Page 23 of Entangled (Guardian Academy 2)

“Dash and his stupidity.” He shakes his head. “He’s been tailing Vivianne all day instead of going to his classes. Right now, he’s tailed her to Glamor & Glitter & Wings, some all-exclusive fey club in New York City.”

Suspicion rises inside me. “If it’s only for fey, how did he get in?”

He avoids eye contact with me. “I can’t answer that right now.”

Well, at least he’s being honest.

“I’m sure he’ll be okay,” I say. “And maybe it’s a good thing he’s tracking her. Then maybe we can find out what she’s up to and if she’s this princess.”

“And if she’s the rogue Layla told us about.”

“You thought that, too?”

“Yeah, but we can’t make any accusations until we find out more.” He moves his fingers across buttons on his phone. “I just hope Dash is more careful than he usually is.”

“I’m sure he will be,” I try to assure him.

“You don’t know him like I do. If you did, you wouldn’t say that.” He puts his phone away then turns and puts his undivided attention on me. “Thad should be out in a few seconds to help us get Nadene out to the morgue. There’s an interrogation room in the basement of the school, but I’d rather this remain quiet until we hear what she says. The last thing I want is for her to blurt out more about what you are in front of a bunch of cameras and other detectives.”

I glance at the forest I’m about to walk into then back at Jax. “Won’t you get in trouble for doing that?”

“My supervisor might get a little irked.” Noticing my wary expression, he adds, “Alana, we can’t risk anyone knowing about you. It’s too risky, not just for you, but for the people who find out. And with there being a rogue in the school …” A deafening exhale escapes his chest. “I think it’s better if we keep quiet about this for now.”

I’m starting to nod when Thad walks out of the school, wearing the same black jeans and dark hoodie he had on last night. He looks nervously around the grounds then trots down the steps to us. He doesn’t ask any questions or seem that shocked when Jax lifts open the trunk, revealing an unconscious vampire inside.

“Where are we taking her?” Thad asks, staring into the trunk.

Jax steps up to the trunk and peers inside. “To the morgue.”

Thad glances at him with confusion. “Do I even want to ask?”

Jax shakes his head. “I think the less questions you ask, the better.”

Nodding, Thad reaches in, picks up Nadene, and tosses her slackened body over his large, bulky shoulder.

“I could’ve carried her,” Jax says, slamming the trunk.

“It’s okay.” Thad starts for the stretch of grass that leads to the forest. “I like feeling useful.”

Jax nods, stuffs his keys into his pocket, and motions for me to follow as he heads after Thad.

As the three of us reach the forest and step inside the trees, any small conversation dies between us. We walk in stiff silence, listening to owls hoot, twigs snapping, and the howling of a wolf.

“Man, I really hate this place,” Thad mutters as he weaves through the trees.

“I do, too,” Jax agrees, hopping over a log. “But I’m really surprised you said that, considering it seems like you and my brother were out here last night.”

“We were inspecting the area for Vivianne.” Thad sighs as he swings around a large rock.

“Inspecting it for what?” Jax asks, tensing when another wolf howls.

“She never said,” Thad replies. “But I’m guessing she probably had us do it so she could make sure nothing was lurking around when she had that secret meeting in the forest with the empress of the Water Fey—” Thad suddenly soars through the air like a leaf blowing in the wind and lands near a thick tree with a thud. He blinks, stunned, as he staggers to his feet. “What the heck just happened?”

I open my mouth, but the words die on my tongue as I realize Nadene is no longer on Thad’s shoulder.

“Um, Jax—”

He cuts me off, rushing in front of me and placing a hand over my mouth. “Shhh …” He tilts his head to the side, listening, but the forest is eerily quiet except for the sound of my ragged breathing.

Jax lowers his hand from my mouth and walks a circle around me. “Whatever you do, don’t leave my side.”

I nod, bending over and grabbing a broken tree branch from off the ground to use for a stake. Thad follows my lead and does the same before edging toward us.

When he reaches us, he rubs his shoulder and winces. “She’s absurdly strong for a vamp. She’s probably the strongest I’ve ever seen.”

“Look at you. Three scared, little cowards.” Nadene’s shrill

cackle echoes through the forest as a blur zips through the trees and zooms out in front of us.

I shuffle back as fingernails clip my cheek and draw blood.

“Dammit, she cut me.”

She laughs, zipping through the trees, moving so swiftly my eyes can barely track her. Leaves fly through the air, the trees begin to tremble, and birds flee from the trees.

“Think you could take me down.” The blur darts back and forth in front of us, and Jax stalks the movement like prey. “You have no idea who you’re messing with.”

“You want to bet?” Jax starts to run forward, but an instant later, he drops to the ground, landing on his back hard.

Thad runs toward him but gets knocked down from behind and slams to the ground on his front.

Neither of them budge, and I start to fear they’re dead. But the trail of moonlight sneaking through the branches above offers just the right amount of light that I can tell they’re still breathing.

“You want to know why I haven’t taken you down yet?” Nadene asks, her laughter hitting me from every angle.

I turn in a slow circle with the tree branch positioned to strike. “Because you’re a coward.”

Her laughter dies, and a roar vibrates through the ground. “How dare you insult me like that! I may be a lot of things, but I’m definitely not a coward.”

“Prove it, then.” My gaze sweeps the trees. “Stop messing around and come out and fight fair.”

I don’t expect her to take the bait, so when she appears in front of me, I startle back in shock and nearly trip over a rock. I manage to get my footing before I fall flat on my ass, though.

Regaining my balance, I stand upright with the stake raised.

Her lip twitches with delight as she stands in the center of the trees, her hair dancing in the wind. “It’s like watching a child play dress up, pretending to be a warrior when really you’re just a scared, little girl.”

“I’m not scared.” My voice comes out smooth and even. “Not even a little bit.”

“You lie.” Her grin challenges me. “I can smell it all over you. You’re scared. Scared for yourself. Scared for your little friend over there.” She glances at Jax before her emotionless eyes land back on me. “That I’ll kill him, which I will. I’ll kill him and the ogre, slaughter them just like my clan and I did to the North Kingdom fey.” A sickeningly pleased smile possesses her face.

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