Nightworld Academy: Term One(Nightworld Academy #1)(41)

"Maeve?"

I suck in a breath and grip the table harder. This won't happen. Not now. I've spent time with Sofia talking about how the visions manage to slip into my mind. We deduced that one trigger is when I drift into thoughts about people in them. But that makes no sense here, because the first time I had this vision I didn't know Jamie.

I do now, and the mention of Jamie and death conspires against me—Jamie, who stares back at me in wide-eyed understanding.

He can't see directly into my mind, but he knows I’m witnessing something bad.

I scramble to my feet. I can't stay. What if I start crying out or faint? Sofia stands at the opposite end of the room, watching a group, and I've not made enough noise or fuss to alert anybody yet.

I have time.

The classroom door is several feet away, and I sneak towards it, not looking back. Focusing on not losing myself, I leave and quietly close the door. I'm fighting something that doesn't want to be fought. Something I can't face.

Somebody grabs my arm and familiar, strong fingers grip me. "Maeve."

I whip my head around and see Andrei, and wince as he pulls on my arm as if trying to yank me away from the spiralling thoughts.

"Maeve," he repeats. "Look at me."

I focus on his eyes, and on the strange colour that fascinates me. I concentrate on how his hands hold my arm and warm my bare skin.

But still the images come.

My eyes blur with tears and Andrei reaches out to touch my face, placing his cool hand against my cheek. The gesture snaps me back from the brink for a second time. "Maeve. I can't change your thoughts, but I can try to help."

I shake my head, trying to tell him he isn't causing the tears, and gulp in a breath.

"Are you alright?"

I nod. Then the pain hits and I stumble. Andrei holds my face in both hands and whispers at me to look at him. I'm powerless against the visions and need to reach out to the guy I don't trust. As his hands remain on me, I feel as if I'm spinning in the opposite direction to before and back to reality. The noise around returns, and I become aware of my surroundings again.

My arms and legs shake, and I tremble beneath Andrei's touch. Annoyed that I've cried in front of him, I pull my face away and stumble backwards.

He catches me and guides me towards the wall. "Sit here. I'll find someone to help."

"No!" I shout out, alarmed that he'll cause a fuss. "Don't do that!"

Footsteps run towards us as I slump against the wall, and my back drags down the smooth surface as I give in to the weakness. Ash grabs Andrei by the back of his jacket, who staggers before turning to him.

"Get the hell off me." Andrei drags himself away, but Ash seizes him again.

"What happened? Why is Maeve crying?"

He shrugs Ash off. "I don't know."

"What did you do?" asks Ash through gritted teeth.

"It's not my fault she's crying for no reason. I walked out here and found her. Who knows with girls? They cry at everything."

I gaze at the back of his head. He knows I was having a vision. Did Andrei catch a glimpse?

"Stay away," Ash growls.

"You can't tell me who to talk to. You bloody shifters think you rule this academy."

"When I see a girl crying, I get involved." Ash's face reddens as he stares down at Andrei.

Andrei turns to look at me and he mouths "I know your secret too" before saying, "Yeah, okay, I touched her, and she didn't like it. Go on, hit me. I'd love to see you in detention at the weekend."

Ash shoves his hands into his hoodie pockets and doesn't fall for Andrei's goading.

"Why aren't you in class, Ash?" asks Andrei.

"None of your business." Ash steps past Andrei and holds out a hand to help me up.

With a deliberately dramatic sigh, Andrei drags open the heavy door to the classroom and steps back inside. Jamie passes him on the way out and Sofia stands in the doorway beside him.

"Why did you leave?" she asks me and Andrei. "I never saw you walk out."

Still dazed, I don't answer.

"Maeve was sick and Andrei followed to see if she’s alright," says Jamie, eyes narrowed.

"Sick?"

All eyes rest on me and perspiration breaks out on my forehead again. I can't avoid this any longer.

"No. I’m having random visions." Beside me, Andrei straightens and looks at Jamie.

Sofia's mouth parts. "Oh? Perhaps we should talk after class, if they're affecting you this intensely."

Jamie's worried face prompts my next statement. "The vision I had was the same as when I scry—the one where I see a friend from home. More practice on focusing would help, because I still can't see what could happen to Tessa."

Andrei raises a brow at me, confirming what I suspected. He saw what Tobias did. But how much?





Chapter Twenty-Three





MAEVE



I sit on the large, yellow sofa in Sofia's office. Will she discover my lie? Jamie sits with me, leaning back with one leg crossed over his knee. Comfortable. Does he come here too?

"I wish you hadn't grouped us with Andrei," I say.

Sofia gives a light laugh. "I hoped you might predict something in their lives to stop their cockiness for a day."