It's a few silent moments before anyone speaks again.
“Students and faculty pose another problem,” Doc finally says. “Rumors are already flying about Phaines’s motives, and the valuable items he may have already stolen. It won't be long before rumors about the legends and the objects begin to surface. You can bet on that. Secrets of a way of revealing themselves here.”
“You're telling me,” I say.
“Stevie,” Doc says tentatively, “I know how you feel about the use of mental magic, but I don't see a way around this. We can't afford to let any students or other faculty members get too curious about our mission. That curiosity will be as dangerous for them as it is for us.”
“What are you suggestions?”
“I’ll do my best to dissuade interest the old-fashioned way, but if it comes down to, I won't hesitate to use influence magick to get the job done.”
My gut clenches. I really don’t like the idea of Doc manipulating fellow students like that.
But deep down, I know he’s right. If any of them get to close to this, they’ll be in danger, and our mission will be compromised before it even gets off the ground.
“For the record,” I say, “I don’t like it. But I understand.”
Goddess, this is all so complicated. Every time I think I’ve got my own clear lines drawn in the sand, something happens to blur them all over again.
“So what are our next steps?” Ani asks.
“For now, Kirin and Stevie are on prophecy, research, and air magick duty,” Doc says. “Baz will deal with Janelle Kirkpatrick. Ani, you’ve got maps and initial search coordination. And I’ll gently nudge our fellow witches and mages off the trail if anyone starts showing interest in the objects or our extracurricular activities.”
“It’s a plan,” I say, and the others nod.
Hope flickers inside me. Our end goal may be a crazy long shot, but every crazy long shot feels better with a plan in place.
“In the meantime,” Doc continues, “we must keep up appearances as if none of this is happening. We need things to appear normal and safe. That means I continue to teach my classes, Kirin continues his work in the library, and the rest of you continue to attend your classes as well.”
Baz groans, but ultimately agrees.
Clear on our mission, we put everything away and close out the ceremony.
I kneel down to put the tea and goodies away in my backpack, still processing everything we talked about.
“Guys?” I ask suddenly, my hand gripping the container of brie. “So what happens if we actually manage to find one of these things? What do the Arcana objects do, exactly?
“We have no idea, really,” Kirin says. “My guess is they’ll amplify our individual powers—whichever elements correspond with the objects.”
“Or, they might just kill us on contact.” Doc grins and points at the container in my hand, and the Princesses vanish behind him. “Are you going to finish that brie?”
Sixteen
STEVIE
Baz and I are silent for most of the trek back to Iron and Bone, both lost in our own swirling thoughts. The meeting was intense, and even with all our careful planning, it’s no secret we’re facing pretty insane odds.
But when Baz’s hand brushes against mine in the darkness, concern about the mission isn’t what I feel sweeping through his energy.
It’s me. Concern about me.
I reach for his hand, holding it tight, and he instantly relaxes.
I open my mouth to speak, but I don’t know where to start. Without a wall of jokes between us, I feel totally exposed.
It’s been five days since I fell into his arms, into his bed. His wild touch still lingers on my skin, and every time I replay those moments, my whole body ignites.
Yet still, when I try to form even a single question, my words stall out.
