I nod. “I can imagine. But this is good. It means the end is near and you’ll be able to move on with your own journey. You’ve done a lot these past few weeks. I’ve been impressed by how you’ve known exactly what to do. I mean, if it were me, I’d still be fumbling.”
“I had to learn quickly, I guess. Grandpa was pretty specific on what he wanted. It made it easier,” he says.
“So…what’s on your mind, then?” I say, walking around so I can be in his direct line of sight.
His pupils dilate and he attempts a smile. “I’m just a little worried to find out how it all is going to look, you know?”
“Why?”
“Grandpa had a lot of additional help these past few months and any inheritance I get is supposed to cover my tuition at Windhaven Academy. But I know end-of-life help doesn’t come cheap and the county will want to recoup the cost. So…”
“You’re worried you won’t be able to swing it?” I say, finishing his thought.
He nods, screwing up his lips.
“That, I totally get. There’s no way I would have been able to pay for Windhaven Academy, either. But surely with the sale of the house and everything, the funds will cover most of it, right?”
Wade shrugs. “Maybe? I mean, I sure hope so. If not, I have no idea what I’m gonna do.”
Walking over to him, I wrap my arms around his waist. “If it comes to that, we’ll figure it out.”
He chuckles softly. “You don’t owe me anything, Dru. You need to worry about you. This semester is going to be amazing for you. Especially now that you know more about your powers.”
My lips curve upward at his pet name for me. Maybe he’s coming back around?
“It’s not about owing anything. It’s about taking care of each other. That’s what we do, right?” I say, giving him a squeeze. “Besides, it’s going to be incredible having you at the academy. I’ll be able to show you all of the cool places and I’m excited to see what kind of abilities you might possess. It’s almost like our roles have reversed.”
Wade places his hands on my upper arms, pulling back from me. “I wouldn’t get your hopes up. There’s a good chance my gifts won’t manifest at all.”
I snicker. “What are you talking about?”
Shaking his head, he takes a step back. “Sometimes they skip generations.”
“Well, wouldn’t you want to know for sure before going to Windhaven Academy? I mean, why work on developing powers you don’t know if you even have?”
“You tell me? What was the allure?” he says, raising his eyebrows.
I take a step back and nod. “Point taken.”
“Look, my family’s gifts often lie dormant until triggered. I don’t know when, or if, they will come. But what I do know is that I need to learn more about how to manage them if they’re triggered. I can’t do that anywhere else. It’s not like I have any family members left to ask,” he says, frowning.
“Good point,” I whisper, considering his words. “Wade…this might not be the best time to ask, but I need to know something. It’s been on my mind for a while.”
He runs a hand through his hair and takes a seat on the arm of the sofa. “What is it?”
I swallow hard, wringing my hands in front of my body as I search for the right words. “Look, I probably should have brought this up sooner, it’s just…”
“Spit it out, woman. The suspense is killing me,” he says, concern painting his tone.
“The day we buried your grandpa, I saw you talking with someone,” I say, beginning to pace.
“Right, the guy looking for the caretaker?” Wade says, nodding.
I stop pacing and turn to him. Pinching my face tight, I say, “Mmmm… It kinda seemed like you two knew each other.”
His eyes narrow and he tilts his head. “Autumn, I don’t know what to tell you.”
I double-take, stumbling backward. “I swear I heard him arguing with you.”
Wade stands up, his eyebrows tugging in, but he doesn’t respond.
“I’ve seen him before,” I say. “He spoke to me when I was at Cat’s accident.”
“How do you know it was the same guy? I mean, there are lots of—”
“He billowed in from some sort of portal and…took the souls from the Vodník’s jar. He’s not just a person, he’s something else, but I don’t know what. When he left after the conversation with you, he vanished the same way. I know it was the same guy,” I say, jutting out my chin.
“Okay? People get around, especially travelers, if that’s what he was. So, what did he say to you?” Wade asks, his face still stoic.
“He told me he’d be back. And that I can only meddle for so long…”
For the first time, his face flickers. “Well, that seems ominous. Did he tell you why? Or who he was?”
“No, but he knew I was a necromancer before I did. I mean, before I ever used my powers to save Cat,” I say. I watch his mannerisms closely, but Wade remains an unreadable statue. My shoulders drop and my eyebrows tug in.
Why is he lying to me? What on earth is he hiding?
❖
Chapter 2
Witching Stick, Take 2
A snow-covered Windhaven Academy looms in front of us and despite its serene appearance, anxiety can’t help but make a home in my mind.
The last time we tried to attend a Witching Stick orientation day, the school was in total chaos. Intellectually, I know this is a new day—a new semester. But a part of me is still on edge, like something could go sideways at any moment. If for no other reason than the weird vibe growing between Wade and me.
I’d thought we’d be growing closer by the time he moved here. Not the other way around.
“You ready to head inside?” Wade asks, putting his Impala in park.
I turn to him and chuckle softly. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”
“It’s just a school, right?” He shrugs, then quirks an eyebrow. “Besides, it’s not like I haven’t been here before.”
“Yes, but this is literally as far as you got last time,” I say, shooting him a knowing look. “Well, okay, so you made it inside the doorway.”
“True, true,” he nods. “On the upside, it still stands. No hellmouth or anything. And it is a pretty nice door.” His grin beams back at me and makes my heart flutter.
I shake my head, trying to chase away this anxiety and let his lighter mood take root. Yet it still sits there like a rock in the pit of my stomach. I want to reach out to him, touch his face, and tell him how I’m feeling, but…
“Come on,” I finally say, kicking open my door.
Wade follows after me, circling around the front of his car and reaching out to take my hand. I slide my palm against his and we walk through the sea of cars toward the massive structure. Our feet crunch against the snow glittering the ground, and I tug my coat in tighter.
“So, anything I should know? Best people to go to for help, or places to avoid when I don’t want to study?” Wade asks, nudging me in the shoulder.