Page 29 of Captive Witch

Trying to shake the anxiety off, I climb the rest of the stairs and gape at the landing. Large windows take up the wall opposite where I stand, a low fireplace stretching the base of the wall with couches filling the space. Paintings litter the walls, showing headmasters and headmistresses of the academy. Their stares follow me, seemingly watching every step I take as I make my way through the lounge. Their faces are vacant of joy, and a shiver races down my spine as I turn to the hall on my left.

Doors stretch out before me, lining each side, with smaller passages branching off every now and then. I skip the first passage, turning right down the next hallway, and make my way to room 409. A chalkboard sign hangs on the door with a small bird and various gemstones drawn on it.

“Clever, huh? A small bird and gems, you know,jewels,” a voice says from behind me.

Turning, I find a small black-haired girl with deep brown eyes. She reminds me of Jaz with the way she stands just below my shoulders and the glint in her eyes belying the mischief hiding inside her. But her features are small, pointed… birdlike.

“I’m Wren.” Her mouth curls into a smile, and I find myself smiling back. “Oh! Your familiar is a raven? That is socool,” she breathes, reaching up to run a finger down Kaylus’s head.

“Oh, um, yeah. I’m Ad—um…”

Wren smirks. “Adara, yeah, I know who you are. It’s nice to meet you too, Kaylus. Come on, Jules should be in the roomstudying right now. She’s always studying, I swear.” She rolls her eyes, reaching around me to open the door.

A bed sits against each wall with a loveseat and armchair set against the back wall where a window overlooks a lush field at the back of the academy. Trees loom in the distance beneath the blue, cloudless sky. The bed on the right has a black comforter and black pillow case, a nest of twigs sits on the small table beside it along with various spiral notebooks and charcoal pencils. The other bed is a polar opposite—deep emerald greens, ocean blues, and lilacs cover the space as blankets, pillows, and various knickknacks. Thick tomes and notebooks with pens of all colors sit on the bedside table.

Jules sits on the couch in front of the window, staring down at the book in her lap. Her blonde curls are tucked behind each ear, and a highlighter rests in her hand as she chews on the cap.

“Jules, you have a visitor,” Wren sings, skipping into the room and plopping down beside her.

Jules reaches for the book as Wren takes it out of her lap, tossing it onto the coffee table. “Wren, come on. You’re not a visitor. You know I—”

I drop my backpack onto the floor with a soft thud, and she looks up at me.

“Addy?” she whispers. She gets to her feet and jumps over the table, laughing as tears stream down her cheeks. “Oh my gods, why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

I wrap my arms around her, squeezing her tight, as Kaylus flies to the small nest. “I thought I’d surprise you,” I say. “Gideon arranged everything. He even drove me here.”

She pulls back. “He’s here? I get to meet him finally?”

Shaking my head, I shrug. “He just drove me here. He didn’t want to stay very long because… um, well…”

“He’s a wolf,” Wren says, matter of fact.

I glance from her to Jules. “Um, yeah… well, he said when you have your winter break, you could stay with us. If you want. You don’t have to, but—”

“Yes!” Jules says, grabbing my arms and jumping up and down. “Yes, I do want to stay with you. At his house? Oh my gods, that is so cool!”

I laugh, the tension in my shoulders easing a bit. “He said you could come too,” I add, looking at Wren.

She raises her brows briefly before a smile slowly spreads over her face. “Yeah, I’m in for sure.”

Jules pulls me to the couch, pushing me onto the cushions and sitting on the floor by my feet. “I have so much to tell you, and you better have just as much to tell me, or I swear, I’ll use a familiars spell to talk to Kaylus. He’ll tell me, won’t you?” She glances at the raven, who caws like a traitor, making Jules smirk triumphantly.

Chapter twelve

Gideon

You shouldn’t be leaving her there alone.

My wolf’s voice grates on my nerves. “It isn’t as if Iwantto leave her three hours away. She deserves to be happy and see her sister—Juliana is the only family she has right now.”

You’re using her as bait.

Snarling, I punch the steering wheel. “No, I’m not!”

Then, you should be.He laughs, enjoying his ridiculous games.

“Shut up, you mangy bastard.” I push down on the gas pedal, flying down the road toward my house. “It isn’t as if she’ll be truly alone anyway.” I smash the button on the steering wheel and wait for the beep. “Call Brent.”

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