Page 39 of Blood of a Huntsman

Cat bit her lip.

"Do you believe in coincidences?" she asked the professor.

"Another word for fate. Or schemes, depending on the situation."

She nodded. "Precisely. Well, how likely is it that half a dozen students start in the second semester, on the very same day and at the exact moment when the last Eirikrson enters the school?"

"A chance in a million," said Anika. "We discussed that in conclave the day before your arrival. Levi shut down the question. In hindsight, I'd say he was protecting Chloe."

She nodded. "Of course. But that doesn't change the fact that something—someone—sent us all here. The air witch," she said, pausing to recall her name. "Gwen. The fox. Maybe even the huntsman."

Cat wished she'd attended orientation with them, but she had arrived too late.

"And me," she added. "I think that our arrival had something to do with Chloe."

"More than likely. For good or ill."

Cat remained silent. But really, who would believe that whatever scheme her family was concocting could be conceived as good?

"What makes you think that the Stormhales are against Oldcrest?"

Cat pulled the letter out of her pocket and handed it to Anika. In exchange, Anika gave her a drink that smelled fruity and delicious. Cat detected raspberry, pineapple, maybe peach. Definitely vodka. Something else too.

She brought it to her lips and moaned in delight. What was that?

She wanted to ask, but instead she concentrated on the point at hand. Her mind often betrayed her, distracted by random irrelevant details. This was too important to let her mind wander.

"Drusilla tells me to return home before summer. That's very specific. And I was supposed to go back regardless. This feels like…a warning. Like they know something is about to happen. I want to warn the others, I think. I could be exaggerating. Maybe there's a party I'm supposed to attend. But something feels off. What do you think?"

Cat had gone to Anika for advice because the woman was as smart as she was powerful. Plus, she was a lot more than just a professor. As an ancient Beaufort, she had as many slayers and spies as Levi in her service. She must at least suspect something, or know for sure that her family wasn't involved.

"I think," Anika said carefully, "that you're much smarter than your aunt gives you credit for. Unfortunate, really. I liked you."

Cat froze an instant before her vision started to blur.

She looked down at her drink and gasped.

So very sweet. So very fruity. Just enough to mask a faint scent she hadn't recognized.

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