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“You know I don’t like that! It makes me feel like I am under a microscope. You know damn well that I can handle myself. I’vedone it for years now. I want to keep you in the loop, as you always say you want to be.”

“Yeah, a vague loop, but still the loop either way.” I laugh, and Atticus comes into the room. “Love you, Mom.”

When I hang up, Atticus looks seconds away from jumping into the veil. His devotion to my family is nothing short of loyal. He loves them and feels like he owes my parents everything since they took him in when he had nothing and nobody. The only thing he has of a blood family is one close cousin with whom he is still close. He is my brother. “Everything’s fine. We have to go home for fall break, though. Might have to plan a trip home before that, though.”

His hands flex into fists before his knuckles turn white. His green eyes practically glow as he is fighting the urge to go. “Should I just pop over to make sure?”

I shake my head, but I know the man spends most of his time in the veil. If he could, he would practically live there. “I asked, and she said no. I am sure it’s fine and that you have enough on your plate.”

“Family is more important than what I got going on. I think I will pop over just to check in.” He hesitates. “Don’t tell her.” He knows how she feels about it. However, I also know his fear of losing anyone will outweigh it.

“Don’t stay long.” He nods before disappearing from where he was standing in an instant. It makes me feel better because Atticus will make sure nothing out of the ordinary is happening. I trust him to keep our family safe. Maybe by fall break, I will bring Salem along to meet my family. That thought makes me smile as I wonder what my little mate is currently up to.

Chapter eighteen

I walk up thestairs and pause outside of my dorm room door to take a moment and gather myself. The door numbers 415 are straight except for the five, but it’s the best sight I’ve seen all day. Today felt as if it wasn’t ever going to end. I sigh with relief as I push open the door and walk into the common room. Skye’s bedroom door opens, and she gasps when she sees me there. I give an awkward wave, then frown when I see her holding a packing box. I shoot her a half smile while she appears as if she is about to cry, gripping her box tighter. “Well, we had a good run.” I give her a shrug because, right now, that’s all that I can offer her.

Skye’s heart rate is escalating; she lets out a breath before firmly pursing her lips. “I’m sorry. For what it’s worth, I don’t believe what they are saying. I don’t want to be involved or inthe middle of it. School is hard enough, and I don’t want the additional drama. I hope you understand.”

I walk towards my room, wanting to be alone. Part of me wants to not say anything else to her. The other part of me, the part that took everything everyone dished out today, wants to say something. I turn to look back at her and tilt my head to the side, my eyes assessing her. It’s something I don’t think I will be able to not do, looking for weaknesses. “Which part don’t you believe? The part where I ran away or the Anti-Fae prison facility?” Skye’s hazel eyes widen, her lip trembles, and she almost drops her box. My eyes nearly roll with annoyance as, once again, someone thinks the worst about me. As if I would hurt her, it wouldn’t even be fair, and being a coward doesn’t make you a bad person. “I’ve fought worse things than Lulu. Being alone doesn’t scare me. I am used to it. Believe whatever you want. It makes no difference to me.” I give her a nod. “Good luck.”

It wasn’t like I didn’t get it because I did. I wanted to lie low during my studies here at Black Rose. Of course, Marcus ruined that, as did Lulu. As I close the door to my room. I place my back against the door and lean against it before I slide down to the floor. For the first time, I miss my cage. The imperfection on the wall that I can talk to my person. I told her I was okay with being alone, but was I? 203 was with me, at least in solidarity. It hurt. Today hurt. I will not show it to the world, though, only in the privacy of my room.

A loud thumping knock pulls me from my thoughts. Somehow, I am sure it’s more bad news for me. A soft knock on my door, and Skye’s voice calls through my door. “Umm Salem? There is a girl here–”

“Save it, little girl. Continue with whatever you are doing, which appears to be moving.” That voice has me pausing. My head tilts to the side as I listen closer.

“This is still my dorm room.” Skye tries to sound brave, yet there is hesitation there.

“From those boxes you have there, I would say that’s a load of shit.” I stand at that. Why do I know that voice?

I open the door and tilt my head, looking at the fiery redhead. She looks amazing. She reminds me of a gothic badass princess, as she wears all black against her pale skin. Her bright green eyes with heavy-lined black eyeliner widen on me as she sucks in a breath. “It’s really you.” Tears fill her eyes, and it looks like she is trying to keep them at bay. Hope and happiness hit me in the chest. My hand goes up to my chest as her emotions hit me so hard that it feels like it might knock me off my feet. I haven’t felt an emotion come off of someone so hard before, and the feeling of it has me tearing up.

I blink at her, confused about where her emotions end and mine begins. “How do I know you?”

She pushes forward into my room, closing the door behind her. Her green eyes seem to almost blaze as they narrow on me. “What the fuck did he do to you?”

It’s my turn to look confused. “What did who do to me?” A lump in my throat doesn’t seem to go away. I feel like I can’t breathe for a second as I stand there before someone, and I can’t help but feel rather exposed. My arms want to cross so she can’t look at me.

“Marcus! Who else!” She screams out, her voice loud, and her painted red lip quivers with emotion. “It’s been six years! I never heard from you after your birthday or the day after. All my calls were unanswered. Doors were slammed in my face when I went over. It wasn’t until school that I found out you ran away.” She shakes her head aggressively as she cries. “That’s not true, though. I never believed it.” She points at her chest, then back at me. “You wouldn’t leave me! You wouldn’t do that!”

Pain erupts in my head, making me fall to my knees. My hands grip the sides of my head. “I can’t remember.” Maybe if I push my brain, I can remember, but it only hurts.

She also falls to her knees before me. “It’s me, it’s Ember. We have been best friends since we first met in preschool...” She laughs. “...not that I gave you much of a choice.”

Warmth invades my chest, and my hand grabs hold of it. That name sparks something inside of me, making me feel happy. “Memories are gone. Your name…” I point to my chest. “…I feel it here?” My head shakes, and I must sound insane to her. I sound insane to myself, let alone a normal person.

She grabs my hand. I try to pull away, but she grabs it and squeezes it tight. Images of us flickering around fill my mind. I can see her projecting things at me, whether she knows that’s what she is doing. “There are rumors about you.” She practically whispers, her eyes darting around slightly like someone could be listening. “Nobody believed me when I told them you wouldn’t have run away.”

I shake my head. “No, they wouldn’t believe you.” I squeeze her hand tight. “You should pretend to believe Marcus. It’s not safe to go against him. It’s unsafe to be friends or be seen with me.” Every part of me wants to protect her from Marcus. Maybe it’s the fact that she believes in me. Everyone else at this academy believes the worst, yet she believes me.

She shakes her head and her jaw tenses. “No. You don’t get to not be in my life.” Ember digs through her bag. She pulled out a small frame that had a beautiful moth that looked like it had eyes in the wings.

My fingers reach out and touch the glass where the delicate wings are. I feel something tug at my heart, and a memory is there of hiding things away—my treasures that aren’t allowed to be found. “You would bring them to school in little boxes. Afteryou disappeared, I framed them all. I kept them for when we came to the academy here like I always promised.”

The tears gather in my eyes, and for the first time, I don’t feel ashamed of them. I throw my arms around her. I feel love and hope as she returns my hug, holding me tight.

The room goes cold, and I know Constantine is here. However, before I respond, Ember pulls me behind her like she will take on a Prince of Hell. Aww, she wants to protect me. “Oh, Kitty has claws.” He puts his hands up to his chest like paws. “Meow.”

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