Page 66 of Crimson Shadows
A flicker of emotion crosses his face. “I do. A lot. But what I feel is irrelevant. What matters is keeping her safe.”
I nod, relieved we’re on the same page about that, at least. “Agreed. So, what do we do?”
Corvus paces the room, thinking. “We watch her. Protect her when we can. And we keep what we know to ourselves, even from each other.”
“Deal,” I say, and we shake on it because shit just got serious, and I can see this escalating quickly once the secret is spilt. It always does.
30
ADELAIDE
After my informativechat with Ignatius, I know I have some major research to do, like I didn’t have enough already. It’s catching up on twenty-one years of missed supernatural study. My mind buzzes with thoughts of fire and the warmth of Ignatius’s smile. Of the four men I’ve come to be acquainted with, well, five if you include Lucian, he is the least threatening. He is sweet and smart and super cute. I feel a friendship brewing, and I like it.
The stone walls seem to absorb the flickering light from the torches as I walk through the courtyard towards the library. The air is cool and slightly damp, carrying the scent of the forest and something else, something distinctly magickal that smells like ozone.
I nearly collide with Professor Blackthorn as he marches across the courtyard, lost in his thoughts. His tall, imposing figure looms suddenly before me, and I have to stifle a gasp of surprise.
“Miss Black,” he says.
“Professor,” I mutter, but then a thought strikes me, pushing past my embarrassment. “Actually, I’m glad I ran into you. Imeant to ask you earlier. I was wondering... is there any way to get a magickal signal on my phone? I’d really like to call my mum. I’ve seen students on their phones, so there is a way, right?”
Blackthorn smiles. “Of course. Your phone?”
I pull it out of my backpack and hold it up. He places his hand over it, and, with azing,it goes warm but then settles again quickly.
“There you are,” he says. “You should have a signal now. You can contact your mother on the outside, but she can’t contact you. Okay?”
I nod, clutching the phone to my chest like a lifeline. “Thank you, Professor. I understand.”
As Blackthorn walks away, his robes swishing softly against the ground, I sink down onto a low bench near the edge of the courtyard, my fingers trembling slightly as I dial my mum’s number.
It rings a few times, and then my mum answers. “Hello?”
“Mum, it’s me.”
“Adelaide,” My mum’s voice fills me with a rush of homesickness so intense it’s almost painful. “Oh, sweetheart, is that really you?”
“Yes, Mum,” I say, my voice thick with emotion. I have to clear my throat before I can continue. “Yeah, it’s me. How are you?”
“I’m fine, love. But forget about me. Are you okay? Is everything good there?”
I can hear the worry in her voice, and it makes my chest ache. “I’m okay, Mum. It’s different here, but I’m adjusting. But I really need to know thatyouare okay. No weirdness or strangers turning up?”
She giggles, and I frown. “No, no weirdness or strangers. Your father is making sure I’m quite safe.”
My mouth drops open in, well, not surprise exactly, but a bit of eww, I think. The way she said that was… not good for my ears.
There’s a rustling, and then Randall comes on the line, “Adelaide. You got a signal. Good. How are things?”
“Fine,” I mutter. “Is Mum really okay?”
There’s a pause, and I can almost see my parents exchanging glances, probably deciding how much to tell me. The silence stretches for a moment too long, and I feel anxiety building in my chest.
“Yes, she’s perfectly fine,” Randall says. “Are you? Has Luke started your training yet?”
“Luke?” I croak.
“Blackthorn.”
