“Okay, that’s fair. But you should have told me what was going on so I could have tried to help.”
“I know. I was embarrassed and figured if I kept going, I could turn things around. All I needed was some quick cash, and then no one would have to find out I was sinking. I had a plan all figured out, but then the accident happened at the club, and it ruined everything. Nothing turned out the way I’d hoped. Now, I’m in a bigger mess than before.”
“We’ll figure it out, Zoe. I’ll help you study, or we can get you a tutor. And even if none of that works and you have to take a semester off, then that’s okay too. The most important thing is just coming up with a plan, and I will be there every step of the way.”
Zoe gave me a weak smile and nodded. “Thanks, Elle. You’re the most reliable person I know. I’m jealous. You have everything figured out.”
I grimaced and fiddled with the pendant around my neck. “You’d be surprised, Zoe.”
She sighed and reached for the remote on the nightstand. Powering on the TV, she found a sitcom rerun and nestled deeper into the pillow.
My phone buzzed, and I flipped it over, expecting another message from Tanya. It wasn’t her. Caden’s name flashed across my screen, and I hesitated before opening the text.
Caden:Did you make it back okay?
Caden:Talk to me.
Three little dots appeared, followed by another text.
Caden:Graves, I’m sorry.
I stared down at the words and tried to ignore the ache in my chest. Before I could change my mind, I tapped on his contact and scrolled to the bottom of the screen. With a shaking finger, I pressed the block icon and powered down my phone.
Chapter 21
The next morning, I went to history class. I clutched my coffee and bagel, eating breakfast as I slowly made my way through the quad. There was an energy in the air as students packed the lawn playing Frisbee, studying under the large oaks, and rushing over the stone paths toward class.
I breathed in the fall air, trying to recapture some of that university magic I’d lost over the past few weeks. There was already a little zip in my step now that I felt confident crossing Zoe off the suspect list, which only left a few names remaining. One of whom I was about to see teach ancient history.
A plan had been brewing in my mind since late last night, and I’d tossed and turned over whether I should put it into action or not. Just because Oscar and Caden weren’t exactly who they said they were and had lied from day one, I wasn’t absolved of my obligations. I still had a mystery to solve and a world-destroying book to find.
All in a day’s work for Spellwork’s newest, most inexperienced, naïve hunter.
Tossing my empty cup and bagel wrapper into the trash, I took the concrete steps two at a time and entered through the arched glass doorway of the history building. My shoes ground to a halt, skidding over the polished floor.
Caden leaned against a pillar, holding two cardboard cups of coffee with plastic lids. He straightened when he saw me and offered a hesitant smile. The man did not know how to follow directions, and even if the tiniest possible part of me was happy to see him, I still wasn’t ready to pick up where we left off.
I may never be.
“What are you doing here? I told you to stay away,” I hissed, picking up my pace to walk past him.
“I know you did, and I tried, I swear. I just . . . needed to see you.”
“Well, you see me. I wasn’t mauled by a demon on my way home yesterday. Now, go.”
“Can we just talk for a second? I want five minutes. Please, Graves.”
Grinding my molars, I stared up at the mosaic ceiling. “First it’s a second; now it’s five minutes. Fine. Whatever it takes to get you to leave.” I looked for an empty classroom and pulled him inside, but before he could start, I tugged the phone from my jeans pocket and set the timer. I flashed him the screen. “You have two minutes exactly.”
“You are maddeningly accurate, Graves. It’s one of the things I like about you.”
“You just wasted ten seconds.”
He wasted ten more scrubbing a hand through his hair and looking tormented.
“Well? I’m going to be late to class. Start talking.”
“How are you?” he asked. His gaze seemed to roam over me, taking in every inch. It was unnerving, the way his exploration still made my skin tingle. If he weren’t holding both coffee cups, I could imagine him reaching out, sliding his hands over my waist, and pulling me closer the way he always did. As if being close to me was instinctive rather than a conscious action.
