Page 55 of Immortal Consequences (The Souls of Blackwood Academy #1)

Wren gnawed on the inside of her cheek. And then, to August’s immense surprise, she slipped into his mind once more.

I went to the infirmary.

August cocked his head. “What for?”

“Shh.” Wren grabbed him by the wrist and tugged him closer. He tried to ignore the flutter in his stomach, the heat spreading through his limbs. “I went to visit the eliminated nominees.”

“Okay…” August sighed, losing his patience. “I don’t really see how any of this is relevant, or quite frankly more importantthan—”

They weren’t there.

August stiffened. What do you mean?

None of them were there. But I saw Maya…she was visiting a friend. And when I asked her about the eliminated nominees—she had no idea who they were.

That’s ridiculous. August scoffed. Maya knows who they are—

Someone erased them from her memory.

August felt his hands go numb. What…would make you thinkthat?

Wren glanced over her shoulder, her eyes landing on the Ascended. They were seated on an elevated platform, indulging in wine and an array of liquors. But they also seemed to be watching her and August, keeping tabs from a distance.

“We can’t keep talking into each other’s minds,” she whispered, turning back to face him. “They’re going to get suspicious if we’re just…staring at each other.”

She was right. But then the music swelled around them. The familiar triple meter of a waltz, the piano flowing through the air, amplified by a musical enchantment. It was in that moment that an idea came to August—an immensely stupid and reckless idea.

“We could”—he cleared his throat, glancing up at the ceiling—“dance.”

She blinked at him. “Me and you?”

“Yes, Loughty.”

“Oh.”

The look on her face was one of pure horror. God, he might as well have been asking her to murder her firstborn. He stretched out his open palm toward her. “Unless you have any other brilliant ideas?”

She shook her head. “None.”

August tensed as Wren slid her fingers through his, a warmth rushing into his chest. He drew her closer, laying his hand on her waist, settling it there cautiously. Every slight movement felt dangerous. Like balancing on the edge of a cliff.

He hated it.

Mainly, he hated how much he didn’t hate it.

The music swelled around them and August began to move, the familiar steps coming to him with surprising ease. It had been a while since he’d danced, those memories belonging to a life that barely felt like his own, but the movements were ingrained in his muscles, not so easily forgotten.

So…tell me, August whispered into her mind. What makes you think psyche magic has been involved?

I saw something in Maya’s eyes, Wren whispered back. A…fog.

August cursed under his breath. That does sound like mind alteration.

And then, earlier this week…Lou couldn’t remember them either. I thought it was just because she was new, but…there was also this nosebleed. I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but now…

We’ll have to tell the others. August’s eyes quickly scanned the dance floor, taking silent inventory of their surroundings. In private, obviously. There’s no telling who’s involved. Quite frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if one of us—

You think one of the other nominees is doing it? Wren’s eyes widened. Why would they do something like that?

August shrugged. He wasn’t sure of anything anymore.

A few tense seconds of silence stretched between them as they continued to move across the dance floor, swaying in time with the music. It felt like an eternity before he heard Wren’s voice again, though this time it was out loud.

“You can dance.”

He chuckled.

“Don’t sound so surprised.”

She smirked, and August averted his gaze. “Oh, come on. You don’t exactly strike me as the kind of person who can waltz on command.”

“Maybe you don’t know me as well as you think you do,” he countered with a mocking grin.

“Using my own words against me?” Wren rolled her eyes. “How mature. You know, August, you’re not as mysterious as you believe you are.”

“Really?” He pulled her in with a sharp tug, and she let out a quiet yelp of surprise. Their movements didn’t falter, keeping time with the music as though an invisible thread connected their bodies.

“Tell me, Loughty.” His voice was husky and deep as he whispered the question into her ear. “Who am I, then?”

Her eyes burrowed into his. “You’re…somebody who avoids getting too close to people because you’re afraid.”

“Of what?”

“Them seeing you for who you actually are, and not whatever act you’ve decided to put on for the day.

” Her eyes raked up and down his face, and August suppressed the urge to run in the opposite direction.

It was like she was looking into his soul.

Like she could see all the darkness rotting inside him.

The parts he desperately wanted to conceal from her.

“You’re not special, August. You’re a lost and broken soul. Just like the rest of us.”

August’s chest tightened. “Well, I guess you’ve got me figured out, then.”

“Stop doing that.”

“Doing what?”

Wren leaned in closer, her mouth hovering just below his ear. “Acting like you don’t care.”

A shrill panic coursed through August’s limbs. He stopped abruptly in his tracks, dropping his hands away from her, and stepped backward. Whether the crowd around them had noticed was of no consequence to him.

He had stopped noticing the rest of the room the moment he had seen Wren.

“What is it you want from me?” He clenched his hands into tight fists, his fingers trembling. “What is it you expect? A loud profession of love? An abrupt change in my demeanor?”

“Stop it.” Wren lifted her hand as if to reprimand him, and August snatched her wrist in one swift movement, pulling her closer.

“I can’t change,” he whispered, the tremor in his voice startling him. “I am who I am.”

“I’m not asking you to change,” Wren replied breathlessly. She kept her gaze fixed on him, challenging him with narrowed eyes. “All I’m asking for is honesty. ”

“Honesty comes with a price. And I’ve been as open and honest with you as I can be without risking—” He cut himself off, dropping her wrist. The words pressed against his throat, an overwhelming feeling threatening to unravel his restraint.

No.

Not now.

“Risking what?” pressed Wren. “Please, August. I know—I know there’s something you aren’t telling me. Ever since I met you, I’ve felt it. This…resistance. This wall between us. But if you could just open up to me, if you could just tell me about yourpast—”

Wren was caught off guard, her words dropping midsentence as August pulled her in, resuming the dance. This time, he held her without caution, without the restraint from before, fully allowing himself to feel her.

He crossed the threshold and allowed his thoughts to reach into hers.

You have to promise me you’ll be careful.

Wren tensed, her face contorting in confusion.

Don’t try to change the subject—

Just listen to me. He squeezed her hand. Don’t try to be the hero. Especially not until we figure out what’s going on with the eliminated nominees. There’s no telling who is behind this, and until we talk to the others, anybody is a suspect.

She scoffed. I’m more than capable of protecting myself.

I know you are. August inhaled a sharp breath. But I just need you to promise me that whatever happens, whatever you see, you’ll protect yourself. And only yourself.

She shook her head. But—

Please. He begged. Just promise me.

Wren opened and shut her mouth, blinking rapidly, and then nodded. She spoke the next two words in a breathless whisper.

“I promise.”

He spun her around, his hand placed firmly on her back, and dipped her toward the floor.

Her breath caught in her throat, her hand tightening over his.

Maybe she thought he might drop her, that he intended to humiliate her in front of everybody.

But he didn’t. He held her tight, his gaze unwavering, and brought her back up in a graceful arch until her face was mere inches from his own.

It was a dizzying feeling, being this close to her.

Knowing just how many rules he was breaking. How many lines he had crossed.

“The song’s over,” Wren whispered, her breath grazing the side of his neck. “I think we can stop now.”

But August didn’t drop her hand. He felt paralyzed, a sweltering panic rushing up his throat, taking hold of his body. He knew that if he let her go, if he didn’t hold on, he might lose her forever.

“August—”

“Don’t trust anybody,” he whispered into her ear, a desperate last plea. “Not even those closest to you. Not even those who’ve shown you kindness. Not even those who appear to be on yourside.”

“Why are you saying all of this?”

“Because,” August whispered, reluctantly dropping her hand. He leaned forward, his lips brushing her skin as he placed a torturous kiss against her cheek. He allowed himself to dip into her mind once more.

It’s all I have left.

And with that, he was off, sulking across the ballroom and toward the large wooden doors.

He could hear the distant sound of Wren calling after him, the music rushing against his ears, resuming once again.

The other students watched as he made his way out of the ball.

His actions would have repercussions. His words carrying a weight only he could understand.

And though he would have done anything to change the past, August knew he could no longer escape what had already been set in motion.