Page 18 of Of Bone and Ash

“It’s…” I start as she catches up to me, linking her arm with mine. “Uh, nothing. I thought I saw…” I trail off and sigh when Tess gives me a sympathetic look, no doubt hearing the name I called out. “False alarm,” I tell her, a flicker of guilt hitting me square in the chest as I lie through my teeth. However, I feel like I need to talk with Fina before I speak to anyone else.

“You’re sure?” she asks, not looking remotely convinced. I hum under my breath as I pat her hand in the crook of my arm, striding together through the halls and back outside. My mind is still on the girl who ran from me today. Fina is not just going to let me waltz back into her life. I know that for a fact. It doesn't matter that I’ve finally come into my full Phoenix gifts and her magic won't hurt me anymore.

I mean, sure, she can still kill me. But it won't be permanent.

No, I’ll have to force my way back in like I did the first time. Only now I know how to do it, and I refuse to let her keep me at bay like she did when we were kids. I gave her time. Staying here in school despite my longing to track down her fine ass and make her mine. I planned to finish out this year at Silverwood before returning to Montana and enrolling at Black Veil University for my senior year.

The fact is, my plans were to charm her until she realized how good we are for each other. And if that didn't work, well, it's a good thing I’m immortal because there isn't a damn thing I wouldn't do to keep Serafina Covington in my life.

I’m aware of just how unhinged that sounds. I was worried about it when I first started thinking this way, but now… now I’ve come to accept it. Fina loves to say she’s a monster, and I’ve decided I’m just fine with becoming one myself to keep her. My dad always said I had to fight for the best things in life, and that’s precisely what I will do.

“I’ll catch up with you at lunch. Go over with Gorden and the others,” I mutter, shoving her toward our friends, my mind reeling as I run down the steps, my focus on one thing.

Getting more information about Fina.

“Where are you going? Class starts in ten minutes, Teos!” I hear Tess holler after me, but my only response is to toss a wave over my shoulder and keep going.

Fina has stepped into my territory, and I’m going to use it to my advantage.

EIGHT

Serafina

Slamming my textbook closed, I glare at my brother as he dismisses the class. We’re in a rather large circular room for being up in a tower, with the semicircle of seats stepping down to the front of the room and Atlas’ desk. There’s also a massive projector that looks to be at least ten years old and a curved whiteboard that extends over half of the wall at the front.

There is even a massive fireplace with an impressive-sized wooden mantle above the stone structure. Dozens of old, leather-bound books I recognize from my time with Atlas as a child in his library adorn its surface, along with a golden globe that was gifted to him by Dani and Gabriel a few years ago.

The students are filtering out of the classroom, some stopping at the front of the class to talk to Atlas before they leave, and I scowl, wishing they would hurry up so I can speak to my brother in private. I only have two classes today, which is completely different from my original schedule. Despite the smaller number of classes I now have to attend, they are more advanced and much harder. The homework I got from Atlas alone already has me stressed.

Grabbing my textbooks and shoving them into my shoulder bag, I stand, walk down the steps toward the three students gathered around my brother, and ask him questions.

The moment I step off the stairs and stride toward them, the girl on Atlas’ left looks up and frowns, taking a step back. The other two quickly follow, looking up from their tablets, their eyes widening as I get closer. A simple gesture of my head toward the door has them stumbling over their goodbyes and scurrying away like scared little mice before I can get within ten feet of them.

“Ah, and there they go,” Atlas sighs, watching the students, a mixture of amusement and frustration warring on his face when he looks at me. “I’ve missed your particular brand of warmth and charm, Serafina. I believe you’ve been spending too much time with our brother. Maybe hang around Danica or Kayla more on your next visit home,” Atlas suggests dryly as I stand over him.

I arch an unamused brow and then look at the whiteboard. “A ten thousand word essay due by next week? Are you kidding me?” I ask in exasperation.

“There is no kidding in my classroom,” Atlas says, lips twitching up at the corners as he wheels himself to his desk. He glares at the large clock hanging directly above it, running a hand through his brown hair. I frown when I see the dark rings under his eyes.

Fae age slower than normal, and our life expectancy is more than double that of humans. Atlas may be in his early forties, which is considered young in the Fae world, but right now, with the under-eye dark circles and stress practically radiating off him in waves, he looks much older than he is.

Watching him, I'm more than a little glad I chose to come to Silverwood. He needs this more than I initially thought. After I talked to my sister-in-law last night, and she agreed with my reasons for being here, I knew I made the right choice. Thankfully, she said she would talk to Gabe, so I didn't have to. So far, I haven't had any texts or phone calls from him, so I’m crossing my fingers that everything will work out.

“And what about the other classes you signed me up for? I was perfectly happy with the ones I selected,” I mutter, simply to annoy him. “I know one of them is some kind of hard-ass professor. Though I’m starting to believe that might be you,” I whisper that last bit under my breath as I stalk after him, my heels clicking on the stone floor as I go.

“Who? Ambrose?” Atlas asks, already aware of who I’m talking about, which doesn't bode well for me. “Yeah, he has a… particular way of teaching. But I believe you’ll learn a lot in that class that could be helpful for tracking down the cause of these missing girls.” I feel myself frown as I listen to him.

“Is the professor a suspect?”

Atlas snorts and shakes his head. “God, no. I wish! Then we wouldn't have to deal with him. It is probably best not to let that man know we are related. In fact.” Atlas looks up from his desk, brow furrowed. “It's safer if no one knows we are. Not many people are aware of my relationship to Gabriel. But they know yours. It may compromise my position here at the school, and Gabe will have to send in someone new.”

“If you want to get technical, we aren't related,” I point out with a huff, yanking my gaze from Atlas as I look at the time. I don't have any more classes today, which is good since my stomach is starting to cramp up from hunger. I skipped breakfast, and it was well past lunchtime.

“That's crap, and you know it. You are as much my sister as Gabe’s. DNA doesn't matter,” Atlas grinds out, his brown eyes filling with hurt seconds before they dart back to the papers on his desk. Gabe and Atlas share a mother, while Gabe and I share the same father. Our father killed their mother long before I was born. He then searched for another Fae woman to bear a second Reaper son and found my mom. Meaning Atlas and I aren’t technically related.

“I know that, Attie. Besides, I’ve always envied you not having a monster for a father,” I whisper, swallowing hard as I look around the empty classroom. “But if you want to keep the fact that we’re related a secret, that’s fine. Plus, it helps that we have different last names.”

Atlas nods, but his jaw is still tight. My comment upset him. I frown, shifting from side to side. I’ve never been good with emotions, so I try to stay away from them. I can’t even process my own in a healthy manner, so there is no way I can help another person.

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