Page 26 of Goody Magic Academy: Year Three

We hadn’t actually been told to stay away from each other—that was the irony of it all. But the headmaster’s stern warnings and disapproving looks had created an unspoken expectation that hung in the air like a thick fog.

I knew how it would go: every time Jaxon and I so much as glanced at each other, the headmaster’s ears would prick up, straining to catch the faintest whisper of scandal. He would have eyes and ears everywhere, waiting for us to slip up and confirm his suspicions. The thought of his stern face made my stomach clench.

With leaden limbs, I peeled off first my rumpled shirt and then my shorts, each movement feeling like I was moving through molasses. The grass stains on my shorts mocked me, a reminder of a fleeting moment of happiness. I let the clothes fall to my feet, feeling exposed and vulnerable in the empty room.I slipped my nightgown over my head, the soft material a poor substitute for the comfort I craved.

Tomorrow loomed before me like a dark, yawning chasm. The thought of being sold to Simon like a mere piece of furniture made me feel sick. Because it meant another prison awaited me, its iron bars already closing in, trapping me.

I crawled into bed, noticing how cool the sheets felt against my flushed skin. The mattress creaked under my weight, the sound unnaturally loud in the stillness of the room. I turned my back to Twyla’s empty bed, curling into myself as if I could physically hold all the broken pieces together.

I squeezed my eyes shut, willing sleep to come, but it eluded me. Hot tears leaked from beneath my eyelids, trailing down my cheeks and soaking into my pillow. Each silent sob shook my body as fear and sadness crashed over me in waves, threatening to pull me under. Tomorrow’s uncertain fate loomed in my mind like a specter I couldn’t banish.

In the darkness, I lay wide awake, my heart racing and my mind whirling as the night stretched out endlessly before me.

Chapter

Fourteen

Ifinally fell asleep right before dawn, but my restless peace didn’t last long.

A sharp jolt rocked my body.

Twyla was shaking my shoulder, her fingers digging into my skin. “Peyton, wake up. They’re waiting for you at breakfast.”

The harsh morning light assaulted my eyes as I cracked them open.

My stomach twisted with a mixture of hunger and lingering anxiety from the night before. “Okay, I’m awake,” I mumbled, my voice still thick with sleep. I stretched my arms and arched my back like a cat, feeling the satisfying pop of my joints. The cool air hitting my skin sent a shiver through me as the blanket fell away. “What time is it?”

“Almost ten.” She sat on the edge of my bed, the mattress dipping under her weight. “I’m sorry if I was a bit much last night. I’m just so worried about you getting hurt, that’s all.”

A pang of guilt tightened my chest at her words.

I pushed myself up to a sitting position, running a hand through my tangled hair. My braids had come loose, and I knew I must look like Medusa. The taste of morning breath lingeredon my tongue, stale and acrid. “I’m sorry too.” I clasped her hand. “Let’s not fight anymore, okay?”

She nodded, but there was something else in her eyes that chased the sleep away from me.

I squeezed her hand gently. “Twyla, what’s wrong?”

She bit her trembling lower lip. “Jaxon called Simon. He’s already agreed to buy you, and then he’ll be auctioning you off. You’re expected at Ravenwood Estate today at noon.” Her voice cracked on the last words, and she burst into tears.

I could feel the blood drain from my face, my vision narrowing to a pinpoint. “Jaxon had Simon’s number?” The words came out as a whisper, my throat constricting around them.

“Yes. Valentin got it for him. Dimitri had it.” Twyla’s voice was barely audible through her tears.

The sound of my own heartbeat thundered in my ears, drowning out everything else. I put my palms over my mouth. “Shit, this is really happening, isn’t it?” My chest tightened as panic set in.

“I’m sure you don’t have to go through with this if you don’t want to, Peyton.” Twyla’s eyes, red-rimmed and puffy, searched my face imploringly.

A whirlwind of doubt, fear, and determination raced through me. But if I didn’t do this, or at least try, the high priestess would condemn us all and I would lose everyone I loved.

I looked at her tear-streaked face. “What choice do we have, Twyla? If I don’t get into Ravenwood Estate, the high priestess will purchase the Dragon Nexus. She’ll kill Raven Acosta first, and then all the other mixed bloodline supernaturals will suffer a similar fate.” I gripped her shaking hands. “Is that really what you want?”

“Of course not,” she said miserably, her voice quivering. “But I don’t want anything to happen to you, either.” She lungedforward, wrapping her arms around me in a desperate embrace. “You’re my best friend,” she whispered, her breath warm against my ear.

The scent of her shampoo, a mix of fresh daisies and spring rain, calmed my frayed nerves. I held her, feeling the tremor running through her body. “And you’re mine.”

We hugged each other, our grip on each other tightening as if trying to block out the approaching nightmare.

A deep ache settled in my chest as I finally disentangled myself from her. “Well, I guess I’d better get dressed before I’m…” The wordsoldstuck in my throat, refusing to be uttered.

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