Page 271 of Blood & Betrayals

“That is not your concern nor the reason for your visit,” the headmaster says. His voice is calm, but a rumble of menace resonates within the words.

The fae king stands and stretches. “But I am making her my concern. You know, the second she entered Avalon, I felt her.” They watch each other, and the tension builds, neither backing down. “Tell her I look forward to meeting her.” He laughs darkly and leaves, followed by his entourage.

I swallow as the spell dissolves into nothing.

“He didn’t seem even remotely concerned about the situation. Only about you,” the headmaster says.

“And he called me little fae. Do you think h-he knows who’s doing this?”

The headmaster nods, and the spell appears again. The headmaster zooms in on Kai’s face, looking at the smirk etched on his face. “He’s mocking us. Me in particular.”

“I need to leave. Don’t I?”

“Unfortunately, there is nowhere safer. Also, Avalon is your home.”

“Right…”

He pins me in place with his gaze. “You are not to leave Avalon, Miss Tuatha De Daanan.”

I blush and look away. “Yes, sir.”

I feel his gaze burning into me, willing me to look at him. When I do, he nods and runs a hand through his hair. He looks at my phone again and shakes his head. “The authorities are celebrating. I’m not sure this or anything will get them to reopen the investigation.”

“I’ll help however I can.”

He nods and rubs his hand over his face. “We need to find out who runs the page.”

I nod once and take my phone from his desk. I have no idea how I’m going to do that. The headmaster says he’s shit with technology, and I’m not sure I’m much better, to be honest. But the safety of myself and those I care about is at stake, and I will do whatever it takes to protect the people I love.

102

Summer

Icall Alice when I’m on my way home. I can practically hear her pacing in the living room. “You’re okay,” she says, relief saturating her voice.

“Alice, I texted you all the way to the headmaster’s office.”

“Yeah, but what if the killer had found you and taken you? Then they’d have your phone. They could have been texting, pretending to be you. I was about to come find you.”

I roll my eyes, but my heart swells at her care for me. “Somehow, I knew you were freaking out, which is why I’m calling. We have a mission.”

“Oh, hot. Do we need black body suits for this mission?”

I laugh, relieved that I can still do so. “Probably not, but we should get them, anyway.”

“I will order us some, but what do we have to do?”

“We have to find out who’s behind EverydayEmrys.”

“Oh, damn. My detective boner is standing at attention. Okay, is there a reason?”

“I think the headmaster believes there are more messages. Some may have even been deleted or blocked. We should wait to plan when Connor isn’t there.”

“Why not tell him?”

“I don’t want to worry him.”

Alice doesn’t say anything, and I can hear her disapproval in the silence.

---