39. UNEXPECTED ALLIES

39

UNEXPECTED ALLIES

C harlotte hadn't visited the library on the top floor of the main building of Blackthorn Academy before. With classes still not in session, she had no reason to until now.

Floor to ceiling bookshelves filled the massive library's interior on all the walls except for the far wall lined with windows. The windows of the library weren't stained glass like the front of the building. Arching into elaborate points with decorative circular shapes along the upper portion of the window, the windows maintained their tracery design, but the panes of glass were clear, allowing students to view the horizon.

Their group, composed of Aiden, Blaire, Riley, Seth, Lukas, Dominic, and Headmistress Velastra, sat at a long table away from the windows near an archway leading away from the main chamber near a couple of freestanding bookshelves.

Charlotte looked up at the beautiful chandelier overhead. Spherical and teardrop-shaped sparkling crystals covered the many tiers, refracting the light from their faux candles and casting the room in amber ambient lighting.

She jolted when Blaire touched her arm, giving her a questioning look.

She shook her head, offering a smile.

Ever since Aiden told her about how he still struggled with his nightmares, she wondered what she could do to help him. It wouldn't be a hardship to sleep by his side if it helped him attain peace. It surprised her he hadn't already requested it. Then she remembered his apprehension about his species despite her assurances.

She hoped allowing him to bite her with his fangs would show him her sincerity—that she wasn't afraid of what he was. Reassuring him wasn't why she allowed him to bite her and drink her blood, but she wondered if it would double as reassurance for him.

The headmistress clapped her hands at the head of the table, drawing their attention, halting the chatting amongst them. "Dominic and I spoke with the other members of the Blackthorn Clan through conference calls after we became aware of the situation with the young rogue." She rose from her seat and her manicured nails tapped the table when she steepled her fingertips against the surface. "I have met privately with the young man to discuss his situation and the clan's decision."

Riley stretched her arms in front of her, the many bracelets on her wrists clattering on the surface of the table. "What did they say?"

"King Adrian has accepted the information we provided and with the caveat that the young man remains under strict surveillance in the interim, he may seek asylum at Blackthorn Academy. If he indeed desires to reform himself and integrate back into our world, we will grant him the same opportunities as the rest of you to obtain a degree and move out into the world, but only if he proves his sincerity during his time here."

"That's it?" Seth asked, his steel eyes narrowing. "He just gets away with being with the rogues who are after Blaire and hurt Charlotte?"

Lukas leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms. "I don't know why he gets a free pass to go to school. He puts the rest of us at risk."

The headmistress leaned forward, narrowing her russet gaze on the two who spoke against Noah. "I expected more understanding from you two, considering I've been made aware you know the full account of why he behaved like he did."

"I still don't know if I can trust him," Lukas muttered.

"You're correct," she conceded, standing upright. "This is why Blackthorn Security will monitor his behavior and interactions on campus. Furthermore, this is not a slap on the wrist situation. Noah Black will be required to meet with the clan at a future date and provide a detailed debriefing of everything he knows about the rogue group or groups operating in this region. That information isn't pertinent to this discussion, so I didn't think I had to inform you, but since you both were willing to accept Mr. Black so graciously…" She cut her gaze between Lukas and Seth, the disappointment in them clear on her face.

"With all due respect, I don't blame them for their mistrust," Dominic said.

"Nor I. I am not one hundred percent settled in the choice myself, but I feel with the details provided, punishment when he seems unaware of the role of those he surrounded himself with is unjust." She settled her gaze on Lukas. "For someone who knows what it's like to be labeled guilty on assumptions, I expected more from you."

Charlotte leaned over and whispered, "What is she talking about?"

Blaire frowned, ducking her head. "When I was gone, students treated him like he'd killed me, unaware of the actual story. Rumors ran rampant, and some outright called him a murderer."

Lukas slid his gaze over to the two of them. Blaire hadn't been as quiet as she thought.

"That's exactly what I'm talking about," the headmistress said. "Thank you, Blaire."

"Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean he should be crucified for it, but I'm tired of seeing these assholes walk, get their memory wiped, or go to Cresbel while Blaire suffers, and we get pegged as the ones in the wrong."

"If you knew what happened behind the walls of Cresbel Asylum, you wouldn't say that," Dominic said with a shake of his head. "The reports I've seen during meetings with the clan would shake you to the core. It is not a place you want to end up." He looked over at Aiden, catching his eye.

Dominic had stopped Aiden from ending up there or being executed. Charlotte had more to thank him for than she realized.

Headmistress Velastra said, "I understand you feel this is unfair, Lukas, but there are procedures we must follow. There are things you've all done that have been overlooked for the sake of the greater good, but if the clan proceeded with harsher punishments above what another would receive for the same laws broken, anarchy would erupt in our world. There's already enough discourse surrounding Blaire's awakening as it is." The headmistress rounded the table. "We need to try to mitigate the discord." She waved a hand at someone out of sight before returning to the table. "I expect you all to behave yourselves."

Noah rounded the corner of a bookshelf with his hands tucked deep into the pockets of his dark jeans. He wore a leather jacket over a charcoal gray hoodie with a white T-shirt underneath. He offered the room a hesitant smile, but it didn't meet his eyes.

Aiden stood, and Charlotte followed, reaching out for his arm to keep him from going after Noah. A muddled mess of emotions hit her chest like a gunshot the instant Aiden noticed him. She couldn't decipher his feelings. The only thing she knew for certain was that Noah was the target of his intensity.

Aiden moved to position himself in front of her when Noah noticed her and rounded the table. "Stay away from her," he said, voice like ice. When Noah froze, he added, "Give me a reason and I'll end you."

His lack of trust in Noah was unmistakable now. While he didn't express his mistrust as candidly as Seth or Lukas did before, his words carried a deadly promise that everyone in the room knew he was capable of fulfilling. He had killed for her before.

Noah held up his hands and took a step back. "I get it."

"Aiden," the headmistress said, voice stern. "Sit down and control yourself or you will be asked to leave. All of you show a bit of decorum. I expect better than this."

Riley tapped her hands against the table. "I didn't say anything. I trust the guy."

Charlotte's mouth popped open, and Riley laughed.

"What? I didn't. But he said all that stuff. He's a sad boy."

"A sad boy?" Noah's dark brows disappeared behind his shaggy curls.

"Yep," she said, sitting up.

Riley didn't elaborate on her assessment of Noah, and he shook his head. If he planned to be a part of the academy, he would need to get used to her eccentric behavior.

The headmistress gave her an exasperated look.

"What?"

"Read the room."

"Okay," she said, groaning. "I promise I'll stop teasing. "

"She's not going to stop," Seth said.

"Oh, ye of little faith."

Headmistress Velastra cracked a small smile, and Lukas snorted.

Charlotte found it amazing how Riley could completely transform the atmosphere, defusing the tension without even realizing it. She studied Riley's face as she stuck her tongue out at Seth. Maybe she did know what she was doing.

The headmistress clapped her hands, diverting attention back to her again. "Have a seat, Mr. Black." Her gaze moved across the table, her tone sharpening to a reprimand. "Aiden."

Aiden slumped into his chair, but not before grabbing Charlotte by the arm and pulling her with him. She yelped in surprise until he pulled her into his lap, placing one hand on her thigh and the other on her stomach. She looked at Blaire with wide eyes.

"Get used to it."

Noticing Charlotte's uncertainty, the headmistress softened her voice and said, "A threatened or insecure Korrena will do things to soothe their negative feelings and assert his or her position to anyone they feel is a threat."

Aiden sucked his teeth.

"Lukas still does it," Blaire said, offering a smile.

Lukas shrugged. "Whatever."

Riley giggled. "You're not so calm yourself." She looked at Charlotte, hooking her thumb at Blaire. "You should have seen the way she pushed past this girl at Haven trying to talk to Lukas. Blaire planted herself right in his lap and stuck her tongue down his throat."

"Talk about asserting her position," Dominic mumbled, trying not to laugh.

Aiden chuckled behind Charlotte, and his body relaxed.

Blaire's face turned as red as a tomato, and Lukas smirked .

Noah slid into the seat Charlotte vacated and looked at Aiden. All eyes moved to Noah, questioning his choice to take the seat next to Aiden. Did he have a death wish?

"It's fair you don't trust me." He ignored the rumble in Aiden's chest. "We've not had the most pleasant interactions, and now you've found out all this about the rogues, but I didn't know half the shit going on, I swear it. I would never want to hurt her."

"Why?" Seth asked.

"Truth be told, I liked her. Not as a friend, but more."

Aiden tightened his fingers on her belly. She squirmed and leaned into him, hoping her weight would ease him.

"I don't feel that way anymore. I mean, she's cute and all, but I'm not about to lose my head over her. The most that happened was a kiss, and—"

"The fuck you say?"

She gasped at Lukas's outburst and looked up when he moved to stand between where Noah sat and where Aiden held her in a vise-like grip. He'd moved to intercept Aiden before he could even stand.

The overwhelming emotion of rage passing through their bond made her want to vomit. Aiden trembled beneath her. Lukas didn't have a direct line to Aiden's emotions like she did, but they were best friends. They looked out for one another, knew each other well enough to know when the other would react badly.

Even though Aiden knew about the kiss, his potent anger made her question how intense his fury had been when she first told him about the kiss before the bond started to develop. Hearing Noah say the words himself likely had an effect similar to pouring gasoline on a bonfire.

Riley leaned forward on the table, her knees on the seat, peering around Lukas, who remained a silent sentinel between Noah and Aiden. "When'd that happen?"

Charlotte took a breath. Even though she could taste his anger, he moved the hand from her thigh to stroke her arm with the gentlest touch. "Before Aiden came to visit. The night I saw the Vasirian in the alley."

Riley's eyes narrowed. "Did he force you?"

"No! Noah's not like that. I pulled away and told him I only wanted to be friends. Nothing happened." She didn't understand why she needed to defend herself or Noah. She wasn't dating Aiden then. Still, she wanted to ease their worries. "We're friends. Nothing more."

Aiden grunted.

Lukas looked back at him. "We good?"

"Yeah," Aiden said, voice no higher than a strained whisper.

Charlotte turned to give him a quick kiss on his lips to make him feel better, but he startled her by putting his hand on the back of her head, sliding his tongue into her mouth, and tangling it with hers. When she moaned, he pulled away, cutting his eyes to Noah. Well, then.

"Talk about asserting his position," Riley said, echoing Dominic's earlier words about Blaire. He snorted a laugh.

"If everyone is done acting like children, I'd like to finish this," the headmistress said.

Aiden scoffed, sitting back and pulling Charlotte against him.

"Mr. Black. With the danger you will face turning your back on the local gang of rogues you have been with, I have been advised to inform you that you are under strict orders by the Blackthorn Clan not to leave campus until they can send for you to come to Europe to discuss what you know."

"Don't gotta worry about that. No way am I going back into town and getting myself killed. "

She nodded, satisfied with Noah's response.

"So I have a question," Aiden said.

Headmistress Velastra looked at Aiden, who sat watching Noah with intense scrutiny. "Very well."

"How'd you have the black eye and split lip for so long?"

Noah scratched his head, fluffing his curls. "Brent."

"Brent?" Seth asked.

"Yeah. The rogue who stalked Charlotte. The one Aiden—"

The headmistress cleared her throat.

"The one who disappeared," Noah corrected. "He injected me with Folinarin before he kicked my ass for kissing Charlotte. I couldn't heal for a while. He wanted me to suffer."

"He sounds like a sadist," Charlotte said. And to think I felt a little sorry for the guy and his loss.

"You're not far off the mark. One of the other guys told me that after he lost his Korrena he wasn't the same. I didn't know him before that. Brent said he wanted me to remember my place and have a reminder not to touch what is his."

Riley's face scrunched. "What's his?"

Noah looked at Charlotte. "Her."

Aiden's hands tightened on her; an inhuman growl rumbled in his chest.

Riley, ignoring her brother, asked, "Why are the rogues after Blaire? It's the one thing we've tried to understand. Like, why would they try to kill her if she'll be able to save them?"

"What are you talking about?"

Everyone looked at Noah.

"The prophecy," Riley said like it was obvious.

"I don't know much of their motives, but if Blaire becomes a Vasirian and the ancient magic awakens and kills us all, I don't blame them for being concerned." He looked at Blaire. "I don't think you should die or anything, but there has to be something to avoid destroying us."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Lukas snapped, sitting up.

"The prophecy."

"That is so not the prophecy," Riley said. "Is that what your gang thinks?"

"Not my gang."

"My bad." Riley waved a hand. " Former gang."

"Anyway, it's what's spread throughout the rogue communities and created the panic."

Lukas slumped back, releasing a string of curses. Blaire placed her hand on his arm.

"Your sources are very wrong, Mr. Black. The prophecy is the exact opposite of your belief."

"What?"

Charlotte saw the confusion in Noah's eyes. He didn't know the truth. It would seem none of the rogues did.

"If Blaire doesn't become a Vasirian, then the magic keeping us alive disappears and we all die," the headmistress said, clasping her hands in front of her.

"What in the… What?" Noah looked around the table at everyone. They all held varying degrees of frustration and resignation. "You're serious?"

"I don't joke, Mr. Black."

"I… I didn't know." He swept his gaze to Blaire. "I swear I didn't know."

She nodded but said nothing.

"Is there a way to inform the other rogues?" Charlotte said, sitting up in Aiden's lap now that he'd calmed down. "Maybe put an end to this?"

Seth shook his head. "We can't just put out an all-broadcast bulletin like an international emergency. Humans can't know. It would create a panic like we've never seen."

"We need to speak to the Oracle," Headmistress Velastra said, looking at Dominic. "Perhaps the Celestial Conclave has provided her insight into this dilemma. If she's unaware, she needs to know as well as the rest of the clan. The rogues believing Blaire is a threat to them, and not their salvation, makes this a treacherous path to navigate."

"Speaking of the Oracle," Blaire started, and everyone looked at her. "I had another dream last night."

"A dream?"

Blaire looked across the table at Charlotte with a nod.

Blaire had shared before about a magical place that she could only access in her dreams if the Oracle pulled her there. The place was real but cut off from their plane of existence because of the loss of magic. It sounded like the stuff of fairytales, but she knew Blaire wasn't lying about it. Too many things aligned with other events they'd explained to her.

The coolest part of it all was Blaire had a guardian wolf named Ciro that the Celestial Conclave granted her with her father's will for her to be safe. A guardian wolf was another thing to add to the top of the pile of unreal things Charlotte had to believe if she expected to survive this world.

"What happened?"

Blaire looked up at the headmistress. "The Oracle told me about Charlotte and why she became a Korrena."

"What? When?" Riley pushed to her knees again, unable to sit still. "Why?"

"In my dream last night. I've been with Professor Sinclair all day, so I couldn't say anything."

"The Oracle didn't tell Charlotte when they met," Aiden said. "Why did she tell you?"

"The Celestial Conclave gave her more information since then. The magic that saved your life left a piece of itself inside of you. That spark of magic called to the dormant magic in Charlotte. It was supposed to happen this way."

"What do you mean?" Riley asked.

"Aiden's death was part of the prophecy, but what wasn't said—but was still meant to happen—was if my heart opened enough to save him, then it would facilitate Charlotte's awakening. She was meant to awaken before the other humans. So even if I chose against it, she would be with us. My magic reverberating through Aiden awakened Charlotte."

Dominic let out a low whistle.

"Chose what?" Charlotte asked. "What choice?"

Lukas looked at Charlotte. "If Blaire doesn't become a Vasirian, the magic won't come back. Our kind then becomes kind of…"

"Doomed?" Riley finished for him, and Lukas winced.

"Why don't you want to become one?"

Blaire's gaze shifted to Noah with apprehension. "I do, but the Oracle told us it isn't safe to do it yet. With the threat of the rogues, Lukas can't safely turn me. I'll be too vulnerable during the transition. I used to not know if I wanted to do it, but I do now."

His hands went up in a sign of surrender. "Hey now. Now that I know the truth, I don't get why the others would be against it. At least, the ones who know. I know the gang I ran with doesn't know this. I fully support you joining us."

"Dominic, can you contact one of the members of the Blackthorn Clan to have the Oracle reach out to me? I would like to speak to her about this new information to see if it holds any bearing on the prophecies she's already laid out for us. I want to know if there is any additional information we can glean about the rogues' actions."

He nodded, looking at the headmistress. "I'll get on that after this meeting. Nothing new has come forward so far about who's controlling their movements. Adrian has tried to get inside information with no luck. The groups are way too organized across multiple countries to not have someone in a position of power running them."

Noah scoffed, drawing everyone's attention. "Oh, there is absolutely someone above the rogues. I've never seen them, but James always reported to someone. When Brent talked with him on speaker phone, James seemed afraid whenever they talked about making his reports."

"Mr. Black, I want you to meet with our security team after this and give them all the information you know about the members of the gangs that operate in this region."

He sat up and put his arms on the table. "Sure, but I gotta warn you…" He tapped his fingers a couple times. "There are several in the area. I only really know ours—well, my former one." He gave a shake of his head, his chin-length waves brushing his cheeks.

"Several?"

He nodded at Riley.

"That's outrageous," the headmistress said. "How have we been able to remain in the dark about this? The Blackthorn schools and local associations keep us well aware of what is happening in the region concerning everything in the human world. We have to know to keep our schools protected."

"Hey, I'm not lying."

"We don't think you're lying," Dominic said, giving Noah a sympathetic look. "We're concerned. Only a couple of months ago, we believed there weren't any organized rogue cells in the States."

"How wrong we were," the headmistress said, lowering herself into the seat.