The Culling Trials 3 (Shadowspell Academy #3)(48)

I turned away and started through the crowd toward Wally and the two guys. There were far more people here than those of us who’d finished trials. Distantly, I recalled someone saying that the academy students had been invited so they could meet the new kids.

I let the music pull my feet forward, let it call to me, and though I was no dancer, it moved through me.

It felt no different than fighting. I sidestepped the other bodies with ease, my magic skirt trailing around me. The shadows seemed to cling to me and the dress, and it was like people weren’t even seeing me. I spun around an entangled couple and found myself face to face with a ghost. My feet slammed to a stop, and I’m not entirely sure my heart didn’t follow suit.

“I warned you to be careful, and you’re on the goddamn dance floor in a dress at a party full of people who could kill you at the drop of a hat?” Rory snarled the words at me. Like he wasn’t supposed to be dead. Like I hadn’t seen him go under a mass of zombies. Like he hadn’t broken my heart into a thousand pieces.

He’d survived, and he hadn’t told me. He’d let me suffer.

Just like he hadn’t told me he’d come to this school.

“Son of a bitch!”

I snapped a fist out so hard and fast there wasn’t even time for his face to register shock. In my haste, I landed the blow on his cheek, rather than his nose.

He stumbled back and a few people laughed and made way for us. The music didn’t slow. I turned away from him and pushed through the crowd, knowing without a shadow of a doubt he’d follow. I wanted to hug him tight, to cry and kiss his face and tell him I was glad he was alive.

But I was damned pissed that he’d let me believe—again—that he was gone forever.

I passed Ethan, who arched a brow, but I shook my head. I didn’t need help for this. A side hall opened up and I turned down it, heading deep into the shadows. There was the softest of footsteps behind me, and I spun. “You should have told me!”

Only it wasn’t Rory behind me. Jared stared at me and I stared back, shocked by how dishevelled he looked. His normally immaculate clothes were torn in places and there was a smudge of dirt across his one cheek.

“You need to come with me, now. I was wrong about you.” He grabbed me by the arm and propelled me forward.

“Why, what happened?” I tried to put on the brakes, but between his strength and my heels, it wasn’t happening.

“Your sister is here. They have her.”

All the wind in me left in a whoosh that made me lightheaded. Sam is here?

“The ones who took the other kids, they snagged her too.” Jared loosened his hold on me but didn’t let go.

I wasn’t fighting him, mostly because my mind had gone into a tailspin. I slowed my feet as the sound of a loudspeaker squealing came through the sound system.

“Everyone, please line up, we will now commence the cauldron ceremony where you will have your final House chosen.”

The announcers words distantly registered, barely, through the shock. “How did they get Sam? She’s back in Texas!”

Jared paused. “Look, I know that you and I have not seen eye to eye. I’ve done what I’ve done to protect those whose job it is of mine to protect. You, a Shade, would understand that, I think.”

Damn it. I didn’t want to trust him, but the sincerity rolling off him was just that—completely sincere. And I did understand that need to protect your own, maybe better than he realized.

“Barry Darkson…House of Shade. Killian Irish…House of Shade….Farley Whitehall House of Wonder…” The names rattled off, one after another.

Jared ran a hand through his hair and started forward again. “Your sister came looking for you. Apparently, your father needs to be reminded of how to keep secrets,” he pushed open a door and led me outside. The distant music thumped along until the door shut behind us.

Jared let my arm go. “Are you able to run?”

I kicked off the heels. “Yes.”

He led the way across the lawn and to the east side of the mansion. Adrenaline snapped and zinged through me. If the kidnappers thought they were going to take Sam, I was about to show them how very wrong they were. Nobody messed with my family.

Nobody.





Chapter 19





The grass was cool and damp against the soles of my bare feet as Jared led me away from the mansion. Away from my friends. Away from Rory.

I slowed a split second before the warning tingle whipped through me. Jared turned. “You are picking up on the danger?”

I nodded, feeling the memories start to surge inside me. I’d been here before. With Ethan. I tried to piece the broken memories together. There was something dangerous here, of that I had no doubt.

But where...and what?

Jared kept moving, forcing me to either keep up with him or fall too far behind. A cry cut the air, a girl’s cry.

Sam.

I bolted forward. Screw the danger.

The ground ahead of us glowed, as if lit from within.

My breathing kicked up several notches. Even if my memories were sketchy, my body knew this place.

And it didn’t like it.

Another cry cut off as though forcefully smashed…Jared was already down the stairs and I followed, ignoring the screaming of my instincts. I needed to get to Sam, danger be damned.