Rae’s bed is empty, except for the blood-stained sheets from last night. I scramble out of bed.
“Pan, where did she go?”
“She got up early this morning, after Hallie went to ground.”
She left. Where could she have gone? Everything in my body aches. I want to go after her, to make sure she’s all right.
But…it would be weird, right? I can’t go find her, I don’t even know where her pack hangs out.
My stomach growls.
I drag myself to the dining hall and dig into a lamb gyro, trying to figure out my next move. What happened last night? There’s no way I’m powerful enough to pull off a healing spell like that. And where did Rae go? Is she ok? Oh my goddess, what if I hurt her? What if I messed up her immune system with my shoddy healing abilities?
June’s gossipy voice rings through the hall. I groan, trying to ignore her, but it’s impossible with my throbbing head.
“I’m not so keen on boys myself, especially townies. But he was a cute one, all that dark hair. I have no idea how he wandered so far, but I’m sure the mermaids will take care of him pretty fast. Too bad, that hat was adorable. What do they call it, a graceful cap?”
“Abaseballcap?” I spin around. “A townie boy - June, is there a human boy, I mean, a regular, I mean…”
I scramble out of my seat, scattering what remains of my gyro across the dining hall floor.
June raises her eyebrows at me. Her lips part in joyful menace.
“Some filthy college boy, over by the lake,” she says. “A little low-brow for my taste. But he might do for you, you look like you slept in a crypt. Enjoying some Timothy with your vampire friend, maybe?”
Her witch gaggle chuckles in unison, but I don’t have Timothy to feel embarrassed. I push past them and out onto the grounds.
“Go find him, Pan!”
Pantalaimon leaps off my shoulders and leads the way. His familiar senses are better at tracking than I could ever be.
“Should have texted him back!” he grumbles, heading toward the outskirt of the lake.
“Argh, I completely forgot!”
I feel like such an idiot. It’s insane to go so long without texting Timothy. Of course he freaked out and tried to come find me. I should have asked my mom for another go on her weird magical computer. What’s he going to say when he sees that I’m living in a gigantic, patchwork castle?
Oh my goddess, what if he sees someone shifting? Or what if one of the panthers attack him? I’m so glad he came during the light of day, at least I don’t have to worry about vampires.
“Over there, by the lake!” Pan shouts.
Timothy’s unmistakable figure is crouched by the edge of the water. It looks like he’s talking to…
Oh no.
Pan’s ears perk up. There’s a strange, beautiful sound, like a thousand wind chimes, emanating from the lake. It’s not quite asong, but it’s not exactlynota song. Another figure comes into focus, her human half lounging across the bank.
“Persephone!” I shout. The mermaid turns her torso towards me, a wicked grin on her face. Her long, beautiful hair glows with an otherworldly power and her golden eyes twinkle.
“Oh hi, Maggie!” she sings.
I’m only a few feet from her and Timothy now, but he doesn’t notice me. His hair is faintly ruffled under his baseball cap and he’s gazing, wide-eyed, at Persephone.
“I told her not to!” Gwen’s head pops out of the water. “I told her he probably belonged to someone else!”
“And that village boys taste bad,” Orion adds, appearing beside them.
“Is he your’s?” Gwen asks, wringing their hands. “Persephone, you have to apologize!”
