A half second later, Cordelia charged into the room, Mac at her heels. Beatrix trailed in last.
“What’s going on?” Mac demanded. “Cordelia freaked out, but I can’t understand her. What’s wrong?”
Cordelia sprinted to a stop next to me, tugging at my dress sleeve with her little paws. What’s wrong? I felt it. It’s terrible. What’s wrong?
“Grey,” I whispered.
“Oh, shit.” Mac leaned back against the bookshelves, clearly understanding right away.
“What?” Beatrix demanded.
“Tell us what you’re thinking,” Eve said. “Work it out with us.”
Cordelia climbed on my lap, heavy and warm. I blinked, looking at all of my friends. The words spilled from my mouth, the whole story. Eve was right. If there was a clue in there somewhere, they could help find it.
I told them all about the past, and Rasla and Evangeline, and my history with the Shadow Guild. They listened quietly, asking the occasional question.
When I finally finished, Mac frowned. “It’s obvious, isn’t it?”
“Is it?” I sank my fingers into Cordelia’s rough fur.
“Evangeline was clear that you haven’t embraced your role in the Shadow Guild yet. Or your magic. You haven’t believed in yourself. It’s exactly what I told you earlier.”
I nodded, sucking in a breath. She was right. That was the one big thing Evangeline had told me to do, and I hadn’t done it yet. Maybe that was the problem.
“I’ve got to get up,” I said to Cordelia. She scrambled off, and I stood. “Let’s go to the Shadow Guild.”
It called to me now, in the way that Grey had called to me. Maybe he was there. Or maybe he really was with Eve and I wasn't strong enough to sense him yet.
I was going to be.
If that meant visiting the Shadow Guild and finding a way to embrace my magic, then I was going to do it.
The five of us hurried down the street through the dark night. I could feel Beatrix’s confusion—everyone’s confusion, for that matter—but fortunately, none of them asked any questions. I didn’t think I could answer, anyway, especially since I barely knew the answers myself.
We reached the courtyard in front of our tower a few moments later. Quinn stood there, confused. He was dressed in loose sleep pants and a T-shirt, his trainers partially unlaced. His auburn hair was messy around his head, and he looked confused.
“Why are we here?” he asked. “I woke up and felt like I had to come.”
The Shadow Guild must have called to him. Because this was all of us now—our entire ragtag
little guild.
Through my grief and terror, the slightest bit of warmth filled my chest.
“Long story,” Mac said. “But we’re here for Carrow.”
He nodded and then turned, opening the door. We filed into the room, and I walked toward the big chair near the cold, quiet hearth.
Somehow, the sight of it made my skin chill even more. Either fear or doubt, I didn’t know. It was the same thing I’d felt before. But this time, I ignored it.
If that was the leader’s chair, then hell, I was going to sit in it.
I sucked in a deep breath and didn’t so much as pause, just spun around and plopped my butt into it.
Nothing happened. I gripped the arms and looked at my friends.
I wanted to ask them if I should really be there.