I shut my eyes, scrunching my face to keep them closed as the water sloshed around my legs. “No, you’re not real, you can’t be.”

  A gentle hand rested on my right shoulder as a heavier one landed on my left.

  “Tank, son, open your eyes. Please.”

  “Dad?” I gasped as I opened my eyes.

  My parents stood before me. Their bodies appeared solid, but they glowed, much like the water. They smiled and hugged me as I hadn’t been hugged in years.

  “How is this possible?” Tears streamed down my cheeks, and I didn’t even care.

  Beyond my parents were the brothers I’d lost. And beyond them, every last warrior and Shadowguard I failed to save.

  Not a single face appeared angry. Not one pointed at me in blame. Instead, they smiled and nodded, reaching out to take my hand and pat me on the back.

  My words were lodged in my throat. I swallowed hard then tried to speak. “What is this?” I managed “I don’t understand.”

  “You’ve been carrying around so much needless guilt,” Dad said, squeezing my shoulder. “It’s time to let go. You’ve suffered enough.”

  “But I failed you. I failed all of you.”

  “No,” a woman behind Dad said. “You saved my four children. You got them out.”

  “You saved my sister and her family,” another dragon spoke out.

  “And my wife and unborn child.”

  “My husband and my son.”

  The voices went on and on, each one lifting me up, relieving me of the darkness lingering in my mind.

  “Do you see now?” Mom hugged me. “You are not a failure, never think it. We love you. It’s time for you to be happy.”

  When she pulled back, everyone began fading away, one by one, until only Mom and Dad remained. Dad nodded, pride in his eyes. Then he and Mom were gone.

  I blinked, staggering forward and arms were there to keep me from toppling over into the pool.

  “Here, sit down,” Amelie said softly. “Tank? Can you hear me?”

  Her face came into focus, and I did the only thing I could think of. I drew her into my arms and hugged her. “Thank you.”

  “See? Told you it was alright to open up to me.”

  There was no way for me to even articulate how much seeing all those faces meant to me. No way to tell her the pain she’d alleviated from my life. Together, we managed to get to our feet, smiling as we left the pool behind.

  An actual weight seemed to have vanished from me

  We strolled across the lawns toward the castle. Amelie leaned into my side as I kept my arm around her shoulders.

  “I’ve never seen you this happy before. Well,” she corrected, “not counting the times you were drunk-singing, of course.”

  “And this is so much better than that.”

  The walk to her room was quiet, but it was far from awkward.

  At her door, she started to take off the flannel shirt, but I told her to keep it, in case she got cold.

  “You know, when I was in the pool, I noticed something. My sister wasn’t there.”

  “Then she’s alive. Tank, we can find her.”

  “How? Where would she be?”

  “We’ll find a way. Have faith.” She stood on her toes and kissed my cheek.

  It wasn’t enough. Reaching my arms around her waist, I lifted her up higher and gave her a proper goodnight kiss and thank you for all she’d done for me.

  “Night, Tank.”

  “Night. See you in the morning?”

  “Yep, and you’re going to catch me up on what’s going on as far as this whole situation with Melody.”

  I made no promises.

  She sighed but went into her room.

  After I heard her lock the door, I turned to go to mine when I heard shuffling. I glanced down the hall. I thought I saw Peter, but when I reached the end of the corridor, it was empty. That warlock was going to be trouble.

  I simply couldn’t decide if for me or for Amelie.

  When I lay down to sleep that night, there were no faces floating through my mind. I dreamt of a peaceful garden and Amelie’s smiling face instead of bloody battles long since ended. For the first time in years, I was at peace.

  Six

  Amelie

  After a quiet breakfast in the main hall, Tank pulled me aside and filled me in on what he knew so far. He relayed what Mary told him, how she overheard Melody arguing with someone.

  I frowned at that. She was one of the nicest witches here. Got along with everyone. I couldn’t see her arguing with someone else unless it was a serious situation.

  “And she’s sure it wasn’t Troy?”

  “She didn’t say it wasn’t, but she said the voice sounded far away. And that it was cold.”

  “Cold?”

  “When she passed the door. Mean anything?”

  It didn’t, but at the same time, it worried me. If there was a cold spot outside Melody’s door, it led me to believe one of the resident ghosts had been nearby. Had she been arguing with one of them? There had been poltergeists stirring up trouble lately, but usually, they only made messes. They didn’t argue with the witches or warlocks.

  “Amelie,” Grant yelled, running into the hall. “It’s Troy. He’s having a breakdown. We can’t get him to calm down.”

  “Go. I’ll catch up with you later.” Tank squeezed my hand.

  Grant asked me to follow him. I felt for Troy, I did, but if we couldn’t find a way to stop him from losing it, I worried about what his unstable power might do to him, or anyone else.

  Troy’s screaming reached us though we were a floor away .

  I picked up speed, sprinting to get there.

  The door slammed open, and Victor flew out of the room, landing hard on his backside. He shook out his head then ducked as a table came out next.

  Troy was shouting words that made zero sense.

  I wondered if I might need Tank to help get him in check.

  Troy stormed out of the room.

  I placed myself between him and Victor. “Troy, look at me.” I was loud and sharp to get his attention. “Hey, right here. You need to stop this before you hurt someone.”

  “Someone’s already hurt.” His clothes were ragged and dirty. Had he been out on the grounds last night? He wiped a shaking hand over his face and collapsed at my feet. “Melody’s dead. She’s gone. Why? What did she do to deserve that, huh? What?”

  “Nothing. No one deserves to be killed, but do you really think any of us are responsible for it? Do you? We’re your friends, Troy. Don’t push us away.”

  He rested his head to the floor, and my heart broke for him all over again.

  “I was going to marry her,” he mumbled.

  I sank to the floor beside him.

  “I had the ring and everything. I was going to ask her this week.”

  Victor cursed, and Grant shook his head. What could we say to that? Peter joined us, too and the four of us got Troy up and back into his room. We sat him on the edge of the bed.

  I looked around for any potions to help Troy sleep. Until he could have a coherent conversation about what happened, sleep was the best thing for him. Peter handed me a small vial filled with a calming, blue concoction. Troy swallowed it, and we scooted him back, helped him get comfortable, then sat around and waited for it to take effect.

  “I miss her,” Troy whispered as his eyes slid closed.

  “We all do.” I held his hand, comforting him the best I could. “She’ll always be with you though.”

  “Will she? She’s dead. Gone. Dead and gone.” He sank lower into the pillows, turning on his side as he tugged his hand free of mine. “It should’ve been me.”

  “Don’t say that,” Victor whispered.

  “It should’ve been. She’s better than me… was better than me. She was the best out of all of us, and you know it. Someone killed her because she was the only one who was there for us.” He mumbled, but the potion took hold, and his words trailed away.

  Peter abruptly turned and stormed out of the room, letting the door close behind him.

  “What’s his problem?” Grant glowered at the door.

  “You know what,” Victor said, pacing around the room. “He thinks he’s the best out of all of us. Always has.”

  “He’s not. Maybe it’s time he realized that.”

  “You don’t think… No, never mind,” Victor said, walking to the windows.

  “You can’t be suggesting what I think you are.” I glanced from Grant to Victor. “Really?”

  “You can’t honestly sit there and say you didn’t think the same, not even for a second.”

  Grant nodded. “I didn’t.”

  “Liar. Out of all of us, Peter’s the one who gets jealous the quickest. He’s the one who overreacts.” He threw his hands in the air as he spoke. “You remember what happened a couple years back.”

  “That was an accident.”

  “That’s what he said, but I don’t believe him,” Victor snapped.

  Two years ago, at a gathering like this, the first one I brought Jared to, there was a competition amongst the five of us. It was meant to showcase our power and be fun. Melody surpassed us all with a beautiful display of earthly magic. She was the reason we had wonderful rose gardens that bloomed. They stayed in bloom even in winter. Peter had used his power to try and bring to life several sculptures that would remain alive and be of assistance to those at the castle. However, they turned on everyone and had to be destroyed. Selma warned him about pushing himself too hard too fast and using magic he didn’t comprehend. He’d been upset and stormed off. An hour later, the north tower blew up. Many people were injured. As it happens, Peter was the last one seen going there. He denied doing it on purpose and without any proof, he was allowed to use his magic without restraint.

  All that said, blowing up a tower because he was pissed was a far cry from murdering one of us.

  I told Grant and Victor everything Tank told me. About the voice in Melody’s room and the cold spot.

  “You think it’s a supernatural force that attacked her?” Victor’s brow furrowed confused.

  “I don’t know, but Peter was outside with the rest of us when she was thrown over the edge, remember? He isn’t the killer. And I suggest you two keep quiet regarding that accusation unless you want someone like Jane overhearing you and spreading it about.”

  I made for the door.

  “Where are you going?” Victor and Grant followed me.

  “Out for a walk. Keep an eye on Troy. Come get me if he wakes up and tries to throw one of you out the window or something.”

  The room was suddenly stifling, and I needed fresh air. Room to breathe. Their accusations were damned serious. Did they really think Peter would kill Melody? Out of what—jealousy? It didn’t make any sense. He could be a bit intense, but murder was a stretch. I wandered through the castle, avoiding Melody’s room. Once I was outside in the cool fall air, crisp with the scent of leaves and apples, I took a couple of deep breaths in and let them out.

  Bit by bit, I relaxed and walked across the grounds, admiring the reds and oranges of the turning leaves surrounding the sloping lawns.

  I smiled at those I passed. Many were spread out on blankets, talking quietly and sharing a meal. Today would’ve been the first day for the younger witches and warlocks to showcase how much they’d learned in the last year. Due to current events, the usual gathering schedule was going to be put on hold for a couple days, giving everyone a chance to mourn.

  I avoided the walking path and instead let my feet take me where they would. Greenhouses lined the grounds to my left. Witches and warlocks filled all of them, checking out the latest herbs and talking about new potions. I missed being around this type of talk. My kind of talk. Beyond the greenhouses, the lawns gave way to groves of birches

  Behind the greenhouses ran a clear stream, bubbling and churning as I stepped onto the old wooden bridge that crossed it. I stopped in the center and leaned on the railing, studying my rippling reflection below. I’d have to bring Tank here at some point. He’d like it, maybe even find it soothing. Last night when I guided him to the pool, I’d feared he’d hate me for it. Turned out my instinct was right to push him toward it.

  Leaves crunched. I raised my head as two unicorns walked through the trees. They glanced my way, and I froze, not wanting to scare them. Their silver coats glinted in the speckled sunlight. Their silver and black manes were beautiful against their necks. The horn protruding from each of their heads glistened with magic. They nibbled at low hanging leaves. It seemed they’d settled in nicely here at the coven castle. In the distance, I spotted the rest of the herd, content in the sunlight.

  As I rested on the railing, I sensed eyes on me. Without turning, I knew it was Tank. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him leaning against a tree farther back up the stone trail. His presence was a comfort. Our eyes met.

  I nearly went to him, but froze when Selma called his name as she approached.

  He glanced my way, then turned his attention to Selma. Whatever the older witch found made his brow wrinkle. Then they moved at a fast clip back to the castle.

  “Nice to see they enjoy their new home.”

  I jumped as Peter stepped onto the bridge, coming from the other direction. How hadn’t I heard him approach?

  “It is nice.”

  He rested against the railing beside me as if nothing had happened earlier.

  It pissed me off, and I purposely moved further down the bridge to get away from him.

  “What, you can’t even stand next to me now?”

  “You’re the one that walked out on Troy.”

  “Me being there was agitating him. Too many warlocks in the room and all that.”

  “He needs his friends, now more than ever. And you just up and walked off.” Remembering everything Grant and Victor said, I picked at a splinter on the railing. “Did it have anything to do with what Troy was talking about? Melody being the best of us?”

  His refusal to deny it gave him away.

  “Wow, nice to know what you think of us in our time of need,” I snapped harshly.

  “Don’t do that to me. Don’t act like I’m the bad guy here. I’m upset and mad over Melody’s death as much as everyone else is. But that doesn’t mean I have to sit in there and listen to Troy prattle on and on and on about her.” He huffed, stalking away then whirled back around. “You ever think that maybe hearing it all just made my own pain worse?”

  “We’re all hurting, which is why we need to be together right now.”

  “Yes, we do.”

  His emphasis on the word we had me shaking my head. “What else is bothering you?”

  “Nothing at all.”

  “Liar. Spit it out. What’s wrong?”

  “Tank.”

  I waited for him to explain, but Jane rushed toward us down the path, cheeks flushed, and beaming.

  “My, Amelie! How have you not snatched up that dragon yet? Jared was nice to look at, but Tank is beyond impressive.”

  “You were with Tank?” For a brief second, jealousy slammed into me. Then I remembered how he’d been with me since we got here. He wasn’t going to fall for whatever charm Jane threw at him. Not even close.

  “Admiring him from a distance.” She winked. “He has his eyes set on someone else.”

  Peter tensed.

  “Oh knock it off, Peter,” she chastised.

  “I said nothing.”

  “Don’t have to. Body language is clear enough.” She waved her hand to indicate the length of his body.

  His lip rose with annoyance. “You can stop any time now.”

  “I’m just saying, it’s clear you don’t like Tank for the same reason you never liked Jared. Is it all dragons or just dragons with Amelie?”

  “Jane, stop,” I urged. What she said may have been true, but this wasn’t the time to call Peter out for his jealousies. Whatever he thought he felt for me, it wasn’t real. We’d been friends for so long. There was no way. Plus, he hardly ever left this castle anymore. He needed to get out in the world, find that certain witch or anyone really who made him feel the same way I did when I knew Tank watched over me.

  Because no matter how much Peter wanted a relationship, he wasn’t going to get it from me.

  “I have nothing against Tank, not if he’s helping to find Melody’s killer,” Peter finally replied, though his tone remained harsh. “And I’m sorry for leaving Troy’s room earlier. I just… we’ve all grown up together. Anyway, he’s right. Melody was the best of us. This coven will not be the same without her.” He turned, head hanging.

  His shoulders began to shake.

  I groaned inwardly for being so hard on him earlier. “I’m sorry, think we’re all out of sorts right now.”

  “It’s fine, I understand. I’m amazed, as always, at how strong you are.”

  “Just on the outside, trust me.” That and I had Tank holding me up. Not about to tell Peter that though. I hugged him as a friend, trying not to notice when the hug lingered a bit longer than necessary. “I’m going to head back inside. I’ll see you both at dinner.”

  I’d planned to track down Tank and Selma, but once I was inside the castle, I went right up to my room instead.

  A door closed down the hall, and I poked my head back out of my doorway to see who it was.

  Lucius was just leaving Melody’s room. He readjusted his long coat as if he’d tucked something under it, glanced around, then hurried off. It was strange, but then again, was it? Since he oversaw taking care of all our rooms. For all I knew, he found something that belonged to Troy in there and wanted to secure it before Troy saw it and went off the rails again. Lucius and the rest of the household would eventually have the horrible task of cleaning out Melody’s room. The one she stayed in every time she was here. The room she spent so many summers and long nights in.

  Resting my back against the door, I took in my own room, wondering who would be left with the task of cleaning it out when I was gone.

  With luck that wouldn’t happen for a long while.

  My cell rang, and I detoured from the bathroom to the nightstand. “Hello?”

 

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