Lock and Key

by Evangeline Anderson

  “You…you’re saying it’s not safe? That you’re not safe?” I gasped. He was so close to me, his big body bracketing mine intimately. And though he wasn’t actually pressed against me, I could feel the cold radiating off his lean, muscular body like heat would have radiated from a human male. Between my breasts, the key burned hot—fire to his ice.

  “That is exactly what I’m saying,” he murmured, drawing back to look at me. “It’s very unsafe for you to come to me, Megan. I desire you greatly.” His eyes glowed silver as they burned into mine. “In more than one way,” he added.

  “I…” I didn’t know what to say.

  Suddenly Griffin pulled me away from the wall and tucked my arm through his. We continued walking, as though nothing had ever happened. As though he hadn’t just made a threat as intimate as a kiss in the middle of the main corridor.

  “As I said, it’s very unsafe for you to come,” he went on, in a conversational tone as though we were discussing the weather. “But that’s the only way you can ask your questions and get my answers. So I guess you’ll have to decide for yourself if you want to visit me.” He shrugged, as though he was completely unconcerned with my decision.

  I glared at him, still breathless from his nearness.

  “You…you’re just trying to scare me. You wouldn’t hurt me—not really.”

  “Wouldn’t I?” He turned those glowing eyes on me and his face was completely serious.

  “You wouldn’t!” I insisted, with more certainty than I really felt. Griffin was impossible to fathom—he was a big black question mark in my mind that wouldn’t go away. One minute he was protecting me from Sanchez and being the perfect gentleman, escorting me to class, and the next he was telling me he desired me and it wasn’t safe for me to be with him alone.

  The contradictions made my head spin.

  “I’ll text you my address on Friday afternoon, when we’re released from this wretched place,” he said, making a gesture with his free hand to indicate the school around us. The tone of his voice made it sound like we were being temporarily released from prison. “That way you’ll have a whole day to decide if you want to take a risk…or not. Until then, we only ask each other banal, everyday questions. All right?”

  I didn’t know what to say—how to respond to the invitation slash threat.

  “Griffin…” I began and then didn’t know how to go on.

  “Yes?” He grinned at me, flashing his fangs as we turned a corner. “Oh look—here we are at your next class.”

  He made an almost theatrical show of raising my hand to his lips and pressing a cool kiss to my knuckles while the other students in my Bio class watched, wide-eyed. I could almost hear their thoughts—what was the troubled bad-boy loner Nocturne who was shunned by the entire school—even his own kind—doing with the new girl who was supposedly nothing but a Null?

  “Until the end of class, my lady,” he said to me formally. “Your Blood Knight awaits your every need.” Then he gave me a sarcastic smirk, his lightning eyes flashing, and sauntered away, the other students in the hall parting automatically before him.

  I watched him go, still unsure what to do. Should I take him up on his invitation or run far away?

  I had no idea—but at least I had several days to decide.

  37

  But it wasn’t like the next few days were free of drama. Griffin met me at the end of breakfast every day and escorted me to every class. He didn’t leave me until dinner time when he handed me off to Avery like I was a fragile package that had to be taken care of.

  I didn’t like being treated like some helpless little girl but when I complained to Avery at the end of the first day, he frowned and pointed his coffee spoon at me.

  “Look, Princess Latimer, have you seen the way Sanchez glares at you whenever the two of you are in the same room together?” he demanded. “Word on the street is that the Healer tried to remove your little love-tap from his beefy cheek and failed. Which means the big bad Drake is none too happy with you right now.”

  “Word on the street?” I tried to scoff, though what he said sent a chill through me.

  Avery waved a hand. “Word in the hallways—however you want to put it. The point is, Sanchez is out to get you and if he gets half a chance, he will.”

  “He’s not happy with Kaitlyn either,” Emma said, setting her tray down on the table and joining us. “He kind of thinks she’s the cause of all this in the first place. Which is a load of crap, of course.”

  She poked at the food on her tray with a fork, a look of disgust on her face. That night’s dinner was some kind of creamy glop with layers of mashed potatoes, green peas, and some kind of gray mystery meat on the bottom. I would have called it shepherd’s pie except it had been doused in bright red spaghetti sauce and topped off with the ubiquitous layer of melted orange-crayon cheese.

  “What do you mean he’s mad at Kaitlyn?” I demanded in a low voice, glad that the fourth member of our little coven hadn’t joined us yet. “Avery, are you protecting her?”

  “Oh, so you’re a mighty feminist who can fend for yourself and it’s sexist to suggest that a female might ever need a male’s protection and yet Kaitlyn must now be protected?” Avery raised one sardonic eyebrow at me.

  “Cut the crap,” I said, glaring at him. “You know how it is. Kaitlyn is…well, she’s fragile.”

  The three of us exchanged glances and I knew we all felt the same. Though I didn’t know the full story behind Kaitlyn’s horrific burns, I had gathered enough to know that there had been a house fire and she had been the only survivor. It was amazing that she was able to function at all after going through such a horrible trauma at all, and I knew we all felt very protective of her—especially Avery, despite his flippant words.

  “Of course I want to protect our Katydid and keep her safe,” he said, sounding slightly exasperated. “But you should stop acting like I’m a sexist pig for wanting to help protect you, too, Megan. I’m not watching your back because you’re a frail little girl and I’m a big strong he-man.” He made a cave-man face and grunted which made Emma and me laugh. “I’m just watching out for you until you can access your magic,” he went on, lowering his voice. “After that, you can watch out for me because I do believe you have a powerhouse inside you, if you can ever let it out.”

  “I hope you’re right,” I said pessimistically. “And I’m sorry, Avery—I didn’t mean to be rude. I’m just used to being on my own and looking out for myself, I guess.”

  “Well, you’re part of a coven now,” Avery lectured. “Part of our own little Norm Dorm Tribe. So you don’t have to be Miss Independence any more.”

  “Avery’s right,” Emma said, reaching out to squeeze my hand. “We’ve got your back, Megan. But I’m still worried about Kaitlyn. Are you protecting her, Avery?” she asked anxiously.

  “I was going to,” Avery said. “But the fact is, I believe someone has beaten me to it.”

  “What? What are you talking about?” Emma and I both demanded, leaning towards him.

  “Well…” Avery smiled at us mysteriously. “As it turns out, someone is already watching Katilyn’s back—though I doubt she’s noticed it, the way she’s always looking down, you know,” he added.

  “Who is it?” I asked.

  “Ari Reyes.” Avery spoke the name with relish. “I started noticing while I was watching out for Kaitlyn that he was following her to and from every class—at a distance but still, definitely keeping an eye on her.”

  “Reyes? But he’s a Drake too!” Emma was aghast. “This is bad, Avery! He’s probably scoping out her patterns so he can tell Sanchez when she’s most vulnerable!”

  “I thought as much myself,” Avery said, nodding wisely. “But then I did a little spell called ‘The True Heart Revealed.’ It’s a handy little scrying incantation that lets the scryer know the true intentions of the subject he or she is investigating. In this case—Reyes.”

  “Okay, so what did you find?” I aske
d, though I thought I already knew.

  “Extreme feelings of protectiveness,” Avery said, frowning a little. “And not just from Reyes—from his Drake as well, I think. At least, there seemed to be two separate and distinct beings involved.”

  “So…he’s following her to make sure she’s all right?” Emma still sounded doubtful but I wasn’t a bit surprised myself and said so.

  “You should have seen him punch Sanchez out when he called Kaitlyn a freak and then the way he gave her his shirt and stood guard outside the exam room at the Healer’s office,” I told her. “I don’t know why he wants to protect her, but I think he really does—Avery is right, she’s already got a guardian angel. Or, a guardian Drake, I guess.” I shrugged.

  “Isn’t Reyes Spanish for king or something like that?” Avery asked vaguely. “Anyway, I’m still keeping an eye on her but after working my little spell, I’m not nearly as worried as I was. After all, nobody can protect you from a Drake half as well as another Drake. Well, except for a Nocturne who can control beasts, that is,” he added, nodding at me.

  I had told all of them about how Griffin had gotten Coach Vasquez to let Kaitlyn out of gym for the rest of the year and Avery had been suitably impressed.

  “That’s really strong magic,” he had told me. “Most Nocturnes don’t have magical skills the way we witches do. Only the oldest and the strongest families can claim to have that kind of power.”

  Thinking of that made me think of Griffin, who was never far from my mind, and something occurred to me.

  “What was that spell called that you did again?” I asked, just as Kaitlyn finally came to join us at our table in the far corner of the Dining Hall. “The True Heart Uncovered?”

  “The True Heart Revealed,” he murmured and cut his eyes towards her, letting me know he hadn’t told Kaitlyn that she had a silent protector. “Why do you ask?”

  “Well…because I’m wondering if you could do it again. For me, this time,” I said. “Because, well…I need to know Griffin’s true intentions towards me.”

  “Are you worried he’s only after your body?” Avery inquired archly.

  “No—I’m worried he’s only after my blood,” I corrected him

  “Oh? And why is that?” Emma asked.

  I sighed. All day long I had been debating whether to tell them about Griffin’s conditional offer to talk and his strange invitation to “his place” that weekend. Now the whole story came rushing out as well as my anxiety and confusion.

  “So now I don’t know what to think,” I ended, spreading my hands helplessly. “He acts like such a gentleman one minute and then he warns me away from him the next. I mean, should I go?”

  “Absolutely not!” Emma said at the same time Kaitlyn said, “No way!”

  But Avery looked thoughtful.

  “Normally I would say no, you should never put yourself in a strange place with a dangerous Nocturne who might be thirsting for your blood,” he said. “But the fact that he’s marked you changes things somewhat. The mark is a sign of devotion and protection—for him to harm you after marking you would be kind of like, well…” He frowned as though trying to think of a good metaphor. “It would be kind of like adopting a puppy from the pound and then drowning it.”

  “Oh—what a horrible idea!” Kaitlyn exclaimed, her one visible eye wide.

  “Exactly,” Avery said, nodding. “It would take a true monster to do such a thing. The question is, is Darkheart really the monster he pretends to be or not?”

  “You told me he was,” I pointed out. “You said he was being Censured by the Council and that he was bad news.”

  “Yes, and I stand by all of that,” Avery said. “But the truth is, we don’t know the details behind his Censure or the contents of his heart.”

  “Could the True Heart Revealed spell show us, though?” I asked. “Because I would really like to get some answers from him, but it makes me extremely nervous to think of being alone with him in the wilderness somewhere.”

  “Well, if by his place he means the Darkheart mansion, then you don’t need to worry about the wilderness,” Avery remarked. “It’s that big place on Kings Street. You know—the white Victorian mansion with all the trim and scalloping that looks like a giant wedding cake?”

  “Oh, I know that place!” Kaitlyn exclaimed. “It’s just down the street from the Breedlove’s house. Is that where Griffin lives?”

  Avery shrugged. “Well, it’s where his family lives, anyway. I heard his father and mother turned their backs on him when he was Censured by the Council and his father said he never wanted to see him again. But in a house that big, he could still live in one part and they could live in another and never see each other. So there’s that.”

  “But can you do the spell for Megan to find out if it’s safe for her to meet with him?” Emma asked.

  “Why don’t the three of us just come with her?” Kaitlyn asked. “There’s strength in numbers.”

  “Strength but not answers,” I said dryly. “The minute he sees you three, he’ll clam up for sure. He didn’t expressly say it but I got the very strong feeling that he’s only willing to talk if we have privacy.”

  “I don’t like that,” Emma said frowning. “He shouldn’t be able to dictate to you that way, Megan! Ask him questions anyway—if he can’t lie to you, he’ll have to answer!”

  I had to admit I had thought about that myself. But I had the feeling that forcing answers from Griffin was the worst thing I could do. The key between my breasts—still a secret from my coven-mates—throbbed in agreement.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I told her reluctantly. “Griffin doesn’t seem like someone who can be forced to do or say anything. Or if he was forced, I don’t think I’d enjoy the consequences.”

  “You certainly would not,” Avery said emphatically. “All right, we can work the spell tomorrow night.”

  “What? Why not tonight?” Kaitlyn said eagerly. Clearly she and Emma were dying to know Griffin’s true feelings for me. I had to admit, I was pretty curious myself.

  “We can’t tonight because I need a hair from his head to do the spell,” Avery said, frowning. He looked at me hopefully. “Unless you already have one?”

  I shook my head. “Sorry, no. But I’m sure I can get one tomorrow.” I thought of how close he’d sat beside me in English class and a little shiver went down my spine. Surely I could get a hair from his head if he did that again. But God, did I want him to do it again? To sit so close and put his arm around me and whisper in my ear in that cool, velvety voice of his?

  I didn’t even have to think about it. I wanted it all right—wanted to be close to him again like that—badly. It was almost like my body was craving him, like a drug. Which made no sense but I couldn’t seem to help it.

  “All right,” Avery said, breaking into my fever dreams of having Griffin’s arms around me again. “Get a hair from him tomorrow while he’s playing the gallant escort and we’ll cast The True Heart Revealed after dinner.”

  “Let’s hope it’s a better dinner than this one,” Kaitlyn sighed, poking at her tray. She looked at Avery hopefully. “Do you have anything planned for tonight?”

  “I thought we’d have a camp-out in the common room,” Avery said, grinning. “You know—roast hotdogs on sticks over the fire and then maybe finish up with smores?”

  “That sounds awesome!” Emma exclaimed and then her face fell. “Oh, but I have to work tonight.” She sighed. “Well, at least I’m not working tomorrow night so I can watch Avery cast his spell.”

  “I’m afraid we’ll all just be watching,” I said glumly. “Since I still can’t get my magic to work in any, uh, conventional way.”

  “Don’t give up, Princess Latimer,” Avery said, shaking a finger at me. “We all know it’s in there and we know it’s strong. You just have to find a way to reach it without using the nuclear option.”

  I shook my head. “I only wish I knew how. Today in Elementary casting, all
the other girls were practicing making a feather float and I couldn’t even get mine off the ground. A feather!” I blew out my breath in frustration, just as I had in class—which was the only way my feather had ever even stirred an inch. Ms. Yasmeen continued to be encouraging but I was sure it was only because of my last name—not because she thought I had any real talent.

  “I’m telling you, you’ll get there,” Avery said with much more confidence than I felt. “Is everyone done with this crap?” He nodded at our trays. “Good, then let’s go down to the Norm Dorm a bit early. Maybe we can get Emma here a hot dog and a smore before she has to run off to work.”

  As we dumped our trays and trooped off to let ourselves down the concealed hatchway which led to the Dungeon, I wondered if Avery was right and if I would ever be able to access my magic without opening a vein.

  Somehow I doubted it.

  38

  I was sure that getting one of Griffin’s hairs would be no problem. But somehow, that just wasn’t so. I looked on the shoulders and sleeves of his white uniform shirt when he escorted me to PE, but came up empty. I looked again during English—when he did indeed draw me close and murmur in my ear—but I was so distracted by his closeness and his wintry scent, that I couldn’t concentrate. So again I didn’t get what I needed.

  Finally, at the end of the day when he was bringing me back to the Dining Hall for dinner, I was feeling desperate. We were walking side by side and for once he wasn’t holding my hand or my arm. So I waited until he was looking the other direction and reached up to pinch a single hair from his mane of midnight black.

  Of course he felt it at once.

  “Ouch,” he said flatly, turning to face me with one eyebrow raised. “What exactly do you think you’re doing, Megan?”

  I was beginning to learn that he was deadly serious when he called me by my name instead of “little witch” which seemed to be his pet nickname for me.