by Holly Ice
‘Sorry. Just thinking.’
‘You ready for dance in an hour?’ she asked.
I glanced at my scraped plate. ‘Aye. I’ll be there.’ A good workout might get my mind off Shane for an hour or two, and I had promised Gio.
‘Great! Want to join me and the girls in the library first? We’re tackling Rufus’s homework.’
I’d like homework help, but the librarians might pass comment on my frequent visits. I didn’t need that fallout. ‘No, thank you.’
‘Okay. See you later then.’ Kaylee and the girls left.
Gio nudged me. ‘You know, you won’t make friends with them if you don’t try.’
‘I don’t think they want me to.’
‘You don’t know that.’
I shrugged. My instincts rarely steered me far wrong, and people didn’t ignore people they wanted to know.
‘Okay, I won’t push. See you at dance?’
‘Aye. See you.’
He caught up with the girls and joined their conversation. He made it look so easy.
I sighed at the space around me and caught movement from Shane’s table. This time, he and Cameron were headed for the door. And I knew who they were meeting.
My gut tugged me into the foyer, and I turned to the entrance doors. But that was the wrong way. No one was out there, and I wasn’t that far behind. I spun around and spotted the boys in a corridor which went to the back of the school.
But when I walked into the open, arched area where the band had played, I didn’t see any sign of them. Not on the grass, among the trees, or by the lake, and there was no sign of the person they’d met before. Or anyone else. But it was November, and with this biting cold, no one went outside unless they had somewhere to go.
I’ll get a better view. Lyall pumped his wings into the clear night sky and circled the roof.
I walked under the arched pillars, checking the garden side first, and then the building. On my second sweep, I spotted a window cracked about an inch. How did I miss that? The lights were off, so it wasn’t someone airing the room. And that was unlikely now we were down to minus two anyway.
Back to the wall, I snuck to the window and peered inside.
The moon gave enough light to spot shadowed figures by a large desk. A desk with a picture of the headmaster on it.
They opened drawers, flicked through books, and swivelled the mouse on the desk. From the clack of keys, they tried to get past the password. And then I caught the wave of a tail and drew back.
That looked like a lynx tail.
I bit my tongue. This was breaking, entering, and snooping. This had to be illegal, even in the witch community. So what did I do? Tell on them? Say nothing? Confront them? I’d said I’d report them the next time I found them doing something suspicious. I should’ve gone straight to Mel and told her they’d gotten around the bracelets somehow. But I didn’t. I had to know why first.
‘I can’t find anything useful!’ Shane hissed.
‘Me neither,’ Cameron said.
So it was them.
The tugging in my gut eased. I’d discovered what it wanted me to, but I didn’t feel any better. I’d known Shane was bad news from the moment I met him, but I didn’t think he could do something like this. Especially with Cameron. He wasn’t the type. He was slim, meek, academic. Breaking the rules didn’t come naturally to him. So that had to mean they had a good reason. Or was I kidding myself?
‘Why hide it when he doesn’t think we’re onto him?’ Shane muttered. ‘He hasn’t even blocked my bracelet.’
At least that meant they hadn’t broken in. But what were they looking for? And why would McKee lock the doors? They’d had a falling out, sure, but that was no reason to bar his office to his nephew.
‘Are you sure your uncle is involved? We’re still checking people. He could be in the clear.’
Shane grunted. ‘The way he preened over that new Cognata throwback, he has to be. If we could get into his computer, we’d find something. He’s useless with technology.’
What did the head ‘preening’ over Kaylee’s sorting have to do with this? Could it be jealousy? Shane didn’t get the familiar he expected, or the reaction he wanted from McKee. It’d be easy to resent a positive reaction to a Cognata throwback. But why raid his uncle’s office?
‘We’re out of guesses on the password.’ A pause. ‘We should have waited for more evidence. If he knows we broke in–’
‘I know. But we found nothing useful in months playing by the rules.’
What rules?
‘You can’t snoop in his house? He might not bring that stuff to the office.’
‘No. I was told I wasn’t welcome. After I got Mira, I’m an annoying first year to him. Not his nephew.’
Damn. I didn’t think the rumours were so accurate. Turning on his own family over something they couldn’t control was cruel. I’d wanted to think it was a misunderstanding, that the dividing line between Cognata and Animalis was only a student rivalry. Pride shouldn’t tear apart a family.
‘I’m sorry,’ Cameron said.
‘It doesn’t matter. Can we get anything else tonight?’
‘I don’t think so.’
‘Then let’s go.’
Decision time.
Right. Should I go, or confront them? I took one step towards the doors when something jumped onto the windowsill and loomed over my shoulder. A ghostly breath tickled my neck, and low growls rumbled through the air. Shane’s lynx.
I guess Mira decided for you.
I gritted my teeth. Thank you. As always, so helpful.
You’re most welcome.
I turned. Her golden eyes pinned me with that people-eating glare she did so well.
Confrontation it was. And I wasn’t in the wrong here. So I stared her down.
She dropped onto the covered walkway. Shane climbed out behind her, his eyes harder on my skin, burning into my blood. Cameron flanked him, and they crossed their arms, as if they had a right to be there. It’d be comical, if the anger coming from Shane wasn’t thick enough to lick off of him.
‘What are you doing here?’ Shane asked.
I pointed to the window. ‘You’re trashing the head’s office, and you ask me what I’m doing here?’
‘You followed us? Again?’
I crossed my arms, too. ‘What do you think, Sherlock?’
‘Shane, we should just tell her. She could be useful.’
‘Tell me what?’
Cameron dropped his arms and played with the hem of his jumper. The weak link. ‘She’ll report us otherwise.’
‘I damn well should.’ Someone better explain themselves, or I was going to.
Shane’s jaw tensed. ‘It’s family business. Nothing for you to worry about.’
A patronising dismissal. So convincing. Not. I was well aware the head was his uncle, and this mess still made no sense.
‘If it’s family business, why is Cameron here? And why are you trying to get into McKee’s computer? You won’t find out why your uncle is a prejudiced arsehole in his office, or his browser history.’
The lynx hissed, and Cameron’s eyebrows shot up. My gut squirmed. I’d gone too far. But it was done now.
Shane looked at the lake for a long minute. When he turned back, his gaze was more tired than hard. ‘Why won’t you leave this alone?’
It wasn’t just because the guy was hot. He’d made this personal. ‘Because throwbacks are involved. Especially throwbacks who are stronger than expected, like my roommate. Right?’
Careful, Bianca.
I ken. I won’t give you away.
Shane’s eyes narrowed. ‘Why do you ask that?’
‘You brought it up! In the office. Even if you hadn’t, you didnae hide your interest too well.’ He’d asked about Kaylee when I first met him and had been more interested in Lyall than me.
Shane didn’t move an inch. Didn’t even blink.
‘You’re right,’ Cameron said. ‘We’re not her
e because Shane’s uncle is an arsehole.’
I circled my hand for him to get on with the explanation.
‘The WMCF noted a sharp increase in throwbacks over the last few years across all academies.’
‘Yes?’ I thought he’d said something like that over lunch the first day. But why did it matter?
‘Don’t say a word more, Cameron. She’s not cleared,’ Shane said.
‘Cleared? By who?’ My blood bubbled. ‘You can’t fob me off without answers this time.’ I thought back to the guy by the lake. Someone was running this operation. ‘Who are you working for? The WMCF?’
Cameron put his hands in his pockets and nodded.
Shane cursed, but I ignored him.
‘So you’re what, undercover?’
‘Exactly.’ Shane eyed me. ‘But you can’t keep your nose out.’
‘Maybe you should have been more discreet.’
Shane’s lynx hissed but I was too caught up in questions to care. Why would Shane or Cameron work for the WMCF? In any capacity, let alone undercover. It didn’t sound like a legitimate operation to me.
Cameron checked the grounds. ‘I think we should get out of the open, no?’
Shane closed his uncle’s window and followed his friend to the back doors.
Lyall landed on my shoulder, his wingtips tickling my ear and his claws gripping my shoulder in a phantom hold.
Cameron slipped inside, but Shane raised his finger and pulled the door to.
He faced me, arms crossed. His lynx sat beside him, her tail flicking side to side and her teeth glinting through her lips.
Oh boy. My chest heated at all that concentrated anger, but I tried to hold on to my frustration. If he’d had his way, I’d know nothing.
‘What is it?’ I asked. ‘I have a dance class to get to.’
‘You weren’t worried about that when you followed us out here.’
‘I said I’d find out what was going on.’ He couldn’t be surprised I’d followed through.
His lips thinned. ‘You need to speak to our liaison.’
‘Why?’
‘Because you’re involved now.’
‘You mean because I ken more than nothing about what’s going on here?’
‘Yes.’
‘Fine. I can do that. But I want to ken everything. Look into me, clear me, whatever. But I want to ken.’ And I’d do my own digging into the WMCF, and the two of them.
‘I’ll tell him.’
‘Good. When do we meet?’
‘Tomorrow. I’ll come by your room and collect you for breakfast in town.’
I snorted. Kaylee would love that.
He quirked an eyebrow.
Shit. I shouldn’t give away how much we talked about him. ‘Nothing.’
Shane’s lips twitched, but he uncrossed his arms and opened the door, the anger slowly draining away. ‘After you, Trouble.’
I ducked under his arm. Pine and mint surrounded me like a hug. I shook my head, threw a quick wave over my shoulder, and ran to my room to get ready for dance class.
He was still watching when I peeked from the top of the stairs. As was his lynx, tail waving at her side.
* * *
Kaylee was still dead asleep when Shane knocked.
We’d not set a time last night, so I’d been awake since six, waiting. And cursing myself for running off. I should tell him I liked him and see what happened. But he was infuriating. Every time I thought we could get close, he turned into an arse.
Another knock.
Kaylee was stirring, and I did not need her to see who was at the door.
Okay. Purse, Euros from my allowance, phone, coat, scarf, shoes. Done. I opened the door with my braceletted hand and almost bumped into Shane.
He was particularly fine for a little after eight in the morning. His eyes were positively dangerous, their greens and browns sharper against his all black outfit.
‘Planning a heist?’ I asked.
‘Sleep well?’ His voice was almost a purr.
God, that did things to my insides Satan would grin at and God would punish me for. Time to get this wee chat back under control. ‘Okay. You?’
‘Very well.’ His lynx watched me through half-lidded eyes, and Shane’s sleepy look was so similar it almost undid me there and then.
I felt myself moving closer and shook myself out of it. ‘Where are we going?’
Shane checked his watch. ‘I booked a table at Ligzda.’ He met my eyes. ‘And I should apologise. For last night. I was more mad at myself than you.’
I nodded. I’d judge the merits of his apology once I found out what this was all about. ‘What kind of food does the Ligzda do?’
‘Does it matter? We’re there for the privacy.’
‘You’re saying the food is bad?’ I wasn’t enduring bad coffee and breakfast, not after waiting two hours for him to arrive.
‘It’ll satisfy you.’
Argh! Was he trying to turn me on here? He confused the hell out of me.
He glanced over my shoulder, into my room. ‘Do you have a hat? The Siberian weather front arrived. It’s minus ten outside.’
‘Shit, that’s cold. One minute.’ I ducked back inside and cursed.
Kaylee blinked at me. ‘Where you going so early? Who’s out there?’ she asked.
‘A friend.’
‘Oh my god. Is it him?’ She threw the covers back and half fell out of the bed in an attempt to see him.
I pushed her back and pulled the covers to her neck.
‘It’s him.’ She grinned. ‘Couldn’t stay away, huh?’
‘Shut up. Please, shut up.’ I rummaged through my drawers and found my hat. It wasn’t my favourite, but I was lucky Finn packed one at all. ‘I’m going now. Bye!’
‘Have fuuun!’
I snapped the door shut behind me and plonked the hat on. ‘Okay. Good to go.’
‘That’s an interesting choice.’
I glared from beneath the bright-pink fuzzy material and double pom poms. ‘I didn’t pack it. It’s the pleasure I get from being a throwback and having a jokester for a housemate.’ Finn always loved this hat. Said it made me baby Britney cute. Damn him.
Shane poked each of the pom poms with a smirk.
I huffed. ‘Let’s go meet this friend of yours.’
‘Sure.’ He led the way, and I almost groaned. That musky body spray. I wanted to roll in him.
* * *
The moment we stepped outside, I was glad for the hat. The fluffy overnight snowfall reached my shins, and the double-width pavements were hip high with displaced snow, but the roads were clear, scattered with a larger, heavier salt than I was used to. So why was Shane walking to the lake?
‘Shane?’
He beckoned me over a bridge. With all the snow covering the iced-over water, it looked like a simple dip in the ground.
‘Is this a shortcut?’ I asked. I hadn’t been across the lake and through the trees on my wanderings yet.
‘Sort of.’
Shane pushed aside spiny branches, knocking off handfuls of snow. He held them back for me and led us to a building almost hidden by bushes and trees. Though ‘building’ might be too generous. The structure hadn’t had attention in some time, the wooden walls warped with wee gaps between the planks, but a shiny new padlock hung from the door.
‘What’s in there?’
‘You’ll see.’ Shane took a key out of his pocket and unlocked the door.
It was only three-by-five metres, basically a large shed. Empty shelving ran along one side, and a dusty old boat was propped against the wall, so maybe it was once a boathouse.
But Shane didn’t have eyes for any of that. He went straight to the middle of the room and pulled back a large blue tarp to reveal a motorbike and two helmets.
He plonked one over my hat, squishing the pompoms. ‘This is how we avoid a thirty-minute walk in the snow.’ He cracked a grin as he looked over the body of the bike. ‘I’ve missed this thing
.’
‘Did the weather stop you riding?’ It didn’t seem to fit if he was willing to go out in the snow.
‘No. My brother and I went travelling before I started at the academy. I couldn’t ride with my injury, and my brother didn’t want to huck bikes through each country, so we left them behind.’
‘Bad injury?’
He shrugged. ‘Broken leg.’
That didn’t raise my confidence about riding through the snow. ‘So how did you find this place?’
‘My brother found it his first year and used it to store his bike.’ He jangled the keys to the door. ‘This was his “welcome to the school” present.’ And he couldn’t look more pleased.
‘Are you two close?’
‘We rib each other a lot, but yeah.’
He wheeled the bike out and locked up behind him. And then crunched the tyres through the snow to the main road, where he threw his leg over the bike and kicked it to life.
Smoke funnelled from the exhaust. Grinning, he fastened his helmet and patted the seat behind him. ‘Let’s go.’
I wasn’t getting out of this ride unless I chickened out, but he was confident about driving, and the thought of being pressed behind him warmed me all the way through. So I climbed on.
The seat wasn’t too big, so I sat flush with his back, and I didn’t feel comfortable hanging on to the wee rail behind me, so I slipped my hands around his waist, hoping that’d be enough to keep me on the bike.
Shane revved the engine, and we were away.
The wind rushed past, the cold whittling through my coat, but I couldn’t get my mind off how close we were, how well his body moved with the bike, like it was part of him.
* * *
Shane propped the bike up outside the restaurant. I stretched my legs and popped the visor. It was so cold, my eyes were drying out when the wind blew. But my head was bloody toasty.
Inside, the wall of heat I was used to from the school hit me. In seconds, I was sweating. This country knew how to heat a building right. I stripped off the helmet and my outerwear and hung them on a long rail by the door. Not many coats were there, so we should get the privacy Shane wanted.
‘This way,’ he said, pointing down the hall.
I kicked the remaining snow off my boots, into the doormat, and followed.
The main restaurant area was small but beautifully done. The ceiling had exposed wooden beams, and the walls were hung with scattered black-and-white photographs. I recognised the school with a different garden layout, WMCF HQ, and the town centre. They must be decades old.