Page 18 of Spark of Sorcery

He looks at me with suspicion. “Describe this party.”

I shuffle on my feet. “There were games, some food and some drinks.”

“What kind of food and what kind of drink?”

“Does it matter?”

“Cupcake …”

“Water and some crackers.”

“And who exactly was at this party?”

I sigh. “My sister, our dog and my old teddy bear.”

“That is not a party.” I open my mouth to argue and he slams his hand over my mouth. “If you want to keep being my friend, you have to go to the party. I can’t go alone.”

“I’m sure Clare will go with you.”

“I can’t go with just Clare. I need you both there. Besides, you might actually enjoy yourself.” His face softens. “Something you are allowed to do.”

“I should be investigating more about my sister’s death,” I mumble.

“There’ll be time for that. Ball first.” I drop my gaze to the ground and chew on my cheek. “Are you worried about those Princes?”

“No, it’s just … I really don’t have anything to wear.” I doubt I’ll be alone in that. There wasn’t exactly the greatest need for ball dresses at home in Slate Quarter. I doubt any of the Slate kids have any clothes worthy enough of a ball. I wonder if they’ll all be missing out like me.

“Lucky you have a fairy godmother then, huh,Cinderella? Those Princes aren’t going to know what hit them.”

“What does that mean?” I ask.

“You’ll see,” he says, tapping his forefinger against his nose.

Chapter Eight

Beaufort

I lean back against the seat and adjust the sun visor, shading my eyes from the glaring sun as I weave the vehicle through the academy campus.

I don’t want to be heading home today. I want to remain here. Something happened to her in that maze. People have been hurting her. I want to stay here and keep her safe.

But I’ve procrastinated for as long as I can, turning over Dray’s words from last night, working out if I could see Briony before I go, put things right between us, or whether I’d only make matters worse. Concluding she’d probably refuse to see me anyway.

Now duty calls and as much as I’d like to resist that duty, I can’t.

Nope, even I, Beaufort fucking Lincoln – one of themost powerful shadow weavers in the realm – can’t refuse a summons home.

I am also no closer to working out who manipulated the trial. I can’t keep Briony safe. Haven’t I proved that again and again?

So much for my fucking powers.

I thump my fist against the steering wheel and swear under my breath.

The paths are full of students today, crowding around to watch the shadow weavers in their vehicles, staring at us like they’ve never seen a set of wheels before.

I scoff, letting my gaze sweep over them, not paying them any notice. Until there’s one face I am noticing, sweeping past my window. I snap around in my seat.

“Shit!” I yell, hitting the brakes immediately. The vehicle slams to a halt and I’m out and striding her way before the door shuts behind me.