Nobody had time to react.
Nobody had time to mourn.
Because it was in that same moment that another arrow came hurtling toward them from deep within the woods, nearly hitting Catherine in the shoulder, though she managed to duck away at the last second, rolling back onto her feet.
Olivier’s eyes snapped between Emilio and Masika, a silent communication jolting among the trio.
We’re under attack.
And then all hell broke loose.
32
WREN
The room is spinning.The thought sliced through Wren’s mind as Equinox whirled around her in a haze of colors and shapes. A lovely, bubbling sound echoed in her ears, and it took her a few seconds to realize that it was her own laughter. How long had it been since she’d laughed like that? She wasn’t sure, but it poured out of her as the world continued to spin and spin andspin.
Somebody was holding her. Hands pressed against her waist. She realized, then, that it wasn’t the world that was spinning, buther. There was somebody in front of her. Were they laughing too? But something about their laughter felt different. Colder. Mocking. Yet Wren couldn’t bring herself to care. Not when she felt this wholly good and perfect andfree. The spinning slowed down, the blur of colors and shapes solidifying. And then Callum Whitlock’s face came into view.
Wren knew she should feel frightened. Her body seemed to react before her mind—a tension in her muscles that wasn’t there before. But despite knowing sheshouldbe afraid, Wren couldn’t bring herself to be. What was so wrong with Callum? He had lovely eyes and hair…he was beautiful, really.
Is it warm in here?Wren thought. Callum’s face momentarily warped as she blinked and regained her awareness.
“Not particularly,” Callum answered with a chuckle. It was only then that Wren realized she must have asked the question out loud. He was holding her hand, swaying in time with the music. It suddenly occurred to her that they were dancing. How long had they been dancing? Wren couldn’t remember. But therewassomething she should remember. Something important. Something that could alter her existence forever—
“What’s on your mind?” Callum whispered into her ear.
Wren shook her head and it felt like the entire world shook with her.
“Nope.” She could practically see the words floating out of her mouth, swirling between them. “No, no, no.Nothing that I can tellyou.”
Callum quirked a brow. “Keeping secrets from me, catalyst?” He pouted and drew her closer. “That’s not very nice.”
“Well,you’renot very nice.” Wren chuckled. “You’re actually quite mean.”
“Oh, it’s not personal,” Callum remarked with a dismissive wave. “I’m like this with everyone.”
Run!a voice in the back of Wren’s mind screamed.Find the others.But where would she run to? And why would she run? She was having fun. For the first time in years—Wren wasactuallyhaving fun.
Callum’s eyes darted past Wren’s shoulders. He glanced at something behind her.
“Apologies, catalyst.” He slipped his hand under hers and brought it up to his lips. “As wonderful as this has been, it appears I’m needed.” He brushed a quick kiss against her hand. “The offerings are set to begin soon.”
The offerings.Something in Wren stirred. What was it aboutthe offerings that was important? She was about to ask Callum, but then she blinked and he was gone, lost within the chaos.
Around her, bodies continued to move and sway. The pounding beat of the drum echoed deep inside Wren’s chest, traveling down her body in a dizzying vibration. Wren wanted to keep dancing. She wanted to dance and dance until her legs gave out beneath her. But just as she was about to find another body to latch onto, she was suddenly tugged backward, pulled through the crowd by a strong set of hands. When the world stopped spinning, she found two familiar faces staring back at her.
Quinn and Arthur peered down at her, arms crossed and faces pinched in concern.
“Wren.” Quinn’s voice echoed with a dreamlike reverberation. Her light pink hair was pinned back from her face. How had Wren never noticed how blue her eyes were? They were practically glowing. “What are you—” Quinn stopped short, as if she’d realized something. She waved her hand in front of Wren’s face and Wren giggled, attempting to catch Quinn’s hand with her own.
“It looks like a butterfly,” Wren remarked.
Quinn groaned and swatted Wren’s hand away. “Great,” she muttered under her breath. “She’s completely out of it.”
Arthur gripped Wren’s face in his hands. “Wren…how much did you drink?”
“The cup,” she announced proudly.
