Page 82

81

Summer

T he sky is inky black as I begin my journey home, and the classic Avalon mist lies low against the pavement. The night is still, but it’s not the usual peaceful calm. Something has me on edge, and I pull my coat tighter, trying to ward off the chill.

I curse myself for not bringing Connor’s dagger. Since I started going to the gym daily, I’ve not been consistently carrying it. I don’t want a dagger strapped to me when I’m sparring. I could call Connor or one of his brothers and ask them to come and walk me home, but I’m really reluctant to make more of this situation than it is. The more I feed into it, the more real it is.

The back of my neck tingles with the awareness of eyes upon me, and beneath my clothes, the pendant warms slightly. I keep walking, not wanting to alert whoever is watching that I am aware of their presence. The only proof of my discomfort is the condensation as my warm breath hits the cool air a little quicker than before. I swallow and pull out my phone, maintaining my casual pace toward Kelpie.

I desperately hope the answer is yes. Not only because then I will know who is out there but also because, as much as I hate to admit it, I will feel safer with him watching me. I hold on to that hope, but these eyes don’t feel like his, and the longer the stranger takes to reply, the more certain I am that it is probably not him.

My heart races, and I subtly look around, slowing my steps. I have no fucking idea why I’m acting like those morons in horror movies when they’re getting chased by a psycho killer, yet the desire to stop, to look around, is too tempting.

My phone alerts again, and I almost drop it in surprise.

Fear lashes me.

I stare at his message, terror slithering through me. Every muscle in my body freezes. I can feel those eyes burning into me like acid. Fuck, fuck, fuck. I am completely frozen in fear.

A twig snaps in the distance, and instinctively, my head snaps in that direction. My breaths are shallow, and I feel the scream building in my throat, primed and ready. I clench my fists, my phone creaking in my grip. My mind is in chaos, and I try to focus, try to remember any of the fucking moves Max taught to me.

The fog shifts, and I jump when the stranger materializes beside me in his near-invisible form. I don’t relax but instinctively move toward him, tucking myself within his shadows. He steps in front of me, looking around, his large body ready for attack. “Wait here.” He starts to move away, but I grab his arm, my grip tight on his strange, blurry materialization. He stops and looks at me over his shoulder.

“Don’t leave me,” I whisper. My instincts scream at me to stay with him. Something is near, something malevolent and powerful.

He watches me, hesitating for a moment before he nods. “All right. I’m going to go fully invisible. I’m still here, though. Walk home as normal.”

I swallow, refusing to drop his arm and lose that contact. “Should I email the headmaster?” I ask. “Something feels wrong.”

His body wavers and then completely disappears, but I can still feel his presence. His phantom breath makes me shiver as he whispers into my ear. “Once you are home. Yes.”

I nod and take a deep breath, steadying myself and trying to remember anything from my insipid mortal drama classes. I start walking, actively trying to remember how I usually walk. Do I sway my hips? Maybe a little more? No, that’s obscene. The distraction only lasts for a fraction of a moment before my reality sinks in again, and my heart thrashes in my chest uncomfortably.

The stranger moves in closer, sliding an arm around my back and placing his hand on my hip. “I’m here,” he whispers, and goosebumps appear on my skin.

The ghostly gaze remains on me but doesn’t seem as close. I lean into his presence, grounding myself in him. Though I can’t see him, I can feel him casting out his senses as we walk back to my dorm. When Kelpie comes into sight, he leans in again, his voice low. “Once you get through the door, I’m going to ward the building and investigate. Stay inside, and do not follow me.”

Another branch snaps around fifteen feet away. I flinch, my muscles tightening in preparation to fight.

“Don’t look. Act like you’re in your own world,” he says, the command in his voice steadying me. I swallow my fear and instincts and look up at the stars, pretending to be distracted when that couldn’t be further from the truth. I’m not sure I’ve ever been more alert, more aware of my surroundings, or more aware of someone else’s hands on me.

We walk into the puddle of light created by the lamp outside the dorm, and I feel the stranger’s hand tighten on my hip. “Inside,” he commands. I comply, not minding following orders in this case. The door closes behind me, and I stare at it for a long moment before pulling out my phone again and opening my email.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Sorry to bother you at this late hour, sir. But I was walking home and felt as though someone may have been watching me. Possibly following me.

-Summer.

I’ve barely made it upstairs and into my dorm when the response comes through.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Miss Tuatha De Daanan, did anyone approach you? Did you notice anything out of the ordinary?

-Headmaster Emrys

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

No, sir. But something just didn’t feel right.

-Summer.

I sigh. I must sound like such an idiot. Something just didn’t feel right? Please. It was probably a frog or something. Or a prank. Though the necklace did warm, and the stranger seemed to be very on edge, too. Did he sense whatever I did?

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

I will investigate immediately.

-Headmaster Emrys.

I exhale, feeling better now that I am back at Kelpie Hall. When I step into my dorm, I could sob with relief. The comfort of home washes over me, wrapping me in a sense of safety.

“Alice?” I call out.

Alice steps out of her room a moment later, lowering her headphones. “Hey, Sum. What’s up? You okay?”

I move past her into her room and open the curtains a little, peering out. “I think someone followed me home.”

Alice walks over, looking around me to see out the tiny slit of the window I’ve exposed. “Someone other than your friend?”

I nod, scanning the silhouette of the forest. “It wasn’t him.”

“I’m going to go find this fucker,” Alice hisses. She grabs the curtains, swishing them closed again.

“No,” I say, grabbing her arm.

“Why?” Alice demands, her eyes flashing with protective fury.

“My friend is out looking, and the headmaster will have told the authorities by now. You stay with me. Please?”

“You called your friend?” Alice asks, the surprise overriding her anger.

“I messaged him to ask if he was being a dick and pranking me, but he got worried and came. He told me to email the headmaster when I got back safe, so I did.”

Alice brushes me out of the way and opens the curtains a little, glancing out. “I don’t see anyone.”

“Who is it you’re looking for?”

Alice scans the trees. “I don’t know, someone.”

There is a loud bang, and the window shakes. Alice and I jump back, dropping the curtain. We stare around the room with wide eyes. Adrenaline floods my system again, and I feel my muscles tremble.

“What the fuck was that?” Alice asks. I shake my head and cautiously approach the window again. I brush aside the curtains to find a large, angry crack in the glass. Alice comes up behind me, and I think I see the brush beneath the trees shift and rustle. I narrow my eyes, trying to penetrate the shadows, but it is just too dark.

“No more walking alone. I’m putting my foot down,” Alice says.

My chest heaves, but I keep my eyes on the bushes. It may be everything that has happened today, but I feel like whatever or whoever is out there is looking back at me. I swear I can feel their evil smile.

My phone pings, and I yank it free, reading the message.

I look at the cracked window and close the curtains again. My feet feel too heavy as I walk to Alice’s bed and sit down. I lift my phone, my hands shaking as I type.

Alice paces back and forth in front of me, muttering.

“Al.” She ignores me. “Alice,” I say louder, and she finally looks at me. “I’m okay. I promise.”

“This is all kinds of fucked up, Summer.”

I nod, patting the bed next to me. Alice sits down and lays her head on my shoulder.

“I–I need you to be okay. Okay?”

I nod, sliding my hand into hers. “Okay.”

Alice sits up. “I need a drink. Want one?”

I shake my head, and Alice stands up and disappears into the living room. I open Nexus again and message the stranger.

I blink, shifting to sit with my back against the wall. Is he jealous? No. Surely not. The thought intrigues me enough to stifle the fear slightly, allowing me to breathe.

I lift my eyebrows.

Exhaustion barrels through me, and I force myself to my feet. I pad through the dorm to my bedroom and change into my pajamas before climbing into bed. I lie there, waiting for sleep to claim me, ready to be done with today. But I keep thinking of the stranger’s reaction. I grab my phone off the bedside table.

I frown reading his message.

I blink.

He doesn’t reply, though I can feel his irritation through the runic network.

I roll my eyes and turn onto my side to sleep. My phone alerts again, and I pick it up, ready to send a very scathingly worded message to the stranger. But I smile when I see Connor has texted me.

Connor

Miss you

Summer

I miss you too, big guy.

That little nagging feeling that’s become more present since I started forming relationships churns inside me. It seems to chant, “Tell him, tell him, tell him.”

Connor

You get home safe?

Fuck. The claws of guilt rake down my back.

Summer

I’m home safe.

It’s not quite a lie. My response is perfectly crafted so that it sits just above that gray area.

Connor replies with a selfie of him spread out on his king-size bed, his blue sheets mussed beneath him from our earlier activities. He’s only wearing boxers, and he looks so fucking cute as he winks up at the camera.

Connor

Could have stayed over.

I can’t help but laugh, and the sound surprises me.

Summer

Goodnight, Con.

Connor

Goodnight, Sum.