rose at his command and surrounded the two of them, wrapping around them like a cloak.

Alex began to panic as they were enveloped by the swirling darkness. “What—”

“Be calm,” Caspar Lennox said. “I wish to speak to you without the others hearing. The Shadow will give us privacy from the eyes and ears of those around us—Meyarin included.”

She shuffled nervously and waited for him to continue.

“I know of someone who may be willing to assist in the strengthening of your gift,” the Shadow Walker said. “I’ll speak with him over the holidays and see if I can convince him to help. He rarely accepts new students these days, so it may come to nothing. But he owes me a favour. I’ll let you know the outcome when classes resume in the New Year.”

“Thank you, sir,” she said, her voice wobbling slightly.

His mottled face filled with compassion. “Take heart, Alexandra. All is not yet lost.”

The Shadow dropped from around them until Alex could see the clearing and everyone in it once again. Everyone except Caspar Lennox, who had apparently said all he needed to say before disappearing.

Alex blinked at the spot where he’d been standing. “How did he…?”

“He’s a Shadow Walker,” Bear said, seeing her puzzled expression. “They move through the Shadows. It’s what they do.”

… Right.

“Can we ask what that was all about?” Darrius said.

“Um, I’m not sure I’m supposed to say,” Alex said. Caspar Lennox must have had a reason for concealing his message, and she didn’t want to reveal anything without his permission.

The headmaster eyed her thoughtfully before nodding his head in acceptance. “There’s something else you shouldknow, Alex. After you stepped through to Raelia, Sir Camden appeared and spoke with me. His words made little sense at first, but then I learned that somehow he’d felt the presence of Aven while he was concealed by Jordan’s transcended state.”

Again, the mention of her friend’s name pierced her.

“Just as the knight was about to warn you, something stopped him from speaking,” Darrius said. “That same thing forced him to leave you and move through another doorway. It’s my belief that Calista Maine must have been using her gift on him.”

They’d been played the whole time. No wonder Sir Camden had looked like his joints were rusting over—he’d been as stiff as a board because of Calista’s telekinetic hold on him.

“It’s not your fault,” D.C. whispered, sensing Alex’s anguish. “You had no way of knowing. None of us did.”

“What about Skyla?” Alex asked, just as quietly. “She’s dead. There’s no changing that now.”

“What happened to Skyla is…” Bear’s voice choked with emotion but he took a deep breath and pushed through it. “What Aven did to her is unforgiveable. That’s not on us, so don’t take on that guilt, Alex. If you do, Aven wins one more victory today. Don’t give him that.”

Alex knew he was right and she forced back a fresh wave of tears. Enough crying. The Jordan she knew wouldn’t want her to drown in her sorrows. He’d want her to stand up and fight. Fight for what was right. Fight to make things better.

“Alex? I’m sorry to interrupt, but can I have a word?”

She turned and found Roka and Kyia standing a few paces away.