Page 2

Chapter Two

I peered into the canopy, trying to make out a figure. Unless someone was randomly climbing trees out here in the woods, it had to be one of the tree affinities from the academy.

“Hey!” I called out.

The rustling stopped.

A moment later, a girl with straight, fading dyed-black hair and a heart-shaped fair face dropped down from the nearest oak.

I didn’t recognize her from school. “Who are you?”

She cocked a hip. “I could ask the same of you.”

“I’ve never seen you on campus before.” As I studied her more closely, I noticed a few thin purple streaks sprinkled throughout her hair. She was wearing black skate shoes and a spaghetti-strapped black romper.

“So, you’re a student.” She broke into a coy smile. “You can never be too sure. There are always random people poking around out here in the woods.”

Out of nowhere, a slithering vine came rushing my way, and I lifted a hand .

“ Discedite .” The word was out of my mouth instinctively, and the vine came to an abrupt halt.

The girl smiled broadly, and there was a hint of mischief in it. “Nicely done. I’m Meadow.”

“What was that for?”

“Just making sure.”

I let out a breath as my heart rate slowed, grateful that I was a few feet back from the academy walls and that my powers worked here. “Thanks for the warm welcome. I’m Briar. Are you here for the solstice, or…”

Her mouth formed a small o before she smoothed her expression. “Briar Whelan? I’ve heard of you. You made quite a splash on the spring equinox.”

I felt myself tense. “How do you know about that?”

“They tell all of us founders’ descendants relevant information when we enroll.”

“You’re a founder’s descendant?” Things began to click into place then. That would explain why she was here on the solstice. Then I remembered the tree walking. “A tree founder’s descendant?”

“No, mosses. I have a trailing tree affinity, though. Makes tree walking a little risky, but that’s why I like it. And to answer your question, yeah, I’m here for the solstice with my parents.”

“Are any other founders’ descendants here?” I didn’t want to ask about Callan directly, so I resorted to fishing.

“It’s just me, Rhodes, and Hollis at the academy this year. Hollis has been here since Tuesday. I heard Rhodes and his parents arrived late last night, but I haven’t seen him yet.” Her eyes sparkled, and she asked, “Want to have a bit of fun?”

I narrowed my eyes, still not fully trusting her after the surprise vine attack. “What do you have in mind?”

“The festivities are kind of taking a turn. I’m used to the solstice being an all-out party, but the vibes are off this year.”

“Off, how?”

“It’s mostly because of talk of some new things being implemented. Let’s just say the environment between the teachers and the board is a little… tense.”

Concern had my stomach clenching. What was going on with the board that would upset the instructors?

“What do you mean by ‘have a bit of fun’?”

“Let’s sneak you onto campus. We can go hang out in a treehouse or spike the punch or something.”

I shifted my weight as I took her in. Was she being serious?

I was already on a short string with the campus now that I had no access to my powers there.

I didn’t want to give Professor East any reason to kick me out or add to his stress during a tense time.

But still, if Callan were here, maybe I’d have a chance to talk to him about whatever these developments were that Meadow was hinting at.

And outside of those concerns, being so near the academy now made it almost irresistible.

It was a miracle I had been able to stay away for a few months as it was.

It was like the invisible verdant shield that surrounded the place was inviting me in. I made up my mind.

“No to the punch spiking. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss the food here. Maybe we can raid the leftovers in the kitchen.”

Meadow grinned. “Follow me.” She scaled the tree she’d come down from, and I frowned, knowing I wouldn’t be able to tree walk once we reached the brick wall.

“Don’t we have to scan our gems at the gate?”

“Nah, there’s a pass-through point right here. You’ll need one of these, though.” She pulled a glass pendant from her pocket and handed it to me. “I only have one, so we’ll have to take turns.”

“What’s this?” Even as I asked, I was already studying it. There was a preserved white flower inside.

“Petal of a Shasta lily,” Meadow said.

“And I need this… why?”

“If you have one of those”—she pointed at the pendant—“you can get through right here. ”

I frowned again. This seemed like a security weakness.

“Where’d you get this?” I asked, wondering if it were a special founder’s descendant perk.

“Now that,” Meadow said, taking the pendant back, “I can’t tell you. Are you coming or not?”

I was tempted to back out, but this was a founder’s descendant. If she was anything like Callan, this was all at least mildly aboveboard. “Okay, but I’m going to have to climb down once we get over the fence.”

“Riiight,” Meadow said once I joined her in the canopy. “I was told about your little incident on the spring equinox. That was pretty badass. But cut off from your powers on campus? Brutal.”

“It has made school more challenging,” I admitted.

“All right, let’s go over. Nobody’s around this part of the academy. They’re all in the teahouse and courtyard.”

When I stood next to Meadow on the thickest part of the tree branch, the branches ahead pulled together in a tight, clear path in stark contrast to the loose overlapping they had been doing a moment before.

Meadow sighed. “And there goes all the danger. They weren’t kidding. Your tree affinity is strong.”

“Thanks?” I murmured, still unable to get a read on Meadow. We walked through the canopy until we hovered just above the brick wall, and I took a moment to mourn the impending loss of my tree walking abilities.

“Okay, I’ll cross then toss the pendant back to you,” Meadow said before dashing along the branches above the brick.

I waited until she was settled into a tree on the other side then opened my hands.

When Meadow tossed the pendant, I caught it with a tight clasp of my right hand and held it firmly as I crossed the brick wall.

My breath caught in my chest as I passed through where the verdant shield would be, firmly expecting something bad to happen.

But nothing did, and I joined Meadow on the tree branch inside the campus grounds.

We both dropped to the forest floor, Meadow with much more grace than me.

“Told ya,” Meadow said before taking the pendant and returning it to her pocket.

“How does that pendant work?” I asked as we began to walk on the forest floor.

Meadow shrugged. “I’m not sure of the details. I didn’t create it, if that’s what you’re asking. I’m not even technically supposed to have it.”

Well, that was cryptic.

We crept through the forest until the glass academy building came into view. My heart expanded a little at the sight of it covered in flowers and vines, glorious in the summer sun.

“I’ll walk to the side door and make sure the coast is clear then signal when it’s safe to join me.”

Before I could respond, Meadow began walking overly casually across the open field and to a door that I knew led into one end of the central vein.

As I waited, tufts of purple, bell-shaped flower blooms floated toward me on the summer breeze. I reached my hand toward one of them, catching a hint of grape fragrance. At the sound of a door opening, I dropped the blossom and looked at Meadow.

She peeked inside then turned back and waved me forward.

I jogged to the door, and we slipped inside. Upbeat but classical-sounding music was coming from the teahouse, and the voices of the various founders’ descendants, board members, and other important people that I presumed were invited to the summer solstice event trickled into the central vein.

“Meadow?” a woman’s voice called.

Meadow straightened, and I jumped behind a group of potted trees.

Peering through a small gap in the branches, I saw a woman with Meadow’s same heart-shaped face step out toward Meadow. “Where have you been? You were supposed to chat with Regent Yarrow after dinner.”

“Sorry, Mom. I got distracted in the woods.”

“Really, Meadow, I can’t keep you focused for a few hours?” The woman sighed, but she didn’t sound angry. “Come on, let’s go find her.”

I heard the click of heels walking away and poked my head out from behind the tree. Meadow turned and cast me a mildly apologetic look then followed her mother.

Once they were gone, I sighed and stayed hidden behind the fluffy, bright-green leaves, debating whether I should go back through the door and return to my car.

But how would I pass over the wall without the Shasta lily pendant?

Could I manage to sneak out the front gate?

Following Meadow hadn’t been my wisest decision ever, and now I was a sitting duck.

Before I could form a plan, I heard voices coming from the white stone staircase that led to levels two and three of the academy.

“I’ll let you charge, but you must swear you won’t overdo it.” I recognized Professor East’s voice immediately.

“I won’t,” the other voice said, and I sucked in a breath when I realized who it was.

Callan.

“Good. And,” Professor East lowered his voice, and I leaned forward, “there is a full box from the latest collection at the Wildflower Trail. Please sort and dispose of it for Professor Bowellia.”

“Will do,” Callan said.

“Now, I must get back to the donors. Can you handle organizing the auction winnings?” Professor East’s voice grew louder. “Ms. Whelan, you might as well help him.”