Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

Gianna

The tension in the SUV was running high, each word and glance catching and pulling at old wounds.

Petar glanced over his shoulder at Louise, a glimmer of warmth in his eyes. "Is my son Dimitri coming?"

The way he said my son with such pride and possessiveness in his voice made my stomach clench. I bet that tone must have hurt Valentin.

Augustus's jaw tightened as he glanced over at Petar. "Yes, he's coming. Valentin will be with him. Just to warn you, Petar…Dimitri has become even more protective of his brother."

Petar's lips curved into a smirk, a hint of cruelty in his eyes. "I'm not surprised. Valentin always was Dimitri's Achilles's heel. "

The words hung in the air, sharp and cutting. I clenched my fists, anger rising in my throat. How could Petar speak so callously? Even if Valentin wasn't his biological son, Petar was the only father Valentin had ever known.

Before I could say anything, Petar's phone rang and he immediately answered it.

"Yes, sir." He glanced at me in the rearview mirror and silently mouthed, ‘Angelo.'

I knew my brother cared deeply for me, unlike Petar for Valentin. In fact, my brother considered everyone in his organization family, whether they were blood or not. I guess that was the difference between him and Petar.

"No, sir. We didn't have any problems, and we are enroute to Augustus and Louise's home right now…I understand, sir…. Yes, as soon as I find out, I will let you know."

I got the impression something was going on, something more than just Petar protecting me.

"Yes. She's right here." Petar's voice was tight, his eyes darting to me in the rearview mirror.

He handed me the phone, his fingers brushing against mine as I took it from him. I pressed the phone to my ear, my heart pounding in my chest. What was going on? "Angelo?"

"I hear you made it to Salem without any problems." His voice was filled with a sense of relief, but it did little to quell the sudden unease churning in my gut. I could feel the tension radiating through the phone, and I gripped it tighter.

"Is something wrong?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. I glanced at Louise, who was watching me in concern .

"No. I just want you to stay close to Augustus and Petar while you're staying in Salem. Do not venture off without one of them, even if you're with Louise." His voice made me think that he was keeping something from me. A wave of frustration washed over me, and I clenched my jaw, trying to keep my emotions in check.

I gripped the phone tighter, my palm sweaty against the plastic. "Did the Moirai Mirror show you something I should know about?" I pressed. My voice was steady, but I could feel the urgency building inside me, like an elastic band ready to snap.

"Gianna, please. Just do as I ask. All I want to do is keep you safe." Angelo's voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.

Shitshitshit

Meaning he had seen something in the mirror, but he wasn't going to tell me what it was. I could feel the blood drain from my face, my stomach twisting into knots. I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry, as a cold blanket of dread settled over me.

I closed my eyes, my chest tightening as the horrible nightmare clouded my vision. I could almost feel the phantom pain of claws and sharp teeth ripping through my skin. It had to be the wolf shifter. He had followed me. "The stranger in the mirror…is he here?" My voice was barely a whisper, the words sticking in my throat.

My brother's voice softened as he changed the subject. "Just drink the potion that Augustus has made. You' ll be fine."

He wasn't fooling me. I could hear the unease in his voice. Either he doubted the potion would work, or there was something else going on that he didn't want to tell me.

For a split second, I wanted to go back to Crescent Manor where Angelo had an army of vampires to protect me. The witches wouldn't be able to offer me that kind of protection. "Should I come home?" I asked, hating the tremble in my voice but unable to stop it.

"No. Stay put. You're safe, Gianna. Trust me."

I bit my lip hard enough to taste blood, fighting to stay in control. I didn't want to get ripped apart again. What if the next time the wolves finished the job? The thought sent a shudder through my body, and I clenched my free hand into a fist, my nails digging into my palm.

"Gianna?" Angelo's voice snapped me back to the present.

I took a deep shaky breath, forcing my fingers to relax. "Okay, I'll stay here, Angelo. Bye. Love you." I handed the phone back to Petar, my hand shaking, and turned to stare out the window, blinking back the tears that had started to fall.

Louise reached over and touched my knee gently. "Gianna? What is it?"

I wiped the stupid tears from my cheeks. "Nothing."

"Gianna," she drawled. I knew Louise wouldn't drop this.

I turned from the window. "Do you know much about the Moirai Mirror? "

She frowned. "Augustus told me a little. I know it's now in Angelo's possession. Why, did Angelo see something?"

"Yes…a mysterious stranger…. He couldn't tell who it was, but I think…I think he's here."

Augustus glanced at me in the rearview mirror. "What kind of stranger?"

I was shaking so hard could barely get out the words. "The wolf shifter."

Petar whirled around, his eyes flashing with irritation. "Gianna, you don't know that for sure. You need to calm down." His sharp, angry voice struck an ember inside me, igniting a fire that threatened to consume my restraint.

My fists clenched at my sides, nails digging crescents into my palms as I fought to control my rising fury. "How dare you talk to me like that?" I spat, my voice low and dangerous. I leaned toward him, my chin tilted defiantly upward. "I'm a vampire mafia princess and wolves attacked me, almost killing me." My chest heaved with each breath, heart pounding a furious rhythm against my ribs.

Louise put a hand between us, her presence a soothing balm to my frayed nerves. She gently clasped my trembling hand, her touch cool against my flushed skin. "Goody Magic Academy is warded, Gianna," she murmured, her voice soft but firm. "Evil can't penetrate our wards. You're safe."

The tension slowly ebbed from my shoulders, my breathing gradually steadying. I gave her a wan smile, hoping she was right. The fire of my anger dimmed to embers, but a lingering unease still coiled in my gut.

Augustus turned down a winding road, and I caught my breath at the sight before me. There, perched atop a hill, framed by the fiery hues of the setting sun, stood Goody Magic Academy. Its spires and turrets reached toward the heavens, the ancient stones whispering tales of centuries past. The castle was both intimidating and mesmerizing, a fortress steeped in mysterious power.

As we drew closer, I marveled at the details that began to emerge from the shadows. Moss-covered bridges spanned deep moats, their waters glimmering like liquid gold in the fading light. Ivy crept up the weathered walls, its tendrils intertwining with the stone like delicate lacework, adding a touch of vibrant green to the somber gray.

What felt like icy fingers scraped over my skin and I trembled—a tingle of ancient magic that emanated from the very foundations of the castle. It was as if the grounds themselves were alive, pulsing with secrets and untold stories. Maybe the academy really would be able to protect me.

A car engine roared behind us.

"Here comes trouble," Augustus said grimly as he parked the SUV behind a brick building.

A black Camaro pulled up next to us, and the car door abruptly opened. I found myself gazing into the most mesmerizing pair of eyes I had ever seen. They were a deep, hypnotic shade of blue, like the darkest depths of the ocean, and they seemed to bore right through me, straight into my soul.

The man the eyes belonged to was equally striking, with chiseled features that looked like they could have been carved from marble. His jet-black hair was artfully tousled, framing a face that was all sharp angles and handsome, brooding intensity. He had the kind of bone structure that belonged on a billboard or a movie screen, but there was something dangerous about him too, an aura of barely contained power that made my skin prickle.

He was dressed all in black, from his leather jacket to his boots, and the dark color only served to accentuate his pale, luminous skin. He looks like a fallen angel, I thought—beautiful and terrifying all at once. I felt my breath hitch when he fixed me with his penetrating gaze.

But there was no warmth in those eyes. No hint of welcome or kindness. Instead, they blazed with a kind of hostile intensity that made me want to shrink further into the back seat. The corners of his mouth turned up into a wry smile, and he slammed the car door shut with a force that made me flinch.

"Well, well, well," he drawled, his voice low and dangerous. "Who do we have here?"

My heart pounded in my chest, and I could feel the sweat beading on my forehead. Shit, was this the mysterious stranger?

And if so, what did he want with me?