Mom picked up on the second ring. “Hello?”
“Hey, Mom, it’s me. I’m calling from the Wandstown Tavern,” I explained, realizing that the strange number showing up on her cell had probably confused her.
“Odie! Is something wrong?” Fear laced Mom’s voice.
“I’m fine, Mom. Safe, and hanging in Wandstown with the gang. But yeah, something is up. Something you and Dad should be aware of.”
I relayed all that Andrew told us. Once I was done, the other end of the line remained silent.
“Mom? You okay?”
She cleared her throat. “I’m fine, honey. A little anxious that you interrogated a PIA officer, but—”
“He’s deserting, Mom. He won’t say anything.”
“Let’s hope so.” She released a heavy sigh. “Thank you for telling me. I knew something was amiss. I’ll spread the word to trusted sources. I’ll also call Priscilla Wake and insist that she strengthen the wards around the school. After this—”
An idea popped into my mind at that moment. “Mom . . . she sends students to the PIA. What if she’s involved somehow?”
It felt wrong to ask, but better safe than sorry.
“No, honey. I doubt that. Headmistress Wake is devoted to the PIA and her country, but she wouldneverendanger her students like this. This is different from the trials or missions that have been vetted. This is unconnected to Spellcasters. I can feel it.”
“You and Dad will get to the bottom of it?”
“We will, honey.” Mom said, her tone strong and reassuring. “That’s what Danes do, isn’t it?”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
The Samhain Trials were far less momentous than last year’s, and absolutely nothing out of the ordinary occurred. This was welcome, and as the students exited Merlin Amphitheater, it was like everyone released a collective sigh of relief.
Eva’s was the loudest and largest of all.
I noticed the tense lines of my friend’s shoulders slope downward as we walked inside the main building of Spellcasters.
“A nice long bath would be amazing right now.” I sidled up to Eva and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“Hell yeah, it would,” she murmured. “I feel like I can breathe again.”
“I know. It’s hard to revisit trauma, but something tells me that the first-years are totally safe.”
Eva snorted. “Yeah, onlywearen’t. Way to sugarcoat it, Dane.”
I cringed. “Sorry. I didn’t mean—”
She placed a hand on my wrist. “No. Stop. My response was sarcasm, and inappropriate considering all we’ve been through. Don’t feel bad.”
A lump rose in my throat, and as a swell of appreciation for my bestie telling it like it was washed over me, I pulled Eva into a tight hug. She squeezed me back, and we stayed like that for a while. When we finally pulled apart, two figures stood off to our side.
“We didn’t mean to interrupt,” Holly said, worry lining her tanned face.
I smiled at her and Heidi. “No worries. Congratulations on finishing your first trial. Feels good, doesn’t it?”
They both exhaled loudly. “Sogood,” Heidi said. “Actually, our class is having a little pow-wow tonight in the initiate tower to celebrate. We were wondering if you two would want to come? You’ve been so sweet and helpful to us, and we’d love to show you a good time. You can bring your boyfriends too.”
My heart warmed a little. During our first-year, the Grind students had ignored us until February because that’s how it had always been done. I hated the idea, and was proud to rebel against that Spellcasters tradition.
And yet, the party didnotsound appealing. My whole body ached from holding in tension all day. And because we’d spent hours watching the trials with bated breath instead of studying, I was even more behind on homework than usual.
