I lied.
I lied.
I lied.
Plus, I told a few more lies, then put an unreasonable amount of faith in myself I prayed I wouldn’t regret, in order to convince them to let me bring Pepper.IfI managed to get inside the temple, if indeed that’s where the missing Sevens were, and if Leland wasn’t there — if I couldn’t feel my way toward him — then a connection like Pepper had with Belinda would at least tell me if I needed to keep going. Besides, it was Pepper’s idea. Or so it was easy to convince myself, based on the way she repeatedly jumped in my bag, and I repeatedly pulled her out, until at last I said, “Fine,” and she contorted herself into my satchel’s outer pocket.
I finished knotting my shoes as Skye stuffed my satchel with baby carrots, at the exact same time as it dawned on me that Pepper’s enhanced ability to find Belinda wasn’t the only reason I wanted to bring her to the temple. It was their bond, their inexplicable Allwitch–Familiar link. The idea that a piece of your heart could be shared so strongly that hardships were easier toweather, together. And maybe because I’d always wanted that, I couldn’t stand the idea of finding Belinda without her Familiar.
I knew I probably wouldn’t find Leland. I probably wouldn’t find any of them. Farrah would be in my way the second I reached the temple’s security gate. But I jogged out of the academy anyway, not thinking about whyJaxan commandedmeto find Leland, because I really didn’t have a choice.
My blood insisted.
Go find your missing piece.
CHAPTER
THIRTY-TWO
EMBER
A Dark Witch bonding to a light witch? I’ve never heard of it. A Dark Witch has no spell count. Such an unusual bond would make the light witch’s spellcasting potential . . . unlimited.
— Jaxan D’Oron, Echelon to the
School of Dark Magic
Downtown Hartik’s Hollow was not on my side. Witches were everywhere, milling about, gazing out candlelit windows. I had my hood drawn and the blanket of night around me, but at every turn toward the temple, I felt watched, tracked, and monitored, as exposed as I had been under the glaring spotlights of the trial room.
I paused for a breath against a brick wall, in a shadowy spot where I waited for a few strolling witches to pass. I fed Pepper a carrot as I calculated how to get past the gate to the temple. Then I’d have to run up the hill or stairs, fully exposed, until I reached the marble columns of the terrace.
My reputation in Everden, especially in this jurisdiction, meant I wouldn’t get a chance to do this twice. But doing this undetected wouldn’t be possible. I just had to go. Ignore fear. Doit quickly. I wiped my hands on my leggings, and ignoring my heart hammering in my chest, I stepped out of concealment.
My aunts were waiting in the shadows. Sinora swept me into her Shadowcover, teaming up with Sabrina to crowd me back to the brick wall before I could take off running.
“You can’t go in the temple,” Sabrina said, as strong as her sweet voice was able. “That’s an order!”
I looked confusedly up at the temple on the hillside and realized her words were real.
I can’t go in the temple?
I couldn’t go in the temple.
In my heart, I knew Ihadto, but in my bones, I knew it was impossible.
I turned back to my aunts, confused, betrayed, ready to bargain. Cheat, if that’s what it took.
“Her gift,” Sinora supplied in answer to my vexation. “Sabrina can stop an action before it happens. We wouldn’t have used it on you unless it was absolutely necessary. We came to take you back to Gnarlton for the night. Come now. Leave the temple alone.”
“No! I think the Aspirants are in there.”
“Even if they are,” Sinora said in a tired way that made it seem like she knew, “it’s not your problem to be dealing with.”
“Itis,” I said.
“No,” Sinora sighed. “It’s only what they want you to think. Come home with us now. We’ll put you and the rabbit up in a spare room.”
“Aunt Sinora,” I said sharply, what I had to do sinking in. “You don’t understand. Leland isgone, missing. Probably inthat temple with all the other Aspirants. He hasmultipleDeath Bonds tied to protecting me.” I sucked in a breath.Here comes the other lie. “And we’re bonded Counterparts. It’s sealed.”
