Page 54

Chapter Fifty-Four

P atricia didn’t pay me any attention as I exited the tree conservatory, my steps too quick.

I continued down the path toward the forest where we had entered, trusting Callan would find me there eventually.

We hadn’t planned for what to do if we were separated, but his words to his brother indicated he had headed for the exit and that I should follow when I could.

My power came back in a rush as I left the conservatory’s boundary, my connection to the abundance of plants in the lush forest around me restored. Instantly, my fear began to ebb, as if having access to my powers had become a source of security without my realizing it.

When I reached the little path in the forest, I swiveled to see that the tree conservatory was completely out of sight behind me, as if it had been swallowed up by the woods. I climbed down to the ground level, wanting to put as much space between me and the conservatory as possible.

“You made it. Thank the leaves.”

I jumped at the sound of Callan’s voice as he dropped out of the trees above. I took in the sight of him, hair disheveled and eyes full of a wild concern, and I instantly relaxed.

“Are you okay?” He stepped forward and put his hands on my arms, scanning me.

“Yes, I’m fine. How about you?”

Callan cast a glance over his shoulder. “Better now that you’re safe.

I see you got the backpack. I was hoping you’d see it.

” Callan began to walk, and I matched his pace.

“Were you able to get the quill? I had just undone all the defenses when I heard voices outside. I didn’t have time to make the swap.

I tried to give you as much of an opening as I could, but if you didn’t have a clear shot at it?—”

“Callan.” I cut him off. “Relax. I got the quill.”

He came to an abrupt halt and turned toward me, a smile splitting across his face. “You did?”

“Yep, and replaced it with the fake. I couldn’t redo the defenses, though…”

Callan nodded, following my line of thought. “I knew that’s a risk we were taking. I thought we might be interrupted. I just didn’t anticipate who was going to interrupt us. You got away clean?”

“Define ‘clean.’ I was sweating like a criminal. But I don’t think anyone noticed anything.”

“It was worth it, then,” Callan said definitively.

“There’s something else.” I hesitated, still in shock about what I’d seen and the adrenaline of the escape crashing all around me. My legs were beginning to shake.

“What is it?” Callan raked his eyes over me, as if looking for an injury.

“Back there in the conservatory, I thought I saw… No, I know I saw… Alex.”

“Alex?” Callan’s face screwed up in confusion.

“From SCC. ”

I saw the awareness dawn, and Callan went deathly still. “You’re sure?”

“It was him.”

“Holy pine needles.”

“Exactly.”

“But that means… Wait. The shield…” His brain was going to the same place mine had only moments before.

“We know it was done by someone with a tree affinity, which we can assume Alex has since he was at the tree conservatory. You don’t…

know him, do you?” I wasn’t sure where the question came from, but it felt like Callan was connected to everyone in the magical botanist world.

That this could catch him off guard made me even more uneasy.

Callan shook his head. “There are thousands of people with tree affinities, and I’ve mostly been part of the circle of founders’ descendants and their allies.” His tone was terse.

“Alex never let on that he was a magical botanist or knew about… any of this. That can’t be a coincidence.” I tried to search my brain for every conversation I’d ever had with him, wondering if I had given anything away about the academy.

“No, not a coincidence,” Callan agreed.

My mind ran through my interactions with Alex as we hurried along the forested path. “Was that why he befriended me, or was that just chance? And why is he attending SCC and not Evergreen Academy? Wait. Do you think he is even college-aged? And what about…” My hand flew to my mouth.

“What is it?” Callan asked, a hint of alarm in his voice.

“Maci! She and Alex are dating, remember? What if…” I could barely stomach the thought. “What if he has an agenda for being with her?”

Callan winced, but when he spoke his voice was calm, steady.

“I think we need to assume that’s the case.

I don’t see any reason a magical botanist who knows about their powers would be attending SCC and not Evergreen Academy.

Since Alex was at the tree conservatory, he is obviously plugged into the community. ”

I blew out a breath. “This is bad, Callan.”

“We will talk to Professor East as soon as we get back. He may be able to get access to information about Alex—or whatever his name is.”

My face twisted as my stomach dropped even further. “You don’t think Alex is even his real name?”

“I don’t know,” Callan said, voice still too calm. “But we’ll make sure to keep Maci safe.”

“How? It’s not like I can tell her any of this.”

Callan scratched the side of his jaw, and I had a feeling he was as concerned about this new development as I was, but he was keeping a brave face for me. “Let’s not rush into anything until we talk to Professor East, okay?”

I nodded and simply said, “Okay.”

“Now, we need to get back to Meadow’s house. Hollis should be around here somewhere. Our visit here was more dangerous than I realized.”

“Can we agree not to say anything about Alex to them? I don’t know what’s going on here yet, and I think we should keep that piece of information close.”

Callan nodded. “It’s your discovery to share. I won’t say anything.”

Just then, Hollis sped toward us on the golf cart, mossy strands splaying from the front frame like bangs. He pulled to a stop. “How’d it go?”

“We’ve got good news and bad news,” Callan said. “But we need to get out of here—and quickly.”