Page 21 of Dance With Death

Nita scoffs. “No. We’re working together on the history project.”

I suck on my teeth. A possible truth. “Why would you work with humans, Nita?”

“We’re fostering better relations between the races as there’s too much division recently.” Marci smiles sweetly—too sweetly.

“By teaching humans spells? That’s pointless. No spell works without magic energy, and humans don’t possess any.”

“Nita told you—we are working on a project. Not spells,” says Zoe.

I step closer, and Isabella snaps a black notebook closed before tucking it into her bag.

“This isn’t the right place for project meetings,” I inform them. “You should work in one of the rooms attached to the library downstairs.”

Zoe chuckles. “Are you the assistant librarian now?”

“We prefer to meet here,” says Marci. “And we’ll work silently if we’re upsetting you.”

No. There’s something odd happening. I study Isabella’s blazer. A brooch. Helen wears one too. Marci and the witches? None.

“Are you staring at my breasts?” Isabella asks in disgust.

I blink. “No. The brooch.”

She scoffs. “Sure, you were.”

“I was!”

“How crude, Rowan,” says Marci.

“Seriously?” I mutter. But who’d believe a denial from a male teen in this situation? “I thought Violet might like a brooch.”

“A skull pin is more her style,” says Nita, and the others snicker.

“Yeah, I guess Violet isn’t mindless enough to wear something just because everybody else does.” I’m on the verge of querying the brooches’ significance but I might never get my hands on one if the coven sees I’m suspicious. But Violet’s correct—I need one for psychometry.

“Is that all, Rowan? We’re busy, as I’m sure you are too,” says Marci and picks up her pen. “I heard your grades are slipping due to your infatuation with Violet. Or are you bonded to her? I heard a rumor.”

My jaw tightens. “I need to concentrate, not listen to whispering girls hidden away for secret meetings.”

“Secret meetings? Violet’s paranoia rubbing off on you, Rowan?” she replies.

There’re so many things I could say or ask about regarding the changes in the academy atmosphere and the possible threats to students. But Marci can’t know we’re investigating more than Holly.

“Where’s Holly?” Isabella asks, and her harder eyes hold mine. “Nobody’s heard from her since the message that she sent Marci, and her single post.”

“Isn’t she sick?” I reply. “That’s what Holly posted. Mrs. Lorcan would’ve told us if a student is missing.”

Which she still hasn’t, and neither has Dorian pushed her to.

“That’s a lie. Everybody knows Holly is missing,” puts in Nita. “And that the people who killed Wes are involved.”

“Or the ones who cursed the tiara,” replies Isabella.

“Or the werewolf,” says Helen.

“Either way, Holly’s missing, not sick,” says Marci. “Who sent me the fake message?”

“Yes, I’m Holly’s best friend and we’re in touch, like all the time, and she’d have to be unconscious to not message me,” says Isabella.

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