She’d been looking forward to it.
She’d even texted me earlier asking all about it under the guise of what was an appropriate outfit for the surprise venue.
Now, because I’d been delayed, I’d not only already had to tell her, but I’d also had to ask her to meet me there, rather than us heading over there together.
Argh.
Every moment that ticked on by was making me more anxious about the whole thing, about doing what I was obviously used to doing best—ruining things.
I pulled at the obsidian gems of my bracelet, alternating between that and fingering the fuchsia gemstone, while I paced in the dark by one of the equipment sheds far away from the main building. Not that there was much space to do that within, considering I’d been instructed to stay in this blind spot oncampus until he arrived to speak with me. How he even knew about it was a whole other thing. I was aware that Winter’s family had made him a deal not to have eyes on him while he was here. Well, not in an invasive way. Just kind of at a distance. His grandpa was the Commander of The Shadowed, for fuck’s sakes, and he always had his ear to the ground. But I guess one of them had reconned the place before Winter had arrived for his first day. Probably his Pops, Lazriel Thaine, because with his wolf-vampire hybrid nature, his senses were at an insane level, and he wouldn’t miss a thing.
I jolted as crimson magic suddenly erupted just two feet from me.
And thenhematerialized.
The Almighty Necromancer in the flesh.
I swallowed hard at the intimidating sight of him, height and muscle, and that sweeping hooded black leather coat that really amped up the whole magical powerhouse thing. Kind of like his dark spiky hair with the striking maroon tips. And, most definitely, his dark-red magic crackling around him.
“Sylas,” I greeted, almost managing to make my voice come out steady.
“Clan Krevorn,” he spoke in a matter-of-fact, clipped kind of way.
“What’s that?”
“They’ve all been located.”
“Located?”
“Well,hunted downwould be a more accurate way of putting it. We move now while they’re all gathered.”
“We?”
“You asked for my help. I’m providing it.”
Yeah, I’d called him to see to Andrew Harkle and Pierce Dennins after they’d attacked Vaxan and tortured him in a failed attempt to get a hold of his crown that was imbued with aSunveil shielding enchantment. I’d even transferred the magical tag I’d put on those fuckers to Sylas when he’d agreed to get involved.
“I thought… I mean… I figured you and Requital would see to it.” I’d thought he’d come to meet me tonight just to give me an update and to do some kind of debrief where I’d be told how and what to keep secret, how to proceed in the aftermath of it being dealt with.
“That would normally be the case. Civilians wouldn’t be part of the process. But I’ve made an exception here.”
I cleared my throat. “Listen, I know after that bathroom… situation… that you walked in on, and probably some other shit you’ve heard from Win, that you—”
“You are not equipped to stand at my son’s side. Tonight we begin remedying that.”
“At his side? I thought that was the last thing you wanted.”
“It’s not about whatIwant. This is Winter’s choice.”
“Yeah, and he’s made it. Away from me.”
“That won’t last with your recent evolution.”
“My… what?” I mean, yeah, I wasn’t a total fucking fool, I knew what he was getting at. But I didn’t know howheknew.
“I had Velra recreate the events of the attack with her magical skill in that area.” He eyed me pointedly, making it clear that he hadn’t been able to rely solely on my word.
“Win’s mom was here? Right on campus?”
