Page 42 of Captive Witch

Looking down at her feet, she reaches into her back pocket and holds out her phone. Her hand shakes as she swipes a finger over the screen, unlocking it. “You can email her w-with my school account?”

I press my lips together, impressed, and take the phone. Typing out an email, I send it to the headmistress and all active professors. I pocket the phone and glance up. “Go, pack. We leave in five minutes, so be fast.”

Wren and Juliana look at each other, confusion warring on their features. “Pack?” Wren asks.

“Did I stutter?” I narrow my gaze at her. “Neither of you look like you’ll be able to focus on your courses, so yes, pack. Quickly. You’re coming with me for the rest of the term. You’ll return for the spring.”

Juliana wraps her arms around my waist again, taking me by surprise. “Thank you,” she whispers, then raises on her tiptoes to place a kiss on my cheek. She grabs Wren’s hand and drags her inside.

“You sure that’s a good idea?” Brent asks from behind me.

Whirling around, I step over to him, my nose centimeters from his. “You think losing my mate is a good idea? Questioning me sounds like a death wish idea.”

Stumbling back, he nods, avoiding eye contact.

“They’re coming home with me. You’re staying here. The raven is missing too. Tell the others.” I shove a finger into his chest, making my way toward the academy’s front doors. There’s a front desk witch I have a few questions for.

I drum my fingers on the wood, waiting. Glancing around the space, it’s obvious I stand out, each person in the lobby is staring at me or sneaking looks in my direction. Irritated, I ignore them, my hand hovering over the call bell.

Just hit it. Why are you playing patient now?my wolf says, shaking his head as he stalks back and forth inside me.

“I’m—”

A young witch with dark red wavy hair pops up from behind the desk, and I take a step back. “Hello,” she says, a large smile plastered onto her face. She tilts her head as she stares at me, not quite meeting my eyes.

“I—”

“Gideon,” she says, bowing her head slightly. “I was waiting for you. You’re late.”

Confused, I glower at her. “I’m not late. I—”

Her smile drops quickly, brows raised. “You’re late. Adara is gone.”

Don’t let a child intimidate you,my wolf snarls.

“How do you know her name?” I growl, leaning over the desk’s edge. “Where is she?”

Her misty eyes narrow into slits. “If I knew, I would’ve told you,” she says, her voice a harsh whisper. “She’s gone. Whoever took her… they got through the shield undetected and froze all of us forminutes.” Straightening up, she shakes her head. “She should’ve taken my prophecy as a warning.”

I grit my teeth, my nails lengthening into claws that dig into the wood. “Explain.”

She sighs, closing her eyes, and when she speaks, her voice is raspy and hoarse. “You must find the treasure hidden in the fortress. Befriend the keeper, as they have the answers that you need to seek, and they will stand beside you when the demon walks through the shadows.”

“What demon? What does any of that even mean?” I ask, my impatience growing with every minute.

“It means,” she snaps, “that she’s in trouble with some really horrible people who are after something really important.”

Growling, I slam my hand onto the desk. “That doesn’t help me!”

The girl scoffs. “It wasn’t meant to. It was forher.”

Screw this witch. She isn’t giving us anything.

My jaw ticks as I take a deep breath through my nose. “What do you have to tell me then, oracle?”

Her mouth puckers, pursed to one side as her unseeing eyes roam over me, then her hand shoots out, grasping tightly onto mine. Muttering under her breath, she closes her eyes. “Forebears postpone death when the cloaked figures arrive, but tenacity is survival.”

“Tenacity is survival,” I deadpan.

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