“What do you know, ghost boy?” He’s no ghost anymore though. He’s solidly in the world now as a flesh and blood human. “Where’s all my stuff? Where’s Hank?”
He uncrosses his arms and holds out one hand to me. “Follow me.”
“Fine.” I take his hand. “But if this turns out to be some kind of prank, I’m going to be seriously pissed.”
“Not a prank,” he assures me, giving my hand a squeeze. “Come on. We’re wasting valuable time.”
Drake leads me out of my room and through the dormitory halls. But instead of heading toward the main building or any of the familiar parts of campus, he turns down a corridor I’ve neverbeen down before. The walls here are paneled in rich, dark wood, the effect being very old-money.
“Where are we going?” I ask as we pass a series of stained glass windows depicting dragons, unicorns and mermaids.
“You’ll see.”
We climb a staircase that seems to go on forever, then pass through an arched doorway into what feels like an entirely different building. The air here smells less like an institutional school and more like a really nice hotel, or maybe a Nordstrom. My experience with high-end anything is pretty limited.
“Seriously, Drake, where the hell are we? I didn’t even know this part of the academy existed.”
“Most students don’t,” he says, leading me around another corner. “It was faculty housing originally, back when I was a student. Then it became coven quarters for visiting dignitaries. Now it’s... well, you’ll see.”
We pass through another set of doors and into a quieter hallway with only four doors, widely spaced. The carpet underfoot is plush, muffling our footsteps.
“This is reserved for very important people.”
“And we’re here because?”
Drake stops in front of the last door at the end of the hall. It’s made of heavy wood, ornately carved with intertwining serpents. There’s no doorknob, just a metal plate where one should be.
“We’re here,” Drake says, dropping my hand, “because this is yours.”
I stare at him. “Mine? What are you talking about?”
He gestures to the metal plate. “Place your hand there.”
I sigh, then place my palm flat against the metal, and feel the magic instantly.
The door swings open, and I step inside. The room—no, it’s more than a room, it’s a suite—is massive, easily five times the size of my old dorm. It has tall windows draped in rich emerald velvet, plush couches, polished wood everything, and vase upon vase of red roses. But what really catches my attention are the three men standing in the center of the room, looking at me like three cats who ate a shit ton of canaries.
Drake moves past me to join the others, and suddenly I’m facing all four of them standing together without arguing with each other, which is almost as surprising as the room itself.
Ash steps forward, looking more relaxed than I’ve ever seen him. “This is yours. A new room. A new beginning.”
I look around again, taking in details I missed at first glance. The space is divided into distinct areas, with a study nook and a mahogany desk, a sitting area, a breakfast table by the windows, and a private bathroom through an arched doorway.
“Mine?” I repeat stupidly.
“Consider it a reward,” Ash continues, “not just for acing your exam, but for everything else. Breaking the blood contract. Changing Serpentine Academy. Changing us.”
I step further into the room, my fingers trailing over the back of a velvet armchair. “This is insane. You guys did all this for me?”
Soren grins. “We each contributed in our own way.”
Can’t wait to find out what that means. “Of course you did.” A smile tugs at my lips as I wander around, taking everything in.
The bookshelves catch my eye first, they’re floor-to-ceiling and already filled with books. Some I recognize from my old dorm, but many are new. Old books on natural magic, romance, horror (had enough of that for a bit), mysteries, and classics. I pull one out, turning to Lucien with raised eyebrows.
“I noticed your reading habits,” he says, not a hint of apology in his voice.
“Creepy, but thoughtful.” I slide the book back into place, moving on.
