I flinched. “Ummm, excuse me? The professors will be patrolling the woods. What if they catch us?”
Plus, what if the murderous demon still hadn’t made its way to Hell? The third-year girl had explained that the brand on Efraim was used to locate a person. The demon must have gotten interrupted while fighting Efraim and fled, but not before branding him. Which meant the demon had expected Efraim to survive.
For the first time in my life, I wished that a demon was right.
“True, but that means they won’t be near the body,” Eva retorted. “No killer would just hang around the scene of the crime. The professors will have to search all the acreage around the academy.”
“But why do you want to go back?” Alex asked. We’d been separated since he went to get Mina water, but in that moment I was reminded of Diana’s proclamation that she’d kissed my boyfriend. A million emotions swirled inside me. I knew now wasn’t the ideal time, but still the question of what the heck Diana had been talking about had nearly bubbled up my throat when Eva spoke.
“Didn’t you hear that girl who found Efraim say that his wand was lit when she first spotted him?”She raised an eyebrow.
Pushing aside my personal issues I thought back to the events of the night. After a few seconds of recollections, we all nodded.
“Well, I didn’t see a wand when we found the body. Did you guys?”
I can’t believe I let Eva talk me into traipsing through the woods with a killer on the loose.Goosebumps rose on my arms as I considered all the terrible things that could happen.
It was even darker outside than it had been an hour before, and to make matters worse, using magic as a light source was out of the question. The professors would spot us too easily.
Eva led the way once again, although this time, she moved more cautiously. The rest of us followed, keeping an eye out for danger.
We’d gotten about halfway to the King’s Castle, when Eva shot into a crouch behind a tree. My heart leapt into my throat as I mimicked her, dropping low.
Thirty seconds later, Professor Thrax emerged a fair distance away to the right.
“Damn demons. I swear if I catch one, I’ll . . .” His mumblings quieted as he disappeared toward the school.
Right behind me, Alex placed a gentle hand on my elbow. “Let’s move,” he whispered.
His touch reminded me once more of what Diana had claimed and I whirled around, no longer able to hold my curiosity back. What if a demon attacked us and I died not knowing the truth? “Did you kiss Diana?” I blurted out.
“E—excuse me?” Alex stuttered, his eyes widening. “What are you talking about, Odie?”
“Diana told me that she kissed you. Is it true?” I placed my hand on my hip and vaguely heard Eva and Hunter stop trekking through the woods to wait for us.
Slowly, Alex released a breath, and then, he nodded.
My heart tore in half, and when he grabbed my hand I pulled it away. “Don’t touch—”
“Wait! Stop, sweets! It’s not what you’re thinking!” he hissed softly. “It happened before classes started. During the testing period last May.”
I tilted my head. “Okay . . . then why didn’t you tell me?”
“We weren’t together then. It only happened once and was so long ago. Plus, I know how you two feel about each other,” Alex said, his tone measured. “Do you think I’d lie to you?”
“No,” I whispered quickly because if there was one thing I was sure of, it was that Alex had always been honest with me. “I don’t think you would, but I do wish you’d have told me. Clearly Diana was waiting for the right time to . . . cause trouble in paradise.” I stopped and chewed at my lip for a second. “Did you like her then—at the testing?”
Alex chuckled darkly. “Not like that. I mean, I can’t deny that she’s attractive but honestly, it was a whim. You see, Hunter and I attended the same testing session.” Alex shot a glance at our friends who were still waiting for us. “He was . . . popular with the ladies, and because we were feuding at that time, I wanted to show him up. Diana and I already knew each other and I got the sense that she liked me so . . .” he shrugged. “I let it happen.”
“That’s unlike you,” I said.
Alex’s cheeks reddened. “Yeah, but like I told you, my side of the Wardwell clan can have a temper. It was a dumb way to feel like I was showing Hunter up, but it happened.”
I thought that over for a moment and then exhaled.Thank goodness these guys made up. I can’t handle stupidity like that.“Anything else I should know regarding you two that Diana might spring on me?”
“We helped solve a crime.”
What? Cryptic much?!
