Page 82 of Wicked Ends

Only to find it already occupied.

Soren lounges on my bed, one arm behind his head. Drake paces by the window. Lucien stands by my desk, arms crossed. And Ash is leaning against the wall, expression murderous.

“Where the hell have you been?” Soren asks, his casual position at odds with the anger in his voice.

“I—” I start, but Lucien cuts me off.

“You missed class. When you didn’t show up, Soren contacted us.”

“We’ve been looking everywhere for you,” Drake says, his voice tight. “With everything that’s happening, Rose?—”

“What were you thinking?” Ash pushes off the wall, green eyes flashing with anger. “Do you have any idea how dangerous?—”

“Let me talk!” I interrupt, throwing my hands up to shut them up. “I can explain.”

They all go silent, but their expressions speak volumes. It’s almost funny that these four powerful, dangerous beings, who can barely stand to be in the same room, are now united in their collective disappointment in me.

“I went to Jasmine’s office,” I admit.

“You what?” Drake looks horrified.

Soren sits up abruptly. “Are you insane?”

“Probably yes,” I sigh, sinking into my desk chair. “But I found something. Something bad.”

I tell them everything, all about the hidden compartment, the personal belongings of the missing students, the grimoire with its horrific illustrations, the bones and teeth. As I speak, their expressions shift from anger to disgust to rage.

“She’s eating them,” Lucien says flatly when I finish.

“We knew it was a likelihood,” Soren adds. “Sometimes rumors aren’t just rumors.”

“Madness,” Ash says. “It drives the practitioner insane.”

“She’s already there,” I say, remembering her twitchy movements, the way she spoke to empty air. “She was singing a song about eating witches.”

Drake moves to stand behind my chair and touches my shoulder. “You could have been killed.”

I reach up to touch his hand. “I’m sorry I worried you guys. All of you.”

“If she’d found you there—” Ash stops, his eyes dark.

“I’m careful, I am, but you’re right, I got lucky,” I admit. “It was stupid and reckless. But now we know for sure, beyond any doubt, what we’re dealing with.”

Lucien’s expression softens slightly. “And you won’t do anything like this again without backup.”

It’s not a question. I nod anyway. “I promise.”

The vibe in the room relaxes just a little.

“So what do we do now?” I ask.

Ash pushes a hand through his hair. “We need a plan. Jasmine won’t stop. She can’t stop, she’s too far gone. And she wants you most of all.”

Drake’s grip on my shoulder tightens protectively. “We won’t let that happen.”

“No,” Soren agrees, standing up. “We won’t.”

Lucien nods once, decisively. “Then we end her.”