INTEGRATION (Bonfire Academy Book Two) (Bonfire Chronicles) (31 page)

“Late actually. I just got back from the dance. I’m going to bed in a minute. Where have you been? I didn’t see you there at all.”

“Wow, you must have had a good time. Tell me everything. Sorry I missed it. I got to chatting with Quinn and Jagger.” I yawned.

“Quinn? Is he back?”

“Yes. He’s been working in Manhattan. You can ask him all about it when you see him.”

“So why didn’t he call?”

I shrugged. “No idea. Ask him that as well. I need to get out of this gown and take a shower, but after that, I want you to tell me all about the ball. Okay?”

By the time I came back out of the bathroom, Faustine was fast asleep, curled up in a little ball on her bed. I pulled the comforter over her, tucked her in, and turned off the lights, leaving her snoozing happily.

I went to find Quinn.

Now that he was back, it was
time to let him go
. That sounded so final. I wanted us to continue being close, but just as friends. Was that even possible? How would I react if the tables were turned? I considered it carefully. What if Quinn had synched with some hot faery girl and decided to dump me? I didn’t feel the slightest twinge of jealousy at the scenario. If anything, I felt a sense of relief because that would have gotten me out of my own predicament. I was slightly surprised. After all that time together with Quinn, I should feel something, but the thought of him with another girl didn’t bother me at all.

However, the thought of him being angry and disappointed in me bothered me a lot. The thought of losing him as a friend—my closest, most loyal friend—made me feel physically ill. I couldn’t let that happen. How was I going to keep my friend while bidding my lover good-bye?

I had always told Quinn everything, discussed every little insignificant aspect of my life and decisions with him. I had to come clean and deal with the consequences—even if it meant Quinn hating me forever.

Unlike my response to imagining Quinn with another girl, the thought of Jagger so much as smiling at another female filled me with uncontrollable rage. Did I need Jagger as a friend? No. I needed him to
belong
to me. And he did, so there was no rational reason for me to be so insanely jealous. Maybe the jealousy would become less acute once we were officially a couple and all other girls knew to keep their paws off him unless they wanted to mess with me.

I felt sicker and sicker as I walked up the hallway packed with students returning from the ball and the post-ball breakfast. I almost hoped Quinn would be out, that I would be given extra time to prepare for the inevitable.

His door swung open as soon as I tapped on it.

“Hey! Where did you disappear to? I woke up in the faculty lounge, and you were gone.”

“I took a shower and checked in with Faustine.”

“How’s she doing? Did she have a good time at the ball? I meant to hang around and ask her for a dance, but I was exhausted. I still am. You must be as well. Wanna hit the sack with me?”

“I’m okay. I managed to sleep a bit, but I can come back later if you need to sleep.”

“Oh, no! Come on in. I’ve missed you.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me inside, enveloping me in a hug. Then he brushed his lips against mine, kissing me gently.

I hated myself for not being able to reciprocate, for finding his touch almost repugnant. I had loved him so deeply for so long.

He searched my eyes, confusion pouring out of his own, and finally pushed away from me. “Cordelia, I don’t understand. I get that you’re angry at me for taking off like that, but—”

“It’s not that.” I sat in his armchair.

“Then what? I don’t get it.”

I gazed into his hurt eyes, not wanting to destroy him all together. I could feel myself tearing up.

Suddenly, his face clouded over. “Someone else?” His voice was full of scorn. “The faery?” he spat in disgust.

“Quinn, we synched. We can’t help—”

“Get out!”

“Quinn, come on. Let’s talk about this.”

He transformed, his demon persona more menacing than I had ever seen it. “Get out,” he bellowed, “before I kill you.”

I fled.

I
never did get the chance to ask Quinn about the old lady or anything else surrounding his stay in Manhattan. He seemed to have made it his life’s mission to avoid me. The few times I’d spotted him, he turned around and walked off in the opposite direction. Then, he totally disappeared from the Academy once again, apparently—intel from Colton—after asking to be transferred to off-campus housing nearer the skydiving facility where he seemed to spend all his time.

We were now into Faustine’s second Integration year, with life at the Academy at an unnaturally calm level, with the powers of the shifter and demon students still restricted to their test sessions only. One of the consequences of the ban levied on the use of paranormal powers was that none of the shifters or demons were able to practice what they learned outside class. That meant none of them had graduated within the normal time. It also meant more work for me, with practice sessions added to my schedule to allow the students time to hone their skills in a protected environment. And this was in addition to the new intake of Initiates. Plus I had to work hard at my specialized classes.

I understood that part of that responsibility was to stay on at the school and work under Professor Bern. Knowing that, I had felt bad accepting King Sebastian’s proposal to work for him, especially since I hadn’t even mentioned it to Professor Bern. But the more I thought about it, the more right it seemed.

However, I had to push all thoughts of my own future aside and get back to my student sessions.

I was up early, with Faustine still fast asleep. We still had not heard back from the Student Council regarding her case because Asmen was held up in Tokyo, where he was on a special assignment. I had been in contact with him a couple of times since the new school year started. He’d promised to get the council together as soon as he returned to the Academy.

I left Faustine dreaming, secure in the knowledge that Ryker was watching over her, and made my way over to the dOME lab, where Colton was already busy calibrating his equipment.

I threw myself into the armchair, dangling my legs off the armrest. “Don’t you ever sleep?”

“Early to bed and all that.” He came over and sat down on the opposite chair. “Busy night with Jagger?” he teased.

I felt unexpectedly coy, feeling blood rush to my face.

He laughed. “Now that’s funny: a blushing demon.”

“Oh, stop!” I chuckled. “What about you? That redhead not keeping you up?”

“Nope, not anymore. You know us shifters—short attention spans.”

I thumped his chest, glad to have him in my life. We’d forged an easygoing friendship, and I felt I could trust him, as much as I could trust any shifter.

“We’ll have to find you a hot shifter chick when we get to England.” I was pleased that King Sebastian had offered Colton a job as well, so that we would go to London together.

“Hey, I’m an equal opportunity dater. I wouldn’t mind a faery girlfriend. I hear faeries taste good.”

“Okay, okay.” I giggled. “Anyhow, I guess we better get to work. Who’s up this morning? Please don’t let it be one of those annoying trolls.”

“Nope, although Noella is coming in this afternoon.”

I rolled my eyes. “Wonderful.”

“Mason’s due this morning. He should be here any minute. He asked if he could start early. Apparently, Monsieur Drasco is coming over later to take him out for lunch.”

“Okay. Just a training session, right?”

“Sort of. You don’t need to stay if you don’t want to. I can handle it.”

“I’d better, just in case Professor Bern checks in. I’ve missed too many sessions already, studying for the witchcraft classes.”

“How are those going?”

“Good, getting the hang of it.” I was slowly coming to grips with basic witchcraft. None of the stuff that only witches could do, but the part of witchcraft that allowed non-witches the ability to master a handful of spells under the supervision of a master witch. I felt very fortunate to be afforded the privilege of learning them. The skills weren’t easy to learn, and I had to practice them over and over again. “It’s hard, though. What about you?”

“I gave up on them. They were taking up way too much of my time and sapping my powers. If casting a spell is going to make me too weak to phase, it’s not worth it. Not for me.”

“So far, I seem to be okay with it. But if they interfered with my demon powers, I wouldn’t bother, either. It’s not like we get taught any of the biggies, like the confinement spells.”

There was a tap on door, then it swung open, and Mason strode in. He scowled as soon as he saw me. I normally hid while he was readied for the chamber, but I’d been too lazy to bother.

Colton threw him a warning glare. “Come with me.”

I didn’t move from my comfortable position while Colton took Mason into the chamber. Colton came back out and fiddled with the settings.

“Sorry, did I mess it up? I should have stepped outside.”

“No worries. His heart rate is up, predictably, but not through the roof. I don’t think he’d have transformed. Let’s give him a minute, and then maybe use you as a stimulus. He may as well get in some real-life training.”

“What do you need me to do?”

“I’ll disable the one-way glass so he can see you. We’ll take it from there. When I signal, could you just walk closer to the glass?”

“Yep. No problem. I expect he’ll just transform into his eagle form and flap about. But whatever.”

“Mason,” Colton said into his microphone. “Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

“Before we start, just a reminder that this is a training session, not a test session. The point is for you not to transform, to exercise self-control. That’s what it’s all about, self-control. Okay?”

“Yes.”

“Do you need me to go over your breathing exercises?

“Nope. Let’s just get this over with.”

Colton dimmed the lights inside the chamber, turning up the lights outside it. “Ready, Cordelia?”

“Yes, tell me what to do.”

“Go stand with your face against the glass so that Mason can clearly see you once I disable the one-way.”

I chuckled. “You’re kidding, right? I mean, he’s bound to transform immediately. There’s no way he’s going to be able to control that. In fact, it’s not fair to expect it.”

Colton nodded. “King Sebastian instructed me to run a special test this morning. He’s standing by to hear the results. Mason doesn’t know it, but we’re actually running a test.”

“Why?”

Colton reached into his pocket and pulled out a crumpled note. “This was stuck to the dOME lab door this morning. It’s got your name on the back, but I looked anyway.”

I sucked in a sharp breath as I read the familiar handwriting.

One princess shredded

Eagle must turn to vulture

And kill the right one

“Are we thinking he might actually be able to phase into a vulture?”

“Not really, but I want to test the possibility as much as I can. And King Sebastian thought it was a good idea. I called him as soon as I read the poem. When I told him that Mason was due for a training session, he asked me to run a test instead.”

“Based on the new haiku?”

“Yep. I was going to use the clip of Faustine eating Nari as a stimulus, but since you’re here, let’s do this instead. We need a strong enough stimulus to test if Mason can actually turn into a vulture. We’ve seen no evidence of that in any of his tests. I’m not sure it’s even possible. But then, he is a special case.”

“Is there any chance he’s a witch hybrid?”

“I don’t think so. If anything, someone else is orchestrating this. Right now, let’s just try to confirm if he can transform without the use of spells. I need you to provoke him the best you can.”

“If we really want to test him, let’s get Faustine down here. I’m pretty sure that’s who he’s after. I’m just collateral damage. Did you clear this with Professor Bern?”

“Nope. King Sebastian asked me not to tell her. I’ll call Faustine. Let’s get started with you in the meantime and see what happens.”

I walked over to the test chamber while Colton called Faustine. I positioned myself opposite Mason, where he’d see me as soon as Colton disabled the one-way glass.

As soon as Colton turned off the mirror, Mason’s eyes widened when he spotted me. I could see him fighting the impulse to shred me, his hands tightening around the armrests. He looked away from me, closing his eyes. I guessed he was actually trying to control himself. Kudos to him.

“Tap on the glass,” Colton instructed.

I did, feeling a little bad at ruining Mason’s valiant effort. Mason flinched at the sound and bit down on his lips.

“Harder, and transform,” Colton instructed.

“Are you sure?” I asked.

“Yes, if we’re going to do this, let’s go all the way with it.”

I transformed and banged hard on the glass.