I went back to my room and turned on the shower. I sighed as the sound of the dripping water echoed throughout the large bathroom, and droplets ran over my back. This house was too big, and it let my nervousness expand and run wild. I wanted something cozy and warm. I longed to go to my grandparents’ house in Dolinska and stay there. Being with family was where I’d wanted to be. Arthur was there. There wasn’t anything I wanted more right now than to be in the company of my twin. He’d understand how I felt.
But I couldn’t do that, because the moment I’d suggested it to my mom, she’d gone on a tirade about howunfairit was I was spending more time with my grandparents than her.
Yeah. Thanks, Mom. Her jealousy bullshit is just what I needed, at a time when my mate’s neck was literally on the line.
And I couldn’t take a speck of more drama than I already had on my plate. Arthur and I had spent an awkward Christmas at my mother’s cottage, which I couldn’t enjoy, because all that time I was thinking about Ethan. We’d managed to make excuses so we could go to Christmas dinner at my grandparents’ house later that evening, though I’d heard an earful about it from Mom the next day how we’d left her lonely on Christmas evening.
Lonely. Hell, Ethan was far more lonely than she was, alone and cold in a cell on Christmas day. Made me want to cry thinking about it. My grandparents hadn’t said anything about my mother that day, but they could tell Arthur felt torn from my mother’s guilt trip just before we left.
Fuck. I just wish they could all get along, even if just for my sake. I needed my family behind me right now. Caught in the middle, I’d asked Stefan’s parents for a place to stay the day after Christmas. After spending a tense and quick holiday with their families, all of my friends had returned to the Slasky mansion, where we’d spent the last few days strategizing on what to do.
Nobody had any ideas on how to rescue Ethan without getting the rest of us killed. My patience had run out. If I had to be reckless, fine. I didn’t need a plan. All I needed was my mate beside me, and I’d kill if I had to, so our love could be a reality.
I curled my hair and applied makeup before I found a two-piece power suit, blue in color, with a wide-brimmed hat and four-inch heels. I looked like I was going to a red-carpet premiere instead of a trial, but that was the game. I had to put on the utmost confidence that my mate had done nothing wrong.
It was close to six when I came back downstairs. By this time, everyone was up, and ready to leave. Delmare poured Stefan more coffee, though he didn’t drink it, and Theodore nibbled at an apple pastry, looking rather green.
Odette’s pink pantsuit with white flowers wasn’t appropriate for the Malovian High Court, but I didn’t say anything. I barely objected as she grabbed my arm and dragged me to the side, out of earshot of the others. Her mass of blonde curls wiggled as she said, “Emma, I know this is a hard day.”
“Don’t say that. We might get rid of Eli for good this time, once I shove a spell in his face,” I snarled.
Her lip quivered. “Emma, the prophecy.”
“Don’t bring this up.” She’d mentioned it a few times before, yet I didn’t want to hear it right now.
“I’m only warning you!” Odette hissed. “You know what I’ve seen in my visions. Ethan can’t live if you want to survive!”
Odette was a seer— adryca, a fae with druid blood. She could foresee the future, and she’d insisted one too many times that if Ethan survived, it would lead to my death. Somehow, my mate would bring the Hidden King— Elijah Zlodia, the leader of the Black Claw— right to me, and it would cause my demise. It was prophesied that Elijah would one day kill me, and that Ethan would have a part to play in it.
My words were short. “The hag already foretold my death when she delivered my prophecy. The date’s already growing closer. The hag said I would meet my end before the first of the snow melts away at the end of the fourth winter. This is my second winter at Arcanea University. I’m already halfway through my time!”
“Yes, but the hag saidthe Hidden Kingwould be the one to kill you,” Odette pointed out. “According to my visions, Elijah can’t kill you if Ethan isn’t involved, and he can’t be involved if—”
“If what? If he’s dead?”
Odette’s lip quivered. “I love Ethan. He’s my friend. But I love you so much more. I’m begging you, don’t interfere in this trial. Otherwise, your death is almost certain. Maybe we can avoid the hag’s prophecy if you listen to mine! ”
My mouth thinned. “And maybe my death is already meant to be. If it is, I might as well save Ethan. Your visions didn’t turn out like we planned last semester.”
“We misinterpreted them last time!” Odette insisted. “But in some way or form, they’realwaysgoing to come true. I’m not going to let you risk your life for anyone, not even your mate!”
“Try and stop me.”
I stomped out of the dining room, and roamed the dark hallway to the main entrance of the mansion. Stefan got up and followed me. My body tensed as he placed a hand on my arm and spun me around.
“Hold up,” he spoke hoarsely. “You don’t need to lose your head.”
I gave a sarcastic noise. “Well, if I don’t, Ethan’s going to.”
“Emma, youcan’tflip your shit again.” Stefan’s eyes were dark with worry. “We could barely contain you last time. Another slip up like that, and we’re all fucked.”
Flashes of memory ran through my mind, though they were muddled and distant. After Ethan had been unveiled as the Phantom on the royal balcony of the palace, I’d completely lost it. I’d screamed my head off— Stefan, Theo and Alexei all had to pile on top of me, to pin my arms to the sides and prevent me from using my magic. I’d nearly broken free of them. I wasn’t sure what my intentions had been, but I figure I must’ve been planning to murder everyone in the area just to get to Ethan.
Alexei had used his empathy magic to suck all the emotion out of me. He’d worked so quickly my mind hadn’t had time to become accustomed to the spell. The senses in my brain had overloaded, and I’d passed out.
I’d woken up in my dorm a few hours later, a crying, erratic mess. It’d taken them all hours to calm me down. I hadn’t thought of anything but Ethan since.
I was sure to the crowd I appeared a deranged maniac. The media hadn’t gotten pictures of the incident, thank the gods, but records of my lost sanity had certainly appeared in the papers, provided by witnesses.
