Tempted

“Why don’t you guys go get on the plane? I gotta talk to Lenobia for a second.”

“You depart out of gate twenty-six,” Lenobia said. “Blessed be, and may Nyx stay close to you.”

“Blessed be!” everyone said, and they headed for the twisty security line.

“How’re the hurt fledglings?” I asked.

“Much improved. Thank you for what you did for them,” she said.

I shook off her thanks. “I’m just glad they’re better. What about Dragon?”

“Deep in mourning.”

“I’m so sorry,” I said.

“Defeat Kalona. Stop Neferet. That will help Dragon.”

I ignored the skittering of panic inside me and changed the subject. “What are you going to do about the red fledglings?”

“I’ve considered that, and what I believe we should do is to honor the will of their High Priestess. I’ll speak with Stevie Rae when I return to the school and we’ll decide what she believes is best for her people.”

It felt funny to hear Lenobia call Stevie Rae a High Priestess, but good funny. “You need to know that there are more red fledglings than just the ones with Stevie Rae.”

Lenobia nodded. “Darius has informed me.”

“What are you going to do about them?”

“As with the others, that decision should include Stevie Rae. It’s a difficult situation. We don’t even know exactly what it is they’ve become—or haven’t become.” Lenobia put her hand on my shoulder. “Zoey, you must not allow what might be happening here to distract you. Focus on Kalona and Neferet and the High Council. Trust that I’ll take care of our House of Night.”

I sighed. “Okay, I will. Or at least I’ll try.”

She smiled. “I’ve informed the High Council that we consider you our High Priestess.”

I felt a little jolt of shock. “Seriously?”

“Seriously. You are, Zoey. You’ve earned it. And you’re connected to Nyx in a way no other fledgling or vampyre has ever been. Keep following the Goddess and make us proud,” she said.

“I’ll try my best.”

“And that is all we ask of you. Blessed be, Zoey Redbird.”

“Blessed be,” I said. Then I followed my gang to gate twenty-six, trying not to think too much about the fact that a High Priestess of Nyx had no business dreaming of her Goddess’s ex-Warrior.

“Grandma, hi! How are you feeling?”

“Oh, Zoeybird! I am better today. I think the storm ending has strengthened me. Ice is beautiful, but only in small doses,” said Grandma.

“Hey, don’t think that means you need to rush back out to the lavender farm. Please promise me you’ll let Sister Mary Angela take care of you for a while.”

“Oh, do not fear, u-we-tsi-a-ge-ya. I find I rather like the company of the good sister. Will you come see me tonight? How are things at the school?”

“Well, Grandma, that’s what I’m calling about. I’m getting ready to get on the school jet and go to Venice. Kalona and Neferet are there, and it looks like they’re messing with the High Council.”

“That is bad, u-we-tsi-a-ge-ya. You are not going into that battle alone, are you?”

“No way, Grandma. The whole gang’s with me, plus Heath.”

“Good. Don’t feel ashamed to use his connection to you; it is the natural order of things.”

Tears burned in the back of my throat. Grandma’s constant love, no matter how vampyre-monster—like and weird my life had become, was the foundation of my whole world. “I love you, Grandma,” I choked out.

“And I you, u-we-tsi-a-ge-ya. Do not fret about an old woman. Focus on your task at hand. I’ll be here when you have won your battle.”

“You sound so sure I will.”

“I am sure of you, u-we-tsi-a-ge-ya, and sure you have your Goddess’s favor.”

“Grandma, I had a really weird dream about Kalona.” I lowered my voice, even though I’d walked away from where the rest of the kids were waiting by the gate for our plane to be ready to board. “I saw that Kalona hasn’t always been evil. He used to be Nyx’s Warrior.”

Grandma was silent for several long moments. Finally she said, “This sounds more like a vision than a dream.”

I could feel the rightness of what she was saying. “A vision! So does that mean it’s true?”

“Not necessarily, though it does give what you saw more importance than a simple dream. Did it seem truthful?”

I chewed my lip, then admitted, “Yes, it felt like what I was seeing was the truth.”

“Remember to temper feelings with common sense. Listen to your heart, mind, and soul.”

“I’m trying.”

“Weigh your feelings with logic and reason through them. You are not A-ya. You are Zoey Redbird, and you have free will. If it becomes too overwhelming, look to your friends, especially Heath and Stark. They are connected to you, to Zoey, and not the ghost of an ancient Cherokee maiden.”

“You’re right, Grandma. I’ll remember. I’m me, and that’s not going to change.”

“Zo! Plane’s boarding!” Heath called.

“I gotta go, Grandma. I love you!”

“My love goes with you, u-we-tsi-a-ge-ya.”

I got on the plane feeling renewed by my grandma’s love. She was right. I needed to balance what I knew about Kalona and what I thought I might know about him.

My positive attitude was reinforced by the cool jet we were getting to fly in. It was all like first class with huge leather seats that lay all the way back and super-thick window coverings, which I immediately went around and pulled down.

“The sun’s not out there right now, dork,” Aphrodite said.

“I’m just taking care of this right now in case any of you forget”—I made air quotes around the word—“to close them later.”

“I’m not going to burn up your Warrior,” Aphrodite said. “Then my Warrior would have way too much to do.”

“I will never be too busy for you,” Darius said, taking the seat beside her and lifting the arm that separated them so they could snuggle.

“Barf,” Erin said.

“Moving to the back of the plane so we don’t get Aphrodite sick,” Shaunee said.

“Is there a beverage service on this plane?” Damien asked.

“I hope so. I could use some brown pop,” I said, loving that everyone was sounding as normal as I was suddenly feeling.

“Lenobia said we’d be on our own on this flight, but I would bet you could forage around after we get airborne and find something to drink,” Darius said.

“I know where they keep the pop,” Stark said. “This is the plane that flew me from Chicago to here. I’ll get you some as soon as we take off.” Then he gestured to the empty seat next to him. “Sit by me?”

“Hey, Zo!” Heath called from farther back in the plane. “I saved you a seat back here.”

I sighed. “You know what, I think I’m going to sit over here by myself and just try to sleep. Jet lag is a killer,” I said, choosing a seat midway between Heath and Stark.

“I’m taking a Xanax. I know how to fly,” Aphrodite said. “I’ll be ready to hit the stores the second we touch down in Venetia.”

“Stores?” Shaunee called.

“Shopping?” Erin said.

“Perhaps we should reconnoiter with Aphrodikey,” Shaunee said.

“Excellent idea, Twin,” Erin agreed.

I smiled to myself as the Twins moved up to seats across from Aphrodite, who sneered at them, but