The Soul Bond (Rite World: Blackthorn Hunters Academy Book 3)

by Juliana Haygert

  “That was a bummer,” Claire said as we left the classroom.

  “Maybe we can research the Wildthorn witches,” I suggested. “Maybe we can find clues to their location in the books.”

  “But you heard the professor,” Claire said. “The coven is up north. Unless you’re planning on leaving for several days, I think that’s a waste of time.”

  “What do you want with Wildthorn witches?” Claire and I turned and faced Ava in the middle of the hallway. I opened my mouth, not sure what I would say, but Ava shook her head. “You know what? I don’t care.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked, a little wary of Ava. Sometimes she reminded of Rey with the hot and cold thing. In one situation, we were beating each other up, in another, we were working together as if we were great partners.

  “I know where you can find Wildthorn witches.”

  “How?” Claire asked.

  “One of my father’s tasks is to find Wildthorn witches who stray south, and kill them.”

  “Where can we find them?” I asked.

  “You think I’m giving you the information for free?” she asked, appalled. “No, I want a favor first.”

  Oh, there was a catch. I shifted my weight. “What is it?”

  She looked around, to make sure no one was close by to listen to us. “I need your help with Harvey. He doesn’t notice me at all, and I’m tired of chasing after him. I want him to come to me. But I need a plan for that. I want you to help me come up with and execute a plan that will make him fall head over heels for me.”

  “What about your friends, Stella and Ruby?” I asked. “Why won’t they help?”

  “I didn’t ask them.” Ava pressed her lips together. “They wouldn’t understand, okay?” She shook her head. “You wouldn’t either. This is a waste of breath.” She started to turn.

  I grabbed her wrist. “Wait. I understand.” I glanced at Claire, who nodded at me, before returning my eyes to Ava. “We can help you.”

  “You can?” Ava sounded suspicious. “Why?”

  Claire shrugged. “Because we like helping.”

  Ava didn’t seem convinced, but went on with it. “All right. Help me win Harvey’s heart and I’ll tell you where to find the Wildthorn witches.”

  I was excited about the prospect of finding the witch and breaking the soul bond. Only problem was, how would we make Harvey fall for Ava?

  16

  Rey

  I had just finished teaching a class—one that Erin should have been in—and students were filing out when Vaira walked in. Since the outing of the Black Knight Unit and the half-demons, she had become sort of their leader. The direct contact with Randall. At first, I felt betrayed, but that lasted only two seconds. I was glad she was in charge of them instead of me. I had enough on my plate as it was.

  Besides, after what I found out about Randall, I was glad he didn’t ask me to do things as much. I had always thought he was hiding something, something bad, but I had no idea it was plain evil. Everyone was afraid of King Brikan when another big bad was under their noses.

  Everyone was in for a big surprise.

  With a superior air, Vaira halted in front of my desk. “I came to ask for the favor you owe me.”

  I knew this day would come. “And what would that favor be?”

  She shifted her weight, as if she was nervous about this conversation. “Convince Randall to call off the Shadow Trials.”

  I frowned. “I already asked him to do that, and he shut me out.”

  “Because you didn’t beg?”

  As if begging would help. “Look, Vaira, I haven’t been close to Randall in months. I would say the best person to ask him to cancel the contest is you.”

  “I’ve already asked him,” she muttered. “This isn’t what we signed up for, Rey. In fact, have you looked around lately?” She gestured to the windows overlooking the courtyard. “We are mistreated and disrespected left and right. Do you know how hard it is to keep a bunch of half-demon from lashing out? This is too much!”

  I let out a long breath. “I know, and I’m sorry. I never intended for all of this to happen.” If I had known all the trouble it would cause, perhaps I would have convinced Randall not to pursue the half-demons.

  She leaned over the table. “You might not have had bad intentions, but it is your fault we got roped into this mess.”

  “Hey, I’m as blindsided as you are,” I told her. “Randall told me I’ll have to participate in the Shadow Trials, so believe me, I want it called off as much as you do.”

  “You’ll have to participate?” She shook her head. “I thought you were his favorite.”

  I snorted. “He only pretends that.” Why, I wasn’t so sure. “Oh, and when I talked to him, he told me the contest will be out of his hands soon. He asked the full-fledged hunters to handle it.”

  “Fuck,” she hissed.

  I wondered … I had asked Randall to call off the contest, but with Crimson’s thirst for power and my video, he wouldn’t be headmaster for long. Crimson would, and he wouldn’t allow such a contest to be run by the full-fledged demon hunters, not when he would have snatched the headmaster mantle. He would want to do it all himself. Or, if I played my cards well, he could simply take it back from the demon hunters and run it himself.

  Or not run it at all.

  “If, and only if, I can get the Shadow Trials called off, my favor will be paid off, right?” I asked Vaira.

  She narrowed her eyes. “Yes. But you just said you tried and Randall said no.”

  One corner of my lips tugged up. “I might know another way.”

  On my way to the Aster building, I caught sight of Erin, Claire, and Ava seated on a bench under the blackthorn tree, their backs to me. My steps faltered at seeing Erin when I wasn’t expecting to, but also at seeing Ava with her. I hadn’t seen the three of them together in a long while. Was Ava their friend again? I had lost count of how many times I saw them together and then not.

  I shouldn’t care, but I did, because to keep Erin safe, I had to know who she was hanging out with. And now Ava seemed to be on the table again.

  All right, Erin was fine for now, so I pushed forward and plodded to the Aster building. As I expected, Professor Crimson was in his office, seated behind his desk, messing with some papers.

  When he saw me, he put the papers away and locked inside a drawer under his desk.

  “Rey, what brings you here?” he asked, his voice too cheery for my taste.

  “I’ve got it,” I told him.

  Crimson stilled. “You’ve got what?”

  He knew what I was talking about. “I’ve got evidence to get Randall fired, or even to have him executed. You’ll soon be headmaster of this academy.”

  Slowly, Crimson stood. “What is it? Where is it?”

  He really thought I would hand it to him that easily? I shook my head. “I’ll reveal Randall’s secret and destroy him when the time is right, but only if you agree to call off the Shadow Trials.”

  Crimson’s jaw ticked. “What? Are you trying to bargain with me?”

  “Yes, I am.” I stuffed my chest. I wasn’t one bit afraid of Crimson, never had been, but I sure was afraid of what he could do to Erin. “You promise me you’ll forget about Erin, and when you’re headmaster, you’ll cancel the Shadow Trials right away, and in a couple of weeks, I’ll help you destroy Randall.”

  Crimson narrowed his eyes at me, thinking. “You’re asking for more than we first agreed.”

  “Because the evidence I have is good,” I told him. “It won’t leave any margin for error. Randall will be gone soon, and you’ll take over the school. If you agree to my terms.”

  Crimson’s hand curled, the knuckles turning white. I could see he wanted to yell at me, maybe even strike me somehow, but his hands were tied. “All right. I’ll make that deal in order to become headmaster. I won’t touch Erin and I’ll call off the Shadow Trials. But you better come through, Rey. Or else …”

  Or else.


  I knew exactly what or else meant.

  “Good,” I said.

  Without anything else to share, I left Crimson’s office and let out a long breath of relief. Things seemed to be going in the right direction. Randall, that horrible monster, would be dealt with, the Shadow Trials would be canceled, and Erin would be safe.

  At least from Crimson.

  17

  Erin

  Erin

  Ava’s idea was ridiculous. Claire and I had told her it was overkill and gave her some other options, but she didn’t listen. She was sure her idea would work.

  She had told us Harvey usually ran at the track behind the Hyacinth building three times a week, and he came back the long way around the buildings, walking by the side of the Snapdragon building in the process.

  So, one evening after our classes, Claire and I hid behind some bushes on the side of the Snapdragon building, Ava hid behind some trees a few feet from us, and we waited.

  Ava kept checking her wristwatch, while Claire played on her phone—the one she shouldn’t have with her.

  “What?” She shrugged. “I only brought it because I thought this would be boring. I was right.”

  I chuckled.

  But a moment later, Ava shushed us. “He’s coming,” she whispered.

  Harvey appeared from behind the building, wearing shorts and a t-shirt with large sweat spots that clung to his torso, and walked by the side of the male dorm building.

  “Now,” Ava mouthed.

  On cue, I channeled my magic and called upon the zombie creatures with ease. Werewolves, vampires, and other supernaturals jumped out of the shadows and charged Harvey.

  He froze for a moment, his eyes wide in confusion, but then he shook the daze off and called his Dawnblade. I conjured more zombies, more than he could handle by himself.

  That was when Ava, the savior, appeared. Dawnblade in hand, she lunged at the zombies and fought her way to Harvey.

  While Harvey was busy fighting for his life—or at least believing he was—Ava pretended to fight the zombies to save him. Whenever she got too close to one of them, I blinked them away, so it seemed like she was cutting through them like a freaking master.

  She jumped, somersaulted, flipped, and twirled her sword as if she was practicing an ambitious choreography. Every one of her moves were exaggerated, unnatural.

  My stomach twisted with awkwardness.

  Finally, she stepped in front of the last zombie and swiped her blade wide, cutting across the zombie’s chest. It faded away like smoke.

  Ava turned to him, flipping her hair like an amazon. “Are you okay?” A boisterous laughter burst from Harvey’s throat. Ava frowned. “What the hell?”

  “That was … so funny.” Harvey’s Dawnblade disappeared and he placed a hand over his belly, laughing some more.

  Ava paled. “What?”

  Harvey rested a hand over her shoulder. “Whatever you were going for, Ava, it was a nice attempt. I have to give you props for that.” He squeezed her shoulder, then walked away, still laughing.

  Ava turned to us, her eyes wide, her jaw open. Claire and I inched from behind the bushes. “What was that?” Ava pointed in Harvey’s direction with her blade.

  “I’m guessing he caught on to what you were attempting,” Claire said, trying not to laugh.

  I wasn’t laughing, but shit, that had been horrible—horribly funny and extremely awkward.

  “How? I was saving his ass. He should have been thankful,” Ava said, her tone high. “He should have looked at me as if I was his hero.”

  “Ava, think about it,” I said. “Harvey is a good demon hunter. He knows how to fight and defend himself. He wouldn’t be easily tricked.” All things I had told her before, when she first explained her plan to us. Yet, she didn’t listen.

  “There were too many of them!” she argued.

  I nodded. “Yes, but he must have known that zombified vampires and werewolves don’t just simply wander around the campus grounds.”

  Groaning, Ava jutted her index finger at me. “This is your fault. Your zombies weren’t convincing enough. You messed it up!”

  I gaped at her. “It was your plan!”

  “Whatever.” Ava turned her chin up. “You failed, so I’m not telling you anything, especially not about the Wildthorn witches.”

  And just like that, she stomped away.

  Stumped, I turned to Claire. “What the hell?”

  Claire let out a small chuckle. “I can’t believe she’s mad at you.”

  “She promised to tell me where the Wildthorn witches are hiding.” I shook my head, lost at what to do next. I guess Claire and I would have to go back to the drawing board—or the library.

  “Just let her be,” Claire said. “She’ll calm down and you can ask her about the Wildthorn witches tomorrow. After all, you did help her.”

  Tomorrow? Ava wouldn’t calm down that fast. Maybe next week. Or next month.

  “What do you guys want with the Wildthorn witches?”

  Claire and I turned in the direction of the new voice. Harper waltzed down the side path of the building.

  “Harper,” I said, a little wary. “What are you doing here?”

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to hear anything,” she said. “I was walking from the library to the Gardenia building, but then I caught sight of Harvey fighting a bunch of zombies. I was about to run in and help him, but then I saw Ava. She looked like an awkward, novice, action movie actress.” A small smile adorned her lips. “Then I saw you two hiding and understood what was going on.” She grew serious again. “But what is this about Wildthorn witches?”

  Claire and I exchanged a glance. Though the entire academy hated me because of who I was and what I was, Harper hadn’t seemed to care about all that. She been a good friend so far. And she knew enough.

  I let out a sigh. “We promised to help Ava in wooing Harvey in exchange for some info on where we could find Wildthorn witches.”

  Harper’s smile widened. “That certainly didn’t look like wooing.”

  Claire chuckled. “Awkward, novice, action movie actress. I love it! It’s almost as great as the blond bitch.”

  “It was her idea,” I said, a little disappointed. “But now that we failed, she won’t tell us anything.” I groaned. “We’re back to square one.”

  Harper’s brows knotted. “And why do you want to know where to find the Wildthorn witches?”

  I pressed my lips together, thinking. Should I keep going and tell her more? Harper was alone most of the time; it wasn’t as if she would tell anyone. Besides, she knew I was a half-demon and a demonic princess.

  And she liked Claire, which meant, if someday Claire returned her feelings—one could only hope—Harper would be around us more. She would become an official member of our small gang. That thought actually made me glad.

  “During class the other day, I learned that Wildthorn witches can break almost any curse or bond,” I said. “Well, I have a soul bond with Rey, and I would like it gone.”

  Harper tilted her head. “You want it gone? Why? I thought you two liked each other.”

  I stared at her. “No, you got it wrong. I like him, but he doesn’t like me.”

  “Are you sure?” she insisted.

  Damn, even talking about this hurt. “Yes, he looked into my eyes and said so a few days ago.”

  “That is odd.” She shook her head. “I could have sworn he was in love with you.”

  Claire shrugged. “I said the same thing.”

  “See, it wasn’t just me,” Harper said.

  Their words only drove the knife deeper in my chest. “Unfortunately, you guys are mistaken. So, I want this bond gone.”

  “Well, if you’re sure about that, I think I can help,” she said.

  Claire’s eyes bugged. “You can?”

  Harper dipped her chin once. “Yup. No one really knows this but my grandmother is a Wildthorn witch.”

  “What? How?” I asked, not
believing my ears.

  “Yeah, she left her coven many decades ago when she fell in love with my grandfather, a demon hunter,” Harper told us. “She left her customs and practices behind for him, but I know that after his death a few years ago, she rejoined them.”

  I gulped, afraid of my question. “You think she can break the soul bond?”

  Harper shrugged. “I don’t know but we can ask her.”

  “Right now?” Claire glanced at her phone. “It’s almost time for dinner, then curfew.” She paused. “Where does your grandmother live?”

  “In Chasseur Ville,” Harper said.

  I tsked. “We wouldn’t be able to go and come back before curfew.”

  “We can go this weekend,” Harper suggested. “I’m sure she won’t mind the visit.”

  I smiled at Harper. Though it hurt me to think I was taking another step to erase the bond between Rey and me, I was glad I was doing something. In the end, it would be for the best. I tried looking on the bright side of it all. At least now it seemed Harper was officially part of our small but tight group.

  “It’s a date.” I winked at her.

  Harper waved me off, but a small pink shade tinted her cheeks. Anything to spend more time with Claire, hm? I was glad that even though I wouldn’t have my happily ever after, I could try to create one for them.

  18

  Rey

  In the past few days, not only had I seen Erin walking around with Ava, and then Harper, but I had also seen her locked away in the library with Claire during their spare time. What the fuck were they up to? Every time Erin and Claire had spent hours over books, it had been to deal with bigger matters, evil demons, and such. Some of those times, I had participated, helping them with whatever they were facing.

  I was desperate to know what they were researching, but I couldn’t get close enough without being seen.

  It was a fucking torment.

  Although I didn’t like leaving campus knowing Erin would be unprotected, I had to go pick up supplies for class at a witch’s shop in West Hill. So, one evening, after seeing Erin through the window in Claire’s room, I drove away.