Page 109 of Destined Dawn

“He had plans to use my powers,” she adds.

“Your powers?” York raises her eyebrows.

Winnie shuffles forward on her seat. “Rhianna’s the girl in the Fourth Prophecy, Stella.” Stella? Since when has Winnie Wence been on first-name terms with the principal? Even I was never awarded that privilege.

“The Fourth Prophecy?” Mrs. Holyhill says, eyeing Rhi with even more interest. “And she will come again.”

“Queen Æðelflæd?” York’s gaze remains trained on Rhi. “And why would you suspect that the prophecy refers to Miss Blackwaters?”

Stone turns his palm skyward and sweeps it around us. “There are six of us. Six fated mates.”

“Hmmm,” Coach Hanks says.

“These things are very unlikely to be genuine. You have no idea how many students I’ve had over the years claim they are fated mates. Infatuation,” the principal’s eyes linger on me, “and lust,” they move on to Barone, “can easily be mistaken for more powerful forces.”

“This is genuine,” I say firmly and Stone and Azlan nod in agreement.

“What do you think, Beryl?” the principal asks, turning back to the Magical History and Politics teacher.

Mrs. Holyhill dips her cookie in her tea and then lifts the sloppy thing into her mouth, chewing as her ancient eyes assess all of us.

“I wonder how you can doubt it. Five fated mates. The Black Prince. Dragons.”

Principal York considers the old teacher and then Rhi. Her eyes are just as intelligent as the old lady’s and even more piercing. I feel like we’re being measured up for some test. I lift my chin and puff out my chest. There’s never been a test I’ve failed to pass.

“Did you find the prophecy?” Winnie asks Rhi and she nods. “What did it say?”

“It wasn’t exactly clear,” Spencer mutters.

“No offense, Spencer,” Winnie replies, “but, erm, could we hear it? What did it say?”

There’s a few minutes of head scratching so I place my tea cup on the floor, clear my throat and repeat the entire verse. A photographic memory can come in handy.

“Oh my gosh,” Winnie says, grinning at Stone. “I was right.”

“Perhaps,” he concedes, repressing a smile.

“Yep,” Rhi says. “I think you are. I think I – we – are the ones who are meant to stop Christopher Kennedy. That’swhy I’m here.” She stares off into the distance, squaring her shoulders as she does. “I think this is where it all ends. Where the prophecy is realized.”

“What makes you say that?” I ask her, a shiver racing right down my spine, my bond thrumming.

She turns, her honey eyes bright and alert.

“Where all must go to learn,” she says, repeating the line from the prophecy.

“That could be anywhere.”

“Perhaps but I had a dream.”

“A dream?” York says, her brow crinkling.

“A premonition,” Rhi clarifies. “This is the place where it all ends.”

York considers this too, then smoothes down her skirt. “Then we had better prepare.”

38

Spencer