Page 205 of Blood & Betrayals

Another branch snaps around fifteen feet away. I flinch, my muscles tightening in preparation to fight.

“Don’t look. Act like you’re in your own world,” he says, the command in his voice steadying me. I swallow my fear and instincts and look up at the stars, pretending to be distractedwhen that couldn’t be further from the truth. I’m not sure I’ve ever been more alert, more aware of my surroundings, or more aware of someone else’s hands on me.

We walk into the puddle of light created by the lamp outside the dorm, and I feel the stranger’s hand tighten on my hip. “Inside,” he commands. I comply, not minding following orders in this case. The door closes behind me, and I stare at it for a long moment before pulling out my phone again and opening my email.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Sorry to bother you at this late hour, sir. But I was walking home and felt as though someone may have been watching me. Possibly following me.

-Summer.

I’ve barely made it upstairs and into my dorm when the response comes through.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Miss Tuatha De Daanan, did anyone approach you? Did you notice anything out of the ordinary?

-Headmaster Emrys

To:[email protected]

From:[email protected]

No, sir. But something just didn’t feel right.

-Summer.

I sigh. I must sound like such an idiot.Something just didn’t feel right?Please. It was probably a frog or something. Or a prank. Though the necklace did warm, and the stranger seemed to be very on edge, too. Did he sense whatever I did?

To:[email protected]

From:[email protected]

I will investigate immediately.

-Headmaster Emrys.

I exhale, feeling better now that I am back at Kelpie Hall. When I step into my dorm, I could sob with relief. The comfort of home washes over me, wrapping me in a sense of safety.

“Alice?” I call out.

Alice steps out of her room a moment later, lowering her headphones. “Hey, Sum. What’s up? You okay?”

I move past her into her room and open the curtains a little, peering out. “I think someone followed me home.”

Alice walks over, looking around me to see out the tiny slit of the window I’ve exposed. “Someone other than your friend?”

I nod, scanning the silhouette of the forest. “It wasn’t him.”

“I’m going to go find this fucker,” Alice hisses. She grabs the curtains, swishing them closed again.

“No,” I say, grabbing her arm.

“Why?” Alice demands, her eyes flashing with protective fury.

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