“Yeah, it worked out.” I hefted my backpack up, resituating it on my shoulders.
He rubbed his jaw. “Good, good, good. I trust you can get a copy of the notes from Samantha?”
“Yeah, that shouldn’t be a problem,” I said.
His eyes darted toward the dragons. “Her notes are probably more detailed than mine, and the two of you probably know as much about creatures of myth as I do.”
My eyebrows drew together, and I turned toward Cody. His expression looked as confused as mine felt. At the same time, we both turned back toward Dr. Cedar.
“Oh, I know your guards are more than they seem, and your watchers are, too.” He waved his hand. “No need to confirm or deny. Just look at your syllabus and turn in the assignments you missed by a week from Thursday. Be careful out there.” He picked up a pen and started jotting notes down for himself.
“Well, that was weird,” I said to Cody when we walked out into the hall.
He slid his hand into mine. “Figured he’d be one to know.”
We walked to Sarah’s office with the dragons and Nephilim trailing us. The sidewalks were covered in a fresh layer of snow. I pulled the collar of my coat up to help protect my face from the stinging wind.
When we got to Sarah’s office, I stomped my feet on the rug, getting as much snow off of them as possible before walking to her receptionist. Alicia sat behind the desk. Her spiky hair was dyed hot pink. She drummed her manicured fingernails on the desk as she took in me and my entourage. “All of you going up?”
“I don’t know about them.” I pointed to Diana and Olivia. “The rest of us need to see Dean Aspen if she’s available.”
She lifted a slender eyebrow and pointed to the chairs. “Have a seat.”
Cody and I sat in front of the fireplace, stretching our hands out to warm them. I stared out the window. The distant mountains were hidden behind blowing snow.
A few minutes after we sat down, Alicia said, “Go on up. She’ll see you now.”
The six of us strode up the open staircase while Diana and Olivia watched us. Sarah’s door was open, and she waved at us. “Come in. Come in. I’m so glad to see you.” She rushed over and hugged both Cody and me. “I’ve been worried about you. Next time, you should let me know before you disappear.”
“I’m sorry.” I tugged my hand through my hair. “I really couldn’t. I couldn’t let the dragons or Nephilim in on our plan.”
She looked at my bodyguards with disapproval. “I understand.”
“We have orders that we have to follow.” Malcolm lowered his eyes to the ground. “We have no choice, unless we want to face the elder council.”
“Aurelia explained that to me.” She waved at the couches, and we sat. “Where is Aurelia?”
“She is searching for Argentum.” I didn’t know what her role with the elder council was, but she seemed to play a significant part. She was always off somewhere doing something for them anymore. I understood, but I also missed having her around.
Sarah sat on the coffee table in front of me. Her eyes softened. “I am sorry for all you’ve been through.”
“Thanks.” I pictured Mavros’ smile just before I returned him to the Abyss. Maybe he was okay. Maybe he’d get to go back to that realm and sit on the beach. Maybe it really was what he’d wanted. “Hopefully, they find Argentum before he comes after me again.”
All of the dragons growled. The sound would spark fear in anyone with a pulse, but none of the dragons took the time to enjoy the scent.
Sarah looked at them. Her eyebrows drew together. “Do you not want him caught?”
“He broke a solemn vow.” Cash’s irises expanded until the scleras were barely visible. “He needs to be punished.”
“Did he make the same vow as you?” Sarah asked.
“We don’t know what he said for sure, but Dacia freed us.” Arianna’s soft, lyrical voice was hardened. “She is our ally, and he should’ve stood by her no matter what.”
Chapter 32
Never Saw It Coming
Mavros stands in front of me. His eyes are soft. A genuine smile spreads over his lips. “Send me back, Dacia.”
“I can’t. I can’t do that to you after you helped me.” I look down at my hands. “What kind of person would that make me?”
“One who wants to live.”
I woke up with tears in my eyes and Cody staring at me. He didn’t say anything, just held me while I cried.
L
Wednesday’s classes were much the same. The teachers all asked if everything was okay. They gave me assignments and notes, giving me a week to get everything done.
The walk back from Shakespeare was a tense one. Malcolm strode behind me, keeping my pace from dawdling. The dragons’ apprehension rubbed off on me, making me jerk at every noise and snap my head toward every movement.
Tye slowed, lifting his head to the sky, scenting the air. “He’s here.” Without hesitation, he grabbed hold of my shoulder and teleported away with me.
Before my body solidified, the smell of death and decay assaulted my nostrils. Darkness surrounded me. I lifted my hand to light a fire in my palm, but he pressed it down. Not yet. He spoke into my mind. Let me make sure it’s safe.
I transformed my eyes, making them dragon-like. I was in a cave. Bones and animal carcasses lay scattered over the floor. Water ran down one wall, filling a vast underground lake. Waves rippled along the surface, moving quickly toward us.
A sense of foreboding crept over me. A haze clouded my vision. Then darkness swallowed me up. Unable to
