Nightworld Academy: Term One(Nightworld Academy #1)(65)

"He wouldn’t kill someone in the middle of the school, would he?" I glance at a bored Tessa, who’s uploading pictures from the night to Instagram, then lower my voice. "Will he shift into something else?"

Amelia rubs her eyes and more green make-up coats her hand. "Ash can't shift until he’s nineteen, but he will switch to fight mode if he’s threatened. Young shifters can easily fall into a primitive state where thinking switches off. You’ve seen how Ash is about his brother’s death. He’ll attack."

"Crap."

"That’s one word to describe the situation." Amelia’s on edge, which worries me as much as the situation. Her calm, controlled persona isn’t here.

"We need to find him." I turn to Tessa. She can’t witness any of this. "Tessa, we should leave now."





We step outside the school and huddle together under the covered area between the building and the car park. Have the guys lost their minds?

I startle as Amelia’s message alert sounds. "Jamie." She scans the words. "He is here."

"What the hell?" I breathe out. "Give me your phone."

Without waiting, I snatch it from her and type furiously. <This is Maeve. Get to the front of the school now.> <I’m in the car park>

Some relief sneaks in. At least he’s not outside in the place I envisioned.

I step into the car park and gaze around, mind racing with questions. Tonight was supposed to be a simple trip to help my friend. But my life isn’t simple anymore, and I didn’t think this through. I’m reckless and no better than Ash who’s blindly running after hunters.

"Where are you going?" calls Amelia.

"He must be around somewhere. What car does he drive?"

"Jamie doesn't have a car."

I turn back. "Then how did he get here?"

A figure steps from the shadows and I shrink back at how sudden and close the person is. His expression is an angry mask, and his blue eyes intense.

"I could ask you the same question, Maeve."

Tobias.





Chapter Thirty-Seven





MAEVE



I shiver. Not because of the wind causing goose bumps on my arms but in fear what will happen next.

Tobias looks down at me. "Did you miss the part where we told you I pay close attention to your movements?" he says.

I gape unable to find words, then glance at a worried Amelia. Tessa who’s sitting on the bench beside her looks up. She whispers something to Amelia who replies in a low voice.

"Maeve," says Tobias tersely. "Would you care to explain your stupidity?"

"This is my friend from the vision. I came here to—"

"I know what you came here for. Jamie has explained. I’m asking you to explain your stupidity. The Dominion are aware of who you are. Hunters watch the academy. You know all this, yet you leave the place. Believe me, there will be serious consequences."

My cheeks heat because he’s right. "You don't understand, I—"

Tobias holds his hand up, palm outwards to quiet me. "We will talk later. Right now, we need to find Jamie and Ash, and leave."

"And Andrei," puts in Amelia.

"What?" Tobias’s response is sharp, and his face darkens further. "You brought the vampire with no self-control?" he growls at me.

"No, he invited himself," I retort. "He threatened to tell someone we were leaving campus."

Tobias sneers. "You are na?ve. All of you. You claim to be adults and behave like silly children."

"Do you know where Jamie is?" I ask, ignoring his insult.

"Yes. He’s in my car."

"Alone?" I half-shriek. "What if he leaves? I saw him again. In the school. Here."

He straightens. "What do you mean ‘saw’ him?"

I lower my voice so only he can hear. "Walking around the school, in a vision."

Tobias swears. "Get to the car with me and explain yourself. Amelia, sit here with Maeve’s friend."

Tessa has broken away from staring at her phone to gawking at Tobias. "Who’s this?"

"Amelia will tell you," I say.

Me and Tobias walk over to his car. Jamie sits in the front passenger seat, his face drawn but perks up when he sees me. He climbs out and drags a hand through his fringe. I look him over and my chest tightens; he’s dressed exactly the same as the future I imagined—dark jeans, thick green jacket and black and white Converse. A ring.

"I didn't tell Tobias. He knew. I came to stop you leaving, but you’d gone. Tobias caught up to me at the gate you jumped over," he stammers.

"How did you know?" I ask Tobias.

He crosses his arms. "You weren’t at the witches Samhain celebrations and I knew about the party from listening and watching. It wasn’t hard to join the dots, Maeve."

I rub my head.

"Jamie also found this alongside a second set of tyre tracks." Tobias holds out a silver cigarette lighter. "Someone followed Ash."

"Hunters," puts in Jamie. "I picked up the lighter and tuned into the energy and memories attached. I saw them planning to attack Ash’s pub, but instead they followed him here. There are three of them somewhere in the school and they’re looking for Ash."