Page 9 of Immortal Sins
The sphere of infernal magic I used to fry the death spell meant for Cole was a surprise, but the memory of its power still crackles in my fingertips. Sweat pearls on my forehead as I try to summon a fresh one, using Beth’s breathing exercises and soothing voice as focus.
The volatile, elusive magic arches between my fingers, but I struggle to shape it into a worthy projectile.
Onyx’s tail twitches whenever I get close. After a while, she sinks her claws deep into a small, nearby tree.
I pause. “What’s wrong with the tree?”
Air blows out of her muzzle, and she gives me a decisive slice of the head, effectively motioning for me to try and cut the tree down.
My brows pull together, and I concentrate on the claw marks and the rough bark instead of trying to mold the magic into an orb. A slash of purple energy axes the tree in two, and the top part cracks and tumbles to the ground.
The jaguar mewls.
A wide grin stretches my lips. I eye the demon cat up and down. “Thank you for the tip, Onyx.”
The moon reaches for its peak in the night sky when I finally head for bed.
The sliding door squeaks behind me.
A human shape is hunched over the table. My fire scurries to the surface, and the glow warms Allie’s drowsy face.
I yelp. “What the fuck? It’s the middle of the night!”
Rubbing her eyes, she jumps to her feet. “You stayed outside a heck of a lot longer than I expected. I fell asleep.” She discards her tea mug in the sink, her notes sprawled on the table behind her like she’s been waiting for me to come in forhours.
She’s not allowed to be here, so far away from her dorm, at this hour, but I guess breaking the rules is fair game when you’re fucking the headmaster.
I tap my foot on the ground. “We shouldn’t talk in here. Let’s go back outside.”
“No!” Her gaze flies to the ground. “Not outside. In your room, maybe?”
All this time, she waited in here… Why not come out and talk to me out in the gardens? Unless the sight of Beth’s tomb makes her squirm.
“Jules…” She tucks her blond hair behind her ears. “The trial is coming up. I’m nervous as hell. I wanted to see how you were.”
“Peachy.” I shouldn’t show how much her betrayal affects me. I should play it cool, lay into the victim masquerade, but I can’t. Not when we’re alone in Summer Hall’s kitchen, surrounded by Beth’s things.
Her blue eyes dim. “Don’t be cruel. Cole killed her, not me.”
My teeth grit together. “I know.”
She searches my gaze as though she’s both looking for forgiveness and testing my resolve. “Then why are you so angry?”
From the first day I stepped foot at Dark Falls, Allie has lied to me, and I saw right through her feigned aloofness. She sees right through me now.
There it is. Sister vs sister. Winslow vs Winslow.
Blue blood princess vs demon child.
“You lied.” No amount of tacked-on honey could sweeten my dry, hollow tone. “You let him use you.”
Allie’s chest heaves. “Cole?”
A heavy, delayed breath blows through my lips. “Your boyfriend.”
Something passes between us. Allie and I used to excel at silent quibbles, arguing so quietly behind Dad’s back that he didn’t intervene.
Her nostrils flare. I bite my tongue.
