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I shivered at the thought, the hairs along my arms rising on end.

What’s wrong, little rose?

I jumped at Shade’s mental interruption, my eyes flying around the room to search for him. Where are you?

With Ajax, he replied. I can sense your panic. What’s going on?

The tavern, it feels—

“Aflora?” Zeph said, his brow creased. “Are you listening to me?”

“Shade,” I replied, shaking my head as my Death Blood mate began talking again.

It feels like what?

It feels like he’s here, I rushed to say to him, then focused on Zeph. “He’s—Shade’s—in my head. He…”

Are you sure? Or is it his energy signature you’re sensing? Shade asked, his voice sounding rushed in my thoughts, like he was pacing while speaking.

It feels fresh. Too fresh. Like the day of the attack. I hadn’t felt him at all at the Death Blood Education Building that day we worked on psychometry spells, yet I sensed him everywhere here. This feels intentional. Like he knew I’d come.

I’m on my way.

I opened my mouth to let Zeph know, when his phone began to ring. With a frown, he pulled it from his cloak pocket and brought it to his ear. “Zephyrus.” His expression gave nothing away as whoever it was spoke on the other line, his green eyes holding mine the entire time. “I see.” The masculine tones of the speaker created a deep hum.

Did you call Zeph? I asked Shade.

No reply, suggesting it was him.

“Understood. You know where we’ll be.” Zeph hung up the phone, sliding it into his pocket once more.

“Shade?” I guessed.

“No. Kols. He’s been called into an emergency Council meeting with the Elders.” His lips flattened. “It doesn’t look good, Aflora. We should go.”

I nodded, agreeing, just as Anrika appeared with a tray of delicious-smelling loaves. My mouth practically watered for them, but my pulse thrummed a warning in my ears that I couldn’t ignore.

“Can we wrap these up to go?” Zeph asked her softly. “I just received a call from Prince Kolstov, and we’ve been requested at Nacht Manor.”

The Council is convening with the Elders, Shade informed me, his mental voice annoyed. Get the hell out of there, Aflora. This can’t be a coincidence.

We’re working on leaving, but Zeph just said we’re needed at Nacht Manor? I phrased it as a question because it seemed strange to me.

He must be lying to protect you. Trust him, Aflora. He won’t let you down.

Famous last words, I thought back at him. The last time I trusted Zeph, I ended up in a dungeon.

I won’t let anything happen to you, little rose, Shade vowed. And neither will Zeph. Trust your mates.

It said a lot that Shade wanted me to put my faith in Zeph. They constantly bickered with one another, but it seemed, on this point, my Death Blood mate trusted my Warrior Blood mate.

Anrika had been in the middle of talking to Zeph, her excitement lost to a cloud of concern. “Of course,” she was saying, picking up our untouched glasses. She disappeared without the glitter this time.

Zeph sighed and rubbed his hand over his face. “I hate doing this to her.”

“Doing what?” I asked, wondering what else he had planned.

“Everyone is too unnerved by what happened here to come in for a bite, and I’d hoped to provide her with a little bit of normalcy today. Unfortunately, I’ve just further driven the proverbial stake through her heart.” He shook his head. “Things are changing. It unsettles people.”


Tags: Lexi C. Foss Midnight Fae Academy Paranormal