A Gift of Three (A Shade of Vampire #42)(52)

“No,” Field replied. “We’re not going out there again—I mean it, Jovi,” he added, seeing the werewolf about to interject. “We need to come up with another plan—one that doesn’t see us going on a suicide mission. It might mean we need to wait for a few days, but by the sounds of it, we have time. If the Druid wants to help develop your powers, then let’s let him help. If you guys can see the future, then we can use that to our advantage.”

“That’s a good idea,” I replied. “In the meantime, I can help try to uncover his true motives. He can feel me when I try to syphon off him during the day… but he might not be so quick to react while he’s sleeping.”

“You’re going to try to mind-meld with him?” my brother asked.

I nodded. “It might work. If he’s sleeping, he could unwittingly pass on information. It’s worth a try.”

“I don’t know, Serena,” he replied, looking doubtful. “He’s dangerous. We still know next to nothing about his abilities…it’s a risky move.”

“One I’m willing to take,” I argued.

Phoenix and I glared at one another, neither of us willing to back down, and Phoenix once again playing the part of over-protective brother.

“Let me do it,” he insisted.

“Oh, come on,” I argued, “you know I’m better at it than you are—and much more subtle.”

Aida tried to cover up a snort of laughter. “I’m sorry,” she beseeched my brother, “but it’s true—when you syphon it’s like being hit by a sledgehammer.”

Phoenix glared at her, rolling his eyes in frustration. “Fine,” he bit out. “But you need to be careful. When are you going to do it?”

“Tonight,” I replied.

“Someone should go with you.”

I shook my head. “I’m doing it alone. It won’t take long—and honestly, I really don’t believe he means to harm me. He rescued me from those shape-shifter creatures. He didn’t need to do that. I’m not an Oracle—I’m nothing to him. But he still did it.”

“All right,” Field replied, silencing my brother with a stern look. “It’s worth a try. Just be careful, and don’t take any unnecessary risks. I don’t want him to know that we’re suspicious of him, or at least any more suspicious than usual.”

Plan decided, we all headed our separate ways to get some rest. None of us felt like going downstairs to eat anything—it was too hot, and I didn’t think any of us particularly liked the idea of dining with the Druid and his strange friend.

Vita, Aida and I agreed to share the room again. There were some other bedrooms, but it was better to stick together—especially if Aida or Vita succumbed to any visions in the night. I didn’t want either of them going through that alone.

“I hate it here,” sighed Aida, leaning her head back against the pillows. “I feel like I’m stuck in a Victorian oven. I hope our families are already hunting for us.”

“Of course they are,” Vita replied. “They’ll have the entire fae armies out looking for us too, if Nuriya has anything to do with it!”

“I just wish we understood how far away we were from the fae stars.” I sighed, looking up into the sky. “It would at least help us understand how likely they are to find us. I mean if we’re deep, deep in the In-Between…” I trailed off, realizing that my speculations weren’t that helpful.

“It won’t matter,” Vita insisted. “They’ll find us.”

I nodded, looking back out of the window. This was the second night we’d spent here, and our first full day. How many more would be spent here? It made me feel claustrophobic just thinking about it. My mind returned to the diary I’d found. From what I’d read, it had sounded like the writer had been stuck here too, thinking they were going crazy with the repetition of the days and the food…was that what lay in store for us? She’d mentioned an ‘Almus’ and I wondered if that was the same Druid, or someone else —he hadn’t even told us his name. He’d been good at keeping us in the dark. I hoped that wouldn’t be the case much longer.

“Are you going to sleep, Serena?” Aida asked.

“No,” I replied. “I’m going to wait up… wait for the right moment.”

Aida nodded, shifting on the bed to get comfortable.

“Wake us if you need to,” she replied sleepily.

I went to the bathroom to get a glass of water, and when I returned, they had both dozed off.

I dimmed the wick on the lamp, throwing the room into a soft glow. Knowing that I probably had a while to wait, I decided that I could preoccupy myself with the diary—I didn’t have so many moral issues with reading it now. I felt we were all desperate enough for answers that we should try getting them, whatever it took.

Taking the lamp with me, I made my way along the corridor. I didn’t hear any noises from Phoenix’s or Jovi’s rooms and figured that Field had probably found somewhere outside to sleep again. Pushing the door to the room open, I made my way back to the vanity table, opened up the drawer, and removed the journal. Placing the lamp down, I sat on the edge of the musty bed and flicked through it, picking up where I’d left off.