“Why did you lie about being a witch?” I ask instead.
Edith hesitates. I can hear her heart hammering.
“You just assumed I was.”
“You’re lying now.” I lean forward. “Do you know how I can tell? Your heartbeat.”
If I hadn’t been so distracted by her smile, maybe I would have realized Edith was lying earlier too. It’s the third time she has. First, about being a witch. Second, about not killing Emilía. And now, lying about not lying. I can’t trust a word that comes out of her pretty mouth.
She shifts uncomfortably in her chair. “What do you expect? You hunt berserkir.”
“Only ones who hurt people,” I say meaningfully.
Our eyes lock.
Neither one of us wants to look away first. Her gray eyes are like storm clouds, threatening violence. Already, I can feel myself being drawn in. No wonder my brother is so taken by her.
Edith is even more dangerous than I realized.
CHAPTER FIFTEENEDITH
I can’t escape Heightened Senses fast enough. Of course, not only do I have a class with Amund, but we had to partner up. He used our lesson as an excuse to interrogate me. I can’t believe Ieverthought he was attractive.
Hurrying down the hall, I double-check my schedule. Thankfully, History of the Sagas is nearby. It must be another school-wide course. Hopefully Amund isn’t taking this one as well.
When I open the door, I’m surprised to see how large the lecture hall is. A giant chandelier made of antlers hangs from the high ceiling. Even more surprising is that Headmistress Helga stands in front of a lectern. Don’t tell meshe’sthe one teaching this?
“Be seated,” Helga calls with a wave of her hand.
Everyone takes their seats at long, wooden tables that run the length of the room. I don’t recognize anyone—
Nils. He’s sitting in the back, and my chest loosens a little.
At least I have a friend here.
Nils waves at me, motioning to the empty seat beside him.
I look around at the classroom, but only a few eyes remain on me. Most of the students look… bored, almost. Like this is just another normal school. I hurry over to the second-to-last row and take the seat next to Nils.
Helga waits for the last of us to sit down before she turns her attention to the open door. As soon as she does, the door slams shut with a resounding noise, making me jump. “Today, we’ll resume our look atEgill’s Saga. When we left off last class, we were discussing how Egill’s son Böðvarr tragically drowned during a storm.”
As she continues talking, Nils leans over to me. He’s so close, but it feels strangely comfortable.
“So, how’d it go with Helga yesterday?” he whispers.
I shrug. “It… went.”
As much as I want to tell him what happened, I can’t talk about it with Helgarighthere.
“What about you?” I ask, keeping my voice low. “What did Amund have to say?”
Nils shifts in his seat. “Nothing good. It reminded me why I never talk to him anymore.”
“That bad?”
He nods gravely. “Actually, he tried to warn me away from you.”
I blink a few times, turning in his direction. Great. The last thing I need is Amund going around and telling everyone I’m a killer. Skallagrim was supposed to be a fresh start for me, not more of the same.
