Fae of the South (Court of Crown and Compass Book 3) E. Hall (ebook reader macos TXT) 📖

car brighten and speed closer. I burst from Emeric’s hold and slide over the hood, landing on the ground at the same time a sickening thud comes from where I’d just been.

The car reverses, the passenger door opens, and Lea calls for me to get in.

“You could’ve hit me,” I say.

She nods. “You’re a vampire. You would’ve survived.”

I chuckle. She has a point. “Just like Emeric. He’s a vampire too.”

“He’s more than that. A mage.” Her voice is scratchy as she bombs down a dirt road. A high fence looms to one side.

“Where are we? Where are we going?” I ask.

“There’s no way we could get off this island. Not even in this car. Whatever Emeric had going on, he was working with someone on the inside. Everyone here, the fae especially, are in danger. I want to know who’s involved. Never thought I’d say this, but we’re going back to RIP Jr.”

“Never thought I’d be happy to hear you say that.”

The campus buildings glow in the distance and we must still be inside the grounds since there’s no gate barring our way. I’d expect Lea to drive away in a blaze of glory. Instead, she slows and parks the car in the faculty lot.

I tilt my head back. “There is no denying the X-Crew is somehow connected to RIP.”

Lea’s profile is a smooth line against the night. “Emeric told me.”

“I know. I was hiding in the woods. I heard everything. Someone’s angling to abuse power, to twist and exploit the abilities of the fae. I don’t know why. But Emeric is involved.”

“Why did you follow us?” Water drips from her hair.

“I’m not jealous, not really. Go ahead be with other guys, at this point, it isn’t about that...” I trail off. Giving life to these words stings more than I expect them to.

She’s quiet for a beat. “He was making me perform the acts of vandalism. He had me under some kind of spell.”

“Vampires can do that.”

“But it wasn’t so he could bite me. Believe me, I know enough about vampires to write a book. It was something else. It was like he was compelling me to action. Felix and Cole were involved too. Emeric would just whisper orders in my ear. They’d be my accomplices.”

“I liked it better when I was your accomplice.”

She turns to face me. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?” I ask, suddenly afraid she’s going to declare that she’s going to join Emeric.

“I’m sorry for not being a better friend. For denying that you’ve always been the one who’s there for me. That we’re so different.”

“Well, we are.” That gulf between us isn’t as wide as before and I’d always do anything for her, but I’m not sure we’ll ever be able to bridge the gap.

She blinks a few times and I imagine she has raindrops in her eyes instead of tears.

“I want to talk to Felix and Cole, bring this to the administration. I don’t want anything to—”

Two students approach on the sidewalk.

We both slouch down.

The kind of idea I wish I’d had during the long hours of lying in bed in my dorm pops into my mind. “As of now, no one other than Emeric, you, and I know what just happened in the woods. He’s probably going to contact his connection on campus soon. I think we should play it cool. Act as if nothing happened...and infiltrate the broken system from the inside.”

Lea tilts her head from side to side. “You mean to gather information. Learn what we can?”

I mention the file again.

“Where is it?”

“My room. I can get it for you if you want proof,” I offer.

She nods.

I’m slightly disappointed that she doesn’t believe me.

She goes on, “I’m going to give them to each of the students. They have to be warned. Emeric was right. This is big. You have to get to Cole and Felix before him. Tell them you’re ready to join their team. Get whatever info you can.”

I mock-salute her, relieved. “Then what?”

“Whatever we find out, hopefully, that will help us know what to do next.”

I clear my throat. “Lea, I don’t want anything to happen to you. Despite everything, I still care about you.”

“I know,” she says. For now, those two words have to be enough.

We slip from the car and hurry to the dorm to grab the file.

The CA’s shift changes and Lea waits by them, asking about something random.

When I slip unnoticed into my dark dorm room, a hand slides over my mouth, another around my shoulders and chest, and a knife pierces the outermost layer of the flesh on my neck. I really have to learn to turn on lights before I enter a room.

A scream catches in my throat.

“Don’t say a word if you want to live another day.” I recognize the voice immediately.

“What are you doing here?” I whisper, safe with the knowledge that I will, in fact, live another day.

I twist free, but Aaron slants the knife at me, shunting me away from the door.

“I see you tidied up in here.” His voice is thin.

The light on my desk clicks on, emitting a soupy glow while the bulb warms up.

“As long as you keep quiet, nothing will happen to her.”

“Her, meaning Lea?” We’ve been apart for thirty seconds. Did Emeric ambush her? No. I realize this was part of his failed plan. He intended to drive away with her in the car for an unknown destination. Aaron’s move was put in place before I intervened.

His smiling response is hollow, his eyes empty.

I play along. Maybe I’ll get more information than I expected. “She’s been causing trouble. All I can do now is to try to keep her safe. If my silence