9. The Rose
Chapter 9
The Rose
A s much as I’d have liked to say I found Isaac and the others right away, it took me at least half an hour of walking the Academy grounds before I finally came across them in the dining hall. I could have asked for someone to point me to the shifter wing, but my pride had taken enough of a beating for one day. I’d at least had the chance to explore the creepy stairwell I’d seen earlier. It led to a broom closet.
And there I was: lying in Isaac’s bed, blood-free and full of good food, yet unable to find rest. Isaac and I had spent a few minutes debriefing before turning in, but I dodged his subtle inquiries about my conversation with Grayson. Instead, we’d started planning for the Pack Rite.
It would be held in an outdoor amphitheater on the new moon when shifters were thought to be at our weakest; if you can’t defend your pack at your weakest, you don’t deserve to lead it at your strongest. Unlike the others of my kind, I loved the new moon. Maybe my inability to shift lessened the moon’s effect on me, or maybe it was the demon blood, but I felt most alive when the night sky was at its darkest.
The ache in my chest grew more intense the longer I lay in bed, fiddling with my necklace and staring at the ceiling. What if Grayson was right, and I wasn’t strong enough to win? Yes, my magic fueled my strength, but that didn’t make me invincible. What if the bloodstone didn't work? What if it worked too well? How would I face them if I lost? What would I tell Lucas and Ivy in my letter home? Between the questions racing through my head and Isaac’s bed-shaking snores beside me—he should really get checked by a healer—I was spiraling into a vat of disastrous possibilities.
No. Fixating on the what-ifs for the next fortnight wouldn’t help me. I would not lose. I couldn’t. Lying there any longer wouldn’t stop my racing thoughts. I tucked my necklace back in my top, carefully extricated myself from beside my sleeping friend, and quietly left the room. Maybe the fresh air would quiet my mind.
I found myself walking back along the road we’d taken through the gate that afternoon. The lanterns were fully lit now, casting a warm glow across both the stones in the road and the vibrant trees beyond it.
I could love it here. If I could get through the next fourteen days–the next fourteen hours–then I could love my life here.
“Peaceful, isn’t it?”
I halted and looked around, but saw no one. Surely, she wasn’t... I looked up toward the top of the trees and there was Kenna, lounging on a branch, spinning a dagger on the point of her finger before placing it back in the sheath at her hip.
“It’s surprising how few students venture this way. Most prefer to keep to the main campus or the fields and forests to the south, but I love it here the most.” She stretched her lithe arms above her head and arched her back in a stretch before dropping them to her sides, letting them hang on either side of her branch. “There’s something magical about being surrounded by nature that people have yet to taint.”
“It’s beautiful.” I agreed. I’d never seen plants and trees like these.
“The view is even better from above. Care to join me?”
The invitation sounded innocent enough, but the sincerity in her voice didn’t put me at ease. The mischievous glint in her eyes set my teeth on edge and made me want to find out what she was thinking at the same time. I could have made an excuse to keep walking or go back inside, but I didn’t. I climbed the tree. I chose a branch near hers and let my legs hang over one side. I looked around and the forest that stretched for miles in every direction and said, “You’re right. The view is better up here, though I was content on the ground.”
“You can see more from here, and I always prefer to be closer to the stars, don’t you?” Kenna looked up at the sky and a softer, less cunning smile crossed her face. I followed suit and my breath caught in my throat. I had never seen so many stars swirling in the sky, encased in a web of burgundy leaves.
“I meant what I said you know.”
“About what?”
“I’m looking forward to our duel.” She turned a blinding smile my way and I had to chuckle.
“You’re not the least bit concerned you could lose, are you?”
“Not even a little,” she spoke with such confidence like she was stating a fact rather than her opinion. “Please don’t take offense. I don’t mean it as an insult. I’d like to believe you’ll be a worthy opponent. It’s obvious from the moment you walked through that door in the way you carried yourself, and the way your pack mates are loyal to you that you’re a strong leader. It’s just that however strong you may be, I know I’m stronger. That’s why Grayson wanted you to abdicate, idiotic as his methods may have been. Truthfully I would have done the exact same thing if I were you.”
“We’ll see who’s left standing in the end. No matter the outcome, I hope you know this isn’t personal. I know you’ve been an exceptional Luna to the pack these last few years.”
She waved her hand dismissively. “I’d take it personally if you didn’t care enough about the pack to ensure it has the strongest leaders. If I had a drink, I’d toast to leaders who care, but alas, I’m drink-less.”
“I’ll accept the gesture all the same.” I was smiling despite myself. I didn’t want to like this woman, yet I felt completely at ease lounging in a tree beside her, only weeks away from a battle that would likely result in injury and could escalate to death. As odd as she was, her presence felt calming–familiar even.
“Very gracious of you.” She raised a cupped hand, mimicking a raised glass, before dropping it, “And speaking of being gracious I’m thoroughly impressed you didn’t ream into Grayson in the middle of the quad. I don’t think I’d have been as kind. Tell me the truth, on a scale of mushroom soup to a chocolate cake, how close were you to killing him?”
Was that meant to be a scale I knew how to use?
“He was just doing what he thought was best for the pack, “I said, “I can’t be furious with him for that.”
I very well could be, and I was, but speaking poorly of him to someone who’d lead beside him, who would be in our pack after this was resolved felt like a betrayal. He may choose to turn his back on me, but it felt wrong for me to turn mine on him.
“Right,” she drew out the word slowly, “For the pack. And when he made us think you were his sister, that was for the pack too?” And the mystery of why she asked if my last name was Pierce was solved. I paused before responding. The part was a bit more puzzling to me.
“I think that was for me.” She turned to face me more fully. “In Grayson’s mind, it would be easier for me to step down as the Pack Leaders’ daughter than a ranked shifter.”
“We would have found out eventually. One second of him looking at you, and it was obvious to anyone watching.”
“Well, I never said it was a good plan.” We both chuckled before falling back into silence. I rested my head against the tree trunk behind me and basked in the subtle sounds of the breeze brushing against the leaves surrounding us. In the distance flickers of light from fireflies dotted the air.
I wasn’t sure how much time had passed when I pulled my feet up and stood on the branch. “I should head back and get some sleep.”
“Answer one more question before you go?” I nodded. “What happened to the two of you?”
“I’m not sure what you mean,” I drew out slowly.
“I’ve known Grayson for two years now, and in that time I’ve never seen his eyes light up the way they do when he’s talking about you.” I held my breath as she went on to say, “I thought he was just an adoring older brother, but now I’m thinking something else.”
“I’m not sure what you’re thinking,” I said, “But I can assure you Grayson’s opinion of me is anything but adoring.”
“If you say so.” She closed her eyes, laid down fully along her own tree limb, and folded her hands behind her head. “See you tomorrow, Briar.”
I wanted to probe further into her question–to ask what Grayson had said about me in my absence, but I didn’t. Insead, I looked at the treetops surrounding us as I dropped back to the ground to study them again once I was steadily on my feet. It really was stunning here.
A moment later, I was making my way back to the campus, and a shiver raked down my spine. Two spots on my back burned like eyes were boring into them. I searched the tree line for any signs of life but saw nothing. I was alone.