Page 53 of Rogue Witch

“What are you talking about?” Ethan asks.

I look from him to Raith. “The blood pact.”

Ethan stands. “Why didn’t we think of it before?”

“If you mean try to connect with her psychically, you’re insane,” Raith says.

“Why?” I shrug. “We all know that a blood pact connects the signers of the contract.”

“There is no way to contact someone in a Reaping,” Raith says.

“How do you know?” I ask. “Have you ever tried?”

He waves me off. “It’s a ridiculous idea.”

“I disagree. I think—”

At a shout outside Raith’s office, I glance to Ethan. We hurry to the window overlooking the main concourse. At least four dozen students are headed our way. Teachers David Cornwall, Linda Walker, and two martial arts instructors have joined the approaching students. Some students are walking arm in arm, some are crying. Leilah walks at the head of the group, gripping Ariel’s right arm. Ariel tries to twist free but Leilah yanks her and half drags her several paces before Ariel gains her feet. Jonas walk to Leilah’s right with her pig to his right and—

“Bloody hell,” I mutter. “That’s—”

“Caleb,” Ethan finishes.

Caleb strides in wolf form on Leilah’s left.

“It seems Matthias was right,” I say.

We look at each other, then race from the room, down the stairs, and out onto the front steps as the students halt in front of the building.

“Can you believe it?” Fran Shelton says. “Only two days, and they’re back.”

She’s right. We’ve never had students return from a Reaping in two days.

Caleb and the pig plop their arses on the ground. Caleb looks up at us and pricks his ears. Chelsea stands sullenly beside William at the rear of the group. Chelsea has to be escorted away from the other students, but we mustn’t make a scene. William’s eyes are downcast. A student who returns from the Reaping and avoids eye contact is never a good sign.

“Here.” Leilah shoves Arial toward us.

The girl whirls on Leilah and snarls, “Touch me again and I’ll turn you into a toad.”

Leilah ignores her and locks gazes with Raith, “She led a hanging that ended in one student’s death and she tried to hang Chelsea.”

Raith scans the crowd. “Is this true?”

A chorus of voices reply as several try to talk at once.

Raith gives a shrill whistle and they stop talking. “Where’s Chelsea Nightlow?” he asks.

A tall boy nods at someone in front of him, who’s blocked by other students. Chelsea pushes past them to the front of the group.

“Ms. Littleton tried to hang you?” Raith asks.

Chelsea nods. “Yeah, her and another student that isn’t from here.”

“David,” Raith says, “take Ms. Nightlow to the infirmary and have Ms. Littleton escorted to her dorm room by two Watchmen. Someone will be there presently to speak with each of them.”

David Cromwell says to Ariel, “Ms. Littleton.”

She narrows her eyes on Raith. “You have no right to do this.”