by Imogen Rose
“Hey, Cordelia! Faustine!” Quinn nodded at her briefly, then turned his attention to me.
“I guess I should be going,” Faustine mumbled, throwing me a knowing look.
I nodded.
Quinn stood back with his arms folded over his chest, not making a move to come over and hug me as he usually did. “Well?” His voice was low as he clenched his teeth in an obvious attempt to keep calm. “What’s going on?”
“I needed some time to myself, away from the Academy…to think.” I cringed at the lameness of my excuse. Quinn had no idea what had happened between Jagger and me.
I didn’t really either, not fully anyway, until I asked my mother about it while we were in Paris. Even though Mom knew all about it, having synched with my dad, I’d been very hesitant to bring it up at all. Mom wasn’t a fan of faeries, so to hear that her daughter had synched with one would disappoint her, if not totally crush her. So I kept my questions casual, just generally asking her about synching and her own experience with it. Mom confirmed what I had already felt—that I was forever bound to Jagger. Our hearts were synched. I still wasn’t clear if that meant that we had to spend the rest of our lives together. When I had asked Mom, she’d looked surprised, as though it hadn’t even occurred to her to do otherwise. Maybe it hadn’t.
And I didn’t know why it was even a question in my mind. Perhaps it was just an academic one, my natural scientific curiosity getting the better of me. That same inquisitiveness made me want to know everything about synching. How often did it happen? What happened if a being, a part of a couple, synched with someone else? Could the couple maintain the relationship, or was it doomed? And what were the chemical and physical aspects of the phenomenon? How were we able to target just each other?
Mom had no answers and didn’t seem too interested in those aspects of synching. Her interest was instead piqued in another direction by my unexpected questions. She naturally suspected that something was up and wanted to know why I was suddenly interested in learning more about it. She asked the obvious question: Had I synched with someone? If I had told her, she’d have known that it wasn’t with Quinn. She’d have guessed that there was someone new in my life, and I wasn’t feeling ready to share that with her yet. So I skirted the issue, but I didn’t think she bought it. I was pretty sure that the next time she came to visit me at the Academy, she’d be on full alert.
So there I was, none the wiser on how to deal with any of it. Looking at Quinn, all I wanted to do was throw my arms around him and nuzzle against his neck, to breathe him in, feel him anchor me.
But I could tell he wasn’t in the mood for that.
“Well?” he repeated and pressed his lips together.
I walked over and unfolded his arms, wrapping them around my waist instead. He didn’t put up any resistance in spite of being cross with me. He tightened his arms around me and drew me so close that I could feel his ribs crushing mine.
“I’ve been worried sick,” he said, his breath warming my neck. “What’s going on? Why didn’t you return any of my phone calls?”
I considered lying. Well, lying was a given, but the content and extent were what I’d been pondering. I had considered a simple white lie, like my cell phone got eaten by a naughty elf…or dog, but I was fairly sure that wouldn’t wash.
I gritted my teeth and went for the lame option. “I didn’t mean to worry you. Sorry. Like I said, I guess I just needed some time to think.”
“Think? About what? And anyhow, a simple text wouldn’t have hurt, no matter what.” He narrowed his eyes.
“Stuff. Girl stuff.” That should shut him up.
“Oh. Still…”
“I know, I know,” I said. “There’s no excuse.” I hugged him closer. “I’m just so glad to see you.”
“Promise you won’t do that again, Cordelia. Just a quick email or text would have done, just to let me know you were okay. As it was, I had to call your dad to make sure you were all right.”
I was surprised. Dad never mentioned it.
“Anyhow,” he continued, “you’re here now, safe and sound. What I was really trying to contact you about was Mason. I wanted you to know that he’s back.”
“Yeah, I just saw him.” I let go of him and sat down on the bed. I looked up at Quinn towering over me, so big and fierce. I hated that the synch thing with Jagger was interfering with my feelings for Quinn. Before that, I had been so sure that Quinn was the one. After I met Jagger, my emotions were all over the place. Whenever I was close to Jagger, I was sure he was the one, but the distance in the last week had made me question myself again. I guessed I’d just have to live in the now and see what happened. Who said I needed to choose anyway? It wasn’t as if I were a human—those poor creatures, so bound by their little rules. Still, some resolution would definitely help me move on and concentrate on other stuff. Like the pesky Mason. “So, what the heck is he doing back here?”
Quinn shrugged. “His dad bought his way back into the school. We have a brand new, state-of-the-art, extreme sky diving facility, with new staff and everything.” He paused, shuffling his feet.
“Quinn?”
“I was asked to help set it up and run it alongside the new director.”
I laughed. “Don’t be all weird about that! No worries, sounds like fun. I can’t wait to see it. Though after my flight with Mason, I’m giving skydiving a miss.”
He let out a long breath, relaxing his lips back into his usual sexy grin. I stood up and brushed my lips against his, expecting to be drawn into him as usual. But he didn’t feel right; I wasn’t exactly sure why. His lips felt different, almost as though they belonged to someone else. That was silly, of course. They were still attached to Quinn. I peeked, just to make sure, and was greeted by Quinn’s hungry look. Well, at least he hadn’t noticed my hesitation and was going at it with his usual fervor. I went at it again, blanking my mind to get into the physical aspects of the kiss. No matter how hard I tried—even pretending that the lips belonged to Jagger!—I just couldn’t get into it emotionally, though I was doing a decent enough job physically.
“Mmm, I really missed you,” Quinn whispered into my ear, after disengaging his lips from mine. “We have to go, though. Maybe we can continue this later?”
Feeling relieved, I stepped back. “Go? Where?”
“The Smelt’s reception. You got the memo, right?”
I nodded. “I guess that’s the reason for the tux?” I pulled at his red-and-orange striped bow tie. “I thought you got dressed up especially for me.”
He smirked. “That wouldn’t have required quite so many pieces of clothing.”
“Ha! Hang on for a few minutes. I’ll do a quick change into something a bit more suitable.” I turned to walk into my closet.
As I ran my hand across the collection of long dresses that hung neatly on cedar hangers at the far end of the closet, I wondered if I should wear a short cocktail frock instead. I lingered on the violet Marchesa bubble-skirt gown—a perfect compromise. I slipped it on, then selected a pair of nude, studded Loubies and carried them through to my room, where I played with my makeup, aware of Quinn watching my every move. He seemed to have forgotten to be angry with me, which was a relief.
I stood up and twirled, letting the skirt of my dress billow out. I came to a rest in front of Quinn with a major self-satisfied grin plastered across my face.
“Hot,” was all he said as he took my hand and led me out of my room.
“Where are we going exactly?”
“The staff leisure hall has been transformed for the reception this evening.”
“Leisure hall? Never knew they had one of those. What’s that like? Can we use it?”
“We can. I haven’t seen it yet, though. I heard it’s got a pool, Jacuzzi, and weight room.”
“Nice. Any idea who’s going to be at the reception? Is it just new staff and apprentices?”
“I believe it’s all the current staff. It should be fun. Anyhow, you can see
for yourself now. This is it,” Quinn said, as we came to a stop outside a high arched wooden doorway. “Ready to go in?”
I nodded, squeezing his hand, but then let go abruptly.
He looked down at me, arching his left eyebrow.
I shrugged. “Probably not wise, don’t you think? Holding hands while walking into our first staff engagement? It’s maybe a bit unprofessional.”
“I guess.” He opened the door, ushering me through it.
I stopped on the other side and looked around, mesmerized by…the purpleness of the surroundings. Wow. Whoever was in charge of the party sure liked the color purple. I looked down at my dress and snickered. Who’d have known? I matched! Thankfully, I was the exception as far as the dress code went. Most of the other ladies were dressed in anything but shades of purple. At least I’d be able to fade into the background if I wanted. But looking around, I was fairly sure I’d want nothing of the sort, as I recognized some familiar faces, all grinning back at me.
“Cordelia! Quinn!” McKenzie bounded over and threw her arms around the two of us, drawing us in for a group hug. Not having been touched by a vampire in a while, I was briefly taken aback by her deathly cold skin.
“Hey, McKenzie! What are you doing here?” She was the last person I expected to see at the staff reception.
“I got a job here. Well, maybe job is overstating it a bit. It’s not like I’m getting paid. More of a hobby really.” She paused.
“What are you going to be doing?”
She chuckled. “You’re as nosy as ever. Let me start by telling you what I’m not doing. Can you believe that The Smelt tried to convince me to apprentice at the medical center? Ha! Imagine that. Being treated like some sort of blood-donating cow—that’s what she wanted…me hanging around waiting for injured bodies needing my blood. Pfffft! No, thank you. And it’s not as if I have any interest in helping sick beings, never have!”
I snickered. She definitely didn’t have any doctor or nurse traits. However, it would have been convenient for The Smelt, considering all the violence that had gone down in the past year. “So what are you going to be doing?”
“Before I was turned, I was hoping to become a lawyer. You know, like Octavia.”
I always thought it odd how many vampires were aspiring lawyers. I nodded, waiting for her to continue.
“Octavia has been appointed to the Academy’s legal team, and I’m going to be her legal assistant to see if I like it, and if I do, Alfred thinks I should go to university to study law.”
“That’s awesome! And how’s Harry?” Harrison was McKenzie and Alfred’s human four-year-old son.
“A little terror! Into everything. He crayoned all over the walls of his bathroom the other day.” She sighed with a smile. “But he’s super cute, blamed his stuffed bunny. He’s got a full-time human nanny who’s working out really well. I balk at all that human food he needs. So she takes care of all that, and also his lessons, but we’re considering sending him to school in St. Moritz soon, so he can learn to socialize with kids his own age. Living at the chateau so far from the town isolates him.”
“Good idea. The sooner he makes friends, the better, I’d imagine. So you don’t have any plans to relocate back to Alfred’s place in London?” The fact that Alfred was the vampire king of London meant that he was super busy and constantly surrounded by vampires and other supernatural beings—not ideal for their little human child.
“We will, as soon as Harry is ready for boarding school, which is still a few years away. Until then, Alfred will pop over when he can. I love skiing, so this place suits me.”
“Sounds like you have it all worked out.”
“Yes, I’m super excited about it all. I can’t wait to get started. I’ve never met Octavia; she represented you last year, right? Tell me all about her.”
“She can tell you herself.” I rolled my eyes as I spotted Octavia talking to Frau Smelt at the other end of the room. She wasn’t my favorite person after her performance with Jagger last year.
Jagger.I wondered where he was.
“Come on, we’ll introduce you to her,” Quinn said and started walking toward them.
I followed, but suddenly felt a pull, not physically but… magnetically was the only way to describe it. Quinn must have noticed my lagging because he beckoned for me to hurry up. I nodded for him to continue on with McKenzie, indicating vaguely that I would catch up, and then looked around.
For Jagger, of course. No one else could affect me that way. My heart was pounding out of control. So embarrassing. I bet my face had turned a deep crimson. Jagger would know that I was out-of-control excited at the prospect of seeing him. I needed to be able to play it cool though, especially with Quinn around.
I scanned the room and was just about to give up when I met the glint of Jagger’s silver eyes from across the room. I froze as my heart stopped.
And started. I didn’t fight Jagger taking over the beat of my heart. I wasn’t sure I could handle keeping it going at a steady rate anyway. All the questions and doubts I’d had about the synching thing were wiped out in an instant. I was completely his. And he knew it. I could tell by the arrogant way he just looked at me, without making a move to come over; his face was set in a broody, cold mask. He was obviously angry, but unlike Quinn, he was able to demonstrate it on a base level—from inside me. I could feel anger lacing every beat of my heart, so much so that it was starting to suffocate me. Not knowing where Jagger was going with his emotions, I compelled myself to take control, pushing him aside. I closed my eyes and concentrated, pulling away from him. I felt the sudden relief in my chest as he abruptly let go, sending my pulse into free fall. I fought to regain control, quickly recovering, and opened my eyes, ready to mallet him. I was beyond furious.
He was gone.
The boisterous chatter in the auditorium ceased in an instant when Frau Schmelder walked onto the stage and took her place behind the podium. For the first time, I was watching her back instead of being hypnotized by her presence from the theater seats in the hall. Sitting on the stage gave me the additional advantage of giving me a bird’s-eye view of the students. I spotted Faustine immediately when she stood up and waved at me, along with Martha and Chun. I waved back, but I was preoccupied with trying to find Mason. I scanned the audience, row by row, seat by seat. I knew he’d be in with the new Integrates.
When my eyes locked with his, my blood literally boiled, and there was nothing I could do to prevent myself from starting to transform. I didn’t dare look down at my hands; I could already feel the pus seeping from the newly formed boils. A display of such total loss of control by a member of the auxiliary staff was both disgraceful and unacceptable. I wondered if the staff members sitting next to me had noticed and would tell The Smelt.
Quite a few people in the audience had noticed and were eyeing me with curiosity. Traditionally, we maintained our human shapes while attending school—it made us all appear equal. Still, no hugely big deal…apart from the self-satisfied sneer on Mason’s face. He knew he’d rankled me, and I was furious with myself for giving him the satisfaction.
Then, to top my out-of-control rage, I suddenly felt my racing heart being overwhelmed, and I was no longer in control of even that. The sensation was so unexpected that I felt a brief sense of panic before realizing what was happening. Jagger. He’d obviously decided to take things into his own hands and rescue me from further embarrassment and maybe from being fired—a possibility had The Smelt turned around and noticed my reaction. He slowed my heartbeat instantly, and my body quickly reverted back into my human form. I let out a deep breath of relief and shot a venomous last look at Mason before disengaging my eyes from his to search through the crowd for Jagger. He was still beating my heart for me, and I was happy to let him for now. It was no longer spiked with the fury that it had been the last time.
The Smelt suddenly beat her gavel on the podium. “Welcome to Integration!”
Applause filled the auditoriu
m, and some of the students stood up to cheer. The Integrates seemed happy and relaxed, which was very different from the students at the Initiation introductory meetings. Plus, all the various supernatural groups sat together, vampires included, though there were natural groupings of friends sitting with friends. It was no longer necessary to have forced segregation, as all the students admitted to Integration were expected to exercise control. I fleetingly wondered what the new Initiates were like and how my brother, Pascal, would fit in. The Initiates were usually kept isolated until their first meeting, which would be tomorrow. I was expected to attend that assembly as well.
The Smelt raised her hand. All eyes were on her…apart from Mason’s. I could feel him glaring at me, but decided to keep ignoring him. It dawned on me that my heartbeat was my own again. Jagger must have let go without me even noticing. My pulse was nice and steady, and I wasn’t going to let that feathered nuisance interfere again. I braced myself to be prepared at all times.
“Once again, it’s very nice to see you back at the Academy,” The Smelt continued. “We have a few new students, most of them transfers who have successfully completed their Initiation requirements elsewhere. I welcome you to Bonfire Academy and hope you find your bearings quickly. You’ve been assigned temporary big brothers or sisters, just until you are comfortable in your new surroundings. Go to them first with any issues.”
She took a deep breath and adjusted her scarf. “The main aim of the Integration program is to provide you with the skills you’ll need to assimilate into human society. As you are all aware, the humans control the world we live in. At least they think they do, and it’s important for us to maintain that status quo. Maintaining it allows us to control the key elements of that society, including their governments.
“In order to assimilate into human society, we paranormal beings need to be able to respect and tolerate each other. This is our greatest challenge. I wish we could offer this program to all supernatural beings, but that’s impossible at the present time. So it falls upon you, the selected elite, to learn and then enforce the principles upon the rest. Not all of you will join city councils, but all of you will be positioned in important areas where your influence will determine the smooth running of the supernatural and human worlds.