“That’s how they get you.”

Novalie snorted and some of my tension faded at the familiar sound. Whatever else had happened today, we were okay.

“You need to keep your temper under control,” Cal continued. “And maybe Adrian will agree to let you leave before any more murders are committed.”

The problem was, I didn’t feel like I had a temper. Sure, a low tolerance for bullshit and a propensity to speak my mind often led to trouble, but with the vampires… I was running on instinct. There wasn’t much I could do if my instincts insisted that Adrian should be the one to fall in line. Vampiric nature pulled no punches and, as the days went by, the harder I found it to stay in control.

“I’ll speak to Adrian,” I said quietly and scowled at the surprise that flared on Hayes’ face. It would be hard, but for Novalie and Emerson, I was willing to try. They were my best friends—my only friends—and they were now part of my House too, which meant I had a responsibility now. “And in the meantime, I won’t let anyone get near you.” My eyes met Novalie’s and moved over to Emerson when she nodded. If Adrian wouldn’t let us leave… Well, I’d burn that bridge when it came to it.

Tension fell over Novalie’s form and I noticed her shift slightly closer to where Emerson sat on the bed. Hayes’ eyes were a tangible weight on my skin and I kept my face turned away. I had bigger things to worry about than whose head he’d brought to the court, or what he was planning now he was back.

Apparently not content to let me ignore him, Hayes cleared his throat lightly and I rolled my eyes. “I don’t think my room is prepared yet. Fancy sharing?”

The question was clearly directed at me, but I let the silence drag on for a moment too long to be comfortable before looking to Novalie and Emerson and shaking my head. “Take it. I’m going to stay with Em and Novalie tonight.” It had been a long day and now, more than ever, we needed each other. I’d shut them out before. I wasn’t going to make that mistake again. Plus, there was the small matter of the dead mage in my room and the destruction he’d wreaked. “Do you know anything about this kind of gift Em has?”

Cal frowned, his eyes going distant as if he could mentally riffle through the knowledge tucked away in his brain. “It’s rare, I can only think of a few clairvoyants in our history, but I’ll see what I can dig up for you.”

I nodded my thanks. “I, ah, also need your help. There’s a small mess in my room, could you check it out for me please?”

Cal’s eyebrows rose, maybe because I’d asked him so nicely, and he nodded before shooting a look at Hayes and disappearing altogether.

I didn’t waste any time. “Get out.”

“Leah,” Novalie hissed and at first, I thought it was in protest of my sharp-tongue where Hayes was concerned, but when I looked at her, I realised Emerson had fallen into the same trance-like state as before.

“It’s happening more frequently,” Hayes murmured, moving closer to me and making my body stiffen with yearning as the bond seemed to undulate inside me. Needing space, I strode towards Emerson and took her hands in mine.

“What do you see, Em?” My eyes moved across her face, the stillness there was unnerving.

“She looks dead,” Novalie said from behind my left shoulder, a tremble in her voice that had me reaching back a hand for her.

“She’s fine,” I said quietly, squeezing Novalie’s fingers before letting her hand rest on my shoulder. “Emerson.” Command filled my voice, the power that came from a master speaking to a fledgling, and Hayes swore as the demand swelled inside the chamber. As a living vampire, his instincts would likely be screaming at him to obey, to serve the bigger predator: me.

Emerson reacted, eyes filled with death rolling until they met mine, a few bloody tears rolling down her cheeks. Her mouth opened but no sound came out.

“What do you see?” I repeated, the same power filling the words and leaving me shaking from the exertion.

Emerson shook her head, a grimace forming on her full mouth before her face became placid again. “I see a heart pierced, eyes that are lifting, blood on teeth.”

I glanced back at Novalie and saw the same worried expression on her face that I knew must be mirrored on mine. Emerson’s words were both vague and worrying. Cal needed to work with her sooner rather than later, maybe she would be able to gain some control or at least some memory of what she was seeing.

Her face cleared, sight returning to normal, and she blinked when she found me in front of her, kneeling with my hands on her knees. “It happened again?” I nodded and her brows drew together. “What did I see?”

I shook my head and Novalie spoke up as I stood in time to see Hayes leave the room, a sharp sensation twanging through me as the door thumped closed.

“We have no idea.”

Chapter Fifteen

Hayes

Leonora’s growing power was concerning. It was becoming more noticeable and, if they hadn’t already, the court was bound to start asking questions. It was strange to be back here, my memories of this place too blurred to be useful, but knowing that this was the place that I’d been born, the place where my family had last been seen… It hurt to be this close and yet so far.

I breathed in, inhaling deeply and tasting the faint tang of magick on the air. Cal had still been here when I walked in, muttering about murderous daughters, and I’d chosen not to ask what Leonora had him doing.

The room smelled like her, the scent as soothing as it was torturous. Yet, the only moments of peace I had were when I was with her.

I unbuttoned the borrowed jeans and had just lowered the zipper when the door opened.