Selene sat next to me, her gaze on the dance floor. Her shoulders were tense and I had a feeling she wanted to leave, just like she had at her birthday party. I didn’t blame her. The only reason I had even been here this long was for her.
The only reason I am here is for her, my internal voice reminded me.
“Want to go get some fresh air?” I leaned into her ear, asking over the music.
“Yes.” She immediately stood, as if she had been hoping for an invite to step away from the party.
I clasped her hand in mine, leading her to the back where a small sign lit by small torches readWarm Escapenext to the exit sign. Through the door, trees and flowers made a temporarygarden—the only area without snow. The trees opened up, revealing the night sky, and more torches lined a small walkway. The stone path led to a small roofless gazebo where snow fell on the other side. Everyone else was in the gym, so we had the place to ourselves.
Selene’s outfit shimmered in the moonlight, but it didn’t compare to the soft glow illuminating her cheeks. She walked around, letting her hand softly trail along the flowers. I followed as she told me about each plant. Heat built in my gut, and it felt like I was on some sort of high as I listened to her.
A student came out but froze when he took one look at me and then Selene. He turned right back around.
“Other students are afraid of you,” Selene said.
“Are you afraid of me?”
She whirled around to face me, a retort clearly on her lips, but she froze. Her mouth closed and she swallowed.
“I think I should be the one asking you that.” She headed over to the gazebo and leaned over the railing.
“I think anyone who makes you angry should be afraid.”
“And you don’t?” She raised an eyebrow.
“I don’t what?” I leaned against the railing next to her.
“Make me angry?” She grinned.
I winked. “Only sometimes.”
Her hand flitted to her necklace as she blushed.
“That’s beautiful.” I gestured to the opaque pearl dangling from the gold chain.
She froze, her hand clutching the pearl. “Thank you.” She looked out toward the tree line. “My mom had worn it to her dance. She was murdered, and then we had no choice but to come here.”
Not only did I catch a glimpse of pain on Selene’s face, but it was like I could feel it drowning her, filling her lungs. Shehad mentioned she’d lost her mom but hadn’t stated she’d been murdered.
“Fives Academy was the safest option for Vivian and me.” She cracked her pointer finger knuckle with her thumb. I placed a hand over hers and laced our fingers together. She stared at our now entwined hands but didn’t pull away.
“You think whoever killed your mom is the one trying to kill you?” I kept my voice steady, internally working hard to calm the rage at the memory of the bruises around her wrists and neck from a couple weeks ago.
“Not exactly,” she said. “It was a dark mage—one who used to be a powerful water mage—that used blood magic to kill my mom. I think whoever is trying to kill me knows what I am. A dark mage wouldn’t want me dead without syphoning my magic.”
“I’m sorry.” I faced her. Blood magic was a thing of nightmares and shouldn’t be real. Yet, nightmares exist. “I will help you find whoever is trying to kill you and whoever killed your mom.”
“I’m not asking you to do that.” She glanced at me, her brow wrinkling.
“Is that worry I see, Selene Thomas?” I joked. “Are you worried about some smug jerk?”
“I mean …” She let out a low chuckle at my description of myself, the tension releasing in her shoulders. The moonlight hit her just right as she looked out toward the forest, causing her to be more radiant than normal.
I found myself reaching for her cheek and froze as she turned toward me. She didn’t pull away, so I continued brushing her skin. The back of my fingers felt like they sparked at the contact, and we both drew in closer.
“You are absolutely stunning,” I whispered, trailing my fingers across her cheek and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Her lips parted, like she was about to say something. Despite every instinct telling me to move closer, I lowered my hand and went to take a small step back. She grabbed my wrist, stopping me. Her eyes were wide.
