“Hmm,” Lydia’s mouth twitches. I look at Rae nervously. “It’s all right, I don’t think those two will be a problem. They were just following their Alpha.”
Astrid looks at Rae suspiciously, and my chest tightens.
“But they helped save us!” I tell my mothers. “Rory escaped with the witches to the Hecate coven, to warn them about what happened. And Rae,” I take her hand tightly in mine, “Rae betrayed her pack to rescue us. I couldn’t have called you without her!”
Unsurprisingly, it’s Lydia who softens.
“You were very brave, Rae Arundel,” she says. Then she looks at Astrid. “It’s no small thing to betray your family for the woman you love.”
Astrid concedes with a small nod. My cheeks turn bright red. Rae smiles.
“You and Rory are welcome to stay at the academy while you regroup. Tudor Thornblade, Leander Arundel and the others will be going back to the Cave,” says Lydia.
“For a long, long time,” says Astrid.
Rae takes my hand, and we all walk back to the academy together.
HALL HOUSE
Maggie
There’s fresh snow on the ground. The woods around our cottage are a winter wonderland. Pantalaimon dangles from the end of my broomstick, his large ears flapping in the wind.
“You could fly a little more smoothly, you know,” he groans, his tiny claws digging into the wood handle.
“Yes, but that wouldn’t be as muchfun! Besides, we’ve got to keep up with Rae…”
Down below, I see her wolf form, her back arched as she leaps over a tiny ravine. She sees me and howls, a joyful, exuberant sound. I laugh, and dive down closer to her.
I watch the final rays of sun disappear over the horizon. Luckily there’s a bright moon.
And navigating in the dark is easy for a wolf and a witch.
“We should head back now!” I shout. “Millie will have dinner ready!”
She nods, and turns back. I follow her on broomstick, zooming lower now, weaving in and out of the sparse trees.
Soon, I can see the cottage ahead, smoke emanating from the small brick chimney. Rae shifts back, pulling on the jeans and T-shirt she left by the front door. She winks at me as I disembark. I toss my broomstick on the porch and she pulls me into her arms, kissing me eagerly. We’re both flushed and giddy.
“Keep it in your pants, you two!” laughs a familiar voice from the doorway.
“Absolutely not,” I reply to Hallie with a grin.
“Ah, my virgin eyes!” she sighs dramatically. “Anyway, your mom says dinner is ready, whenever you two are done being painfully adorable and in love.”
We all come inside together, enveloped by a wave of warm air and the smell of roast chicken. Millie and Rory are chattering in the kitchen, getting the table set and putting the finishing touches on dinner.
“I can’t get over this tree!” Hallie sighs, gesturing at the oak in the middle of the living room.
I smile. I can’t believe I was ever ashamed of this house. Now it feels like the only place I want to be. Except the academy, of course.
Lydia is in the living room, deeply absorbed in an ancient-looking newspaper. She’s been in contact with Professor Vyas and the Triple Alliance since the attack, dealing with the fallout. Leander Arundel, Finley Hound, Tudor Thornblade and the other vampires and wolves were all imprisoned in the Cave. Kaenan and Tala haven’t been found yet. I can tell Rae worries about them sometimes.
But other than that, the past two weeks have been a dream. When we filled Millie in about what had happened, she insisted that Rae, Hallie and Rory come stay with us for the remainder of the break. I’ve never had friends stay with me before, or even visit the cottage. Millie and Rory immediately got along. Millie has been showing them how to forage in winter. Astrid set up Hallie with a coffin in the yard out back and set up protection charms in case any of the other vampires come looking for her. After the battle at the academy, I’m never underestimating my mother’s magic again.
Rae and I have been staying in my room. I could tell Lydia didn’t want us to, but I think she’s feeling a bit guilty about me being held hostage, so I used that to my advantage and convinced her to let us stay together. Rae and I have been running and flying together every day…and enjoying the privacy of the glens nearby.
I could do thisforever.
