Deadly Alliances (Dark Shifter Academy #5)

Chapter 25 Shea

The wall of numbness that I’d built to cage my feelings was on the verge of collapse as I ate dinner with my fellow Initiates. No one spoke to me, treating me with just as much caution as they did the vampires; Once word got out that I was a witch and would be performing a powerful spell on their leader this very night, they no longer regarded me as a normal human peer. But I preferred it that way. I was in no mood to chitchat.

Everything that had already happened today was overwhelming, and it was far from over. Hadrian had vampires collecting the ingredients for the spell as soon as the sun set, and it was only a matter of time before he called to collect on my promise.

There were so many chaotic emotions scratching at my wall that I didn’t know which was which. Guilt for burning Julian, and even more for enjoying him biting me after I healed him. Gratitude toward Marguerite for letting me heal him warring with intense hatred for her treatment of him. And fear, both of what Hadrian would do after the spell was performed and for the bite that Marguerite expected tonight. I didn’t want to endure either of those things, but I couldn’t refuse.

I only hoped that Marguerite would be sated by my blood and not force me to watch or engage in anymore torture of my beloved vampire in her custody.

“Hm-hm,” someone humphed behind me, startling me to the point of dropping my fork onto the pile of almost inedible cornmeal on my plate.

I turned to see Kristen looking down her nose at me, wiping a spot of yellow mush off her cheek that had splashed off my plate. I gave her an apologetic smile.

“Lord Hadrian has sent for you,” she said in her oh so charming tone. “He’s asked you to meet him in the Trophy Room.”

And there it was. My time had run out. Some part of me had been holding onto hope that Hadrian’s minions wouldn’t find a moonflower, at least not tonight. I had hoped to be closer to getting my friends out before having to follow through with the spell, but everything was happening so fast. I was no closer to rescuing anyone than I was before entering this castle, and now I was giving the most evil, most powerful vampire in the world a ticket to freedom.

“Thanks,” I said, shouldering my bag and scurrying out of the dining room and up the stairs.

I wanted to meddle with the spell, try to make it temporary like I’d done with Julian’s reversal, but I didn’t want to risk making things worse. There were notes with the daywalker spell, notes about the dire consequences of not following it precisely, and I just couldn’t afford to botch the spell with Hadrian. I’d never make it out alive if I did. Ultimately, it wasn’t worth the risk.

I knocked on the trophy room door, gripping the strap of my bag as I waited.

Hadrian opened it with a smile. “Excellent. Time for the fun to begin.”

I smiled as I entered and hoped that Hadrian wouldn’t notice that it didn’t meet my eyes.

“Nervous?” Hadrian asked as he closed the door.

We took our seats at the desk, the moonflower sitting in a cup of water, its roots looking like pale worms magnified by the curve of the glass.

I shrugged. “Yeah. I’m nervous. I’m doing a big spell for a big guy.”

Hadrian laughed, the sound musical and disarming. “Honesty. I like that. I’m sure you’ll do fine.”

He gave me an encouraging smile, and I tried to regulate my heart rate so he wouldn’t hear how truly terrified I was.

“Shall we begin?”

With a single nod, I stood and removed the bag from my shoulder, muttering the reveal spell before pulling the book out. I set it on top of the desk and exerted my will the way Gram had showed me, and the grimoire opened, pages flipping magically until landing on the daywalker spell.

Hadrian chuckled. “Very impressive.”

I cleared my throat and grabbed the flower, tearing off the petals and roots and placing them in a pile. They smelled a bit like lemons, and I wondered if they’d taste that way, too. Hadrian handed me a bag of sunflower seeds, and I made a new pile with them. I sat back and eyed the parts, then nodded. They looked about equal to me. Hopefully.

I pushed both piles toward him. “You’ll need to eat all of this first.”

Hadrian lifted a brow, then shrugged and began consuming everything I’d measured out. The moonflower was poisonous to humans, but I knew it wouldn’t affect Hadrian. Though, apparently, the flavor was less than appealing because he grimaced as he swallowed, not even bothering to chew. When he was done, he sat back.

I took a deep breath and turned the grimoire to face him, then came around the desk. I heavily resented the fact that I needed to be touching the person for the spell to work, and the idea of any form of physical contact with this dangerous monster had chills skittering across my skin.

I swallowed as I placed my hand tentatively on his shoulder, as if the touch would somehow wound me.

Hadrian eyed me, a wry smirk curling his stupidly gorgeous lips. “It’s okay. I won’t bite you.” He smiled, flashing his deadly fangs, and I gave a nervous giggle that made me feel even more foolish.

“Sorry. I’m just trying to make sure I don’t screw anything up,” I said.

“Take your time and do it right. No rush here.”

I nodded, glancing at the book. I didn’t have to read the spell, since I’d memorized it, but the wizened pages provided a sort of comfort that I needed right now.

I closed my eyes and found that tingle of magic in my chest, then refocused on the book. “Kekeru henertu em sheut greh.”

A gentle breeze lifted my hair as I sank deeper into the magic, letting it wash over me. The office and its atrocities fell away, leaving me in a warm void that glittered with possibilities.

“Kheper sa em ra hena yew en bekah-et.” The words left my lips with a strength I didn’t know I possessed, the warmth filling and then leaving me, so that I felt cold and hollow in its absence.

A golden glow settled on Hadrian’s skin, sinking in until it faded completely. Hadrian smiled, looking at his hands with a wicked glee, then up to me. “I feel good. Shall we test your handiwork?”

I swallowed, the peace that had accompanied the spell tearing away from me like a cockroach in the light. “Sure. Just...be careful.”

Hadrian’s smile cocked to the side. “I always take every precaution.”

He pulled up his wrist, tapping on the watch face. A few moments later, a beanpole of a man came in, his pale skin making his sunken cheeks look somewhat sickly. He held a camera over his shoulder and a small device in his other hand. “Are you ready, sir?”

“Let’s find out,” Hadrian replied.

I watched with curiosity as Hadrian walked around his desk to the gangly vampire. It was night now. How could he possibly test the spell?

Hadrian tugged his sleeve up just a few inches and held his arm out to the side. He gave the vampire a nod, and the vampire pushed a button on the gadget he held. A beam of light flashed onto Hadrian’s hand, which then cast a dark shadow over the wall behind it.

My confusion only grew as Hadrian began laughing somewhat maniacally, turning his hand this way and that in the beam of light.

Then he began to unbutton his shirt, and my heart jumped into my throat. What the hell was he doing? My cheeks burned with a conflicted blush as Hadrian tossed his tailored shirt to the side and stepped fully into the light because, holy shit, his body was a work of perfection! Every muscle in his chest and abs was so well defined, resembling marble carved by the masters. It wasn’t fair for evil creatures to be so beautiful, but despite my best efforts, I couldn’t help but appreciate his immaculate appearance.

Heat radiated from the halo of light that I was just outside of, and I slowly came to understand that it must be an ultraviolet light. That was how he was testing the spell, and from the expression of wild triumph on Hadrian’s face as he looked at me, the spell had worked. A sense of pride welled up knowing what I’d accomplished, even as terror filled me.

I’d just unleashed the most powerful vampire in the world.

As if my thought had summoned him, Hadrian snapped his fingers at the gangly vampire. “Start rolling, Steadman!”

Steadman, apparently, set the light gingerly on the table and anchored the camera, then pushed a button on the side of it that made a small blue light blink above the glass. He gave Hadrian a quick thumbs-up.

“Vampires, shifters, supernaturals everywhere! I wanted to share the glorious news. Your leader has been liberated from the chains of the night. I can now walk fearlessly through the day. Our greatest dreams are about to be realized, and all thanks to this young witch.”

Steadman aimed the camera at me, and I froze like a deer in headlights. I cracked a sheepish smile as I brought my hand halfway up and curled my fingers in a weak attempt to wave. The butterflies in my stomach turned to frightened bats, beating at my insides in a mad attempt to escape. But there was no escape.

The camera panned back to Hadrian, and I took a deep, shuddering breath. I buried my face in my hands as Hadrian made his final remarks. I could almost envision the horror on the faces of shifters as they watched. What did I just do? Steadman lowered the device, the blue light winking off.

Hadrian scooped up his shirt and walked toward me, putting a steadying hand on my shoulder. “Excellent work. Soon we’ll have an entire army of daywalkers at our disposal. You’re a great addition to the team. I trust you won’t let me down.”

“Of course,” I croaked, trying desperately not to look at his bare chest. Please put your damn shirt back on!

Hadrian ushered me out of his office, and I was surprised to see a sea of faces filling the lobby as we stepped out. Vampires and humans wore pride and hope on their faces, caressing Hadrian as he passed them. Gross . He didn’t seem to mind the attention. But as hands began brushing on my arms and other places, I definitely minded.

“This is a cause for celebration!” Hadrian announced. “Let us have a grand party, with Shea as our Guest of Honor.”

The lobby erupted with cheers, and I shivered at the attention. I wanted nothing to do with any such party. I just wanted to flee to my room and curl up into obscurity. I wanted to beg the powers that be for forgiveness for what I’d just done.

One of the vampires pushed through the melee to Hadrian. “My lord, there’ve been reports of movement in the forest to the south.”

“Ah, the other shifters from the attack, I presume,” Hadrian said. “Send a team to go after them.”

Shit! I had to warn Caesar. But how?

Hadrian dismissed the vampire and encouraged the crowd to follow him down the hall toward the Grand Hall. I pulled back against the flow, letting them pass me like a river over a rock. If I could slip away, I could catch my breath, I could contact Caesar, try to—

“Nicely done, witch.”

Ah, fuck.

I slowly turned around to find Marguerite standing in the emptying lobby. Why couldn’t I just catch a break?

“If we’re going to have a party, you must look the part,” she said, tapping her chin as she scrutinized me with narrowed eyes. “You’re shorter than I am, and a bit more curvy, but I’m sure I can find something suitable for you. Come.”

She spun on her heel and strode off toward the elevator, and I had no choice but to reluctantly follow her.