Chapter 39

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

FRANKIE

My hands were covered in blood.

My blood.

I reached up and pressed my fingers over the holes in the side of my neck to put pressure on the vein, but it was no use. My heart was pounding, pumping blood through my body like a rushing river rapid. Each beat sent a wave of my blood pouring over my fingertips and sliding down my throat. The front of my white dress was scarlet red and soaking wet. But I had to keep running.

She was coming.

Queen Sweyn wanted my blood, my witch blood. I had to get out before she caught me. Because she would either drink the magic in my blood for her own use or she would chain me down and breed me like she'd wanted to before.

I had to get out. But everything in this damn place was white. Every hallway looked the same. I slid to a stop at the end of the hall, but each direction was more of the same. My other senses were all I had to try to guide me to freedom, so I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. The air sweeping over my left hand was colder than the air on the right. I turned my head to the left and breathed it in . . . and caught the faint scent of crisp mountain air and a garden.

With a curse, I turned left and sprinted as fast as I could down the hall using my nose as my guide like a dog. With each step I took, that mountain air grew stronger and sharper. I smelled pine trees and smoke. Hope flared in my chest as I rounded yet another corner, following my scent trail. I glanced over my shoulder and choked on a gasp.

I'd left a blood trail.

It was Hansel and Gretel's breadcrumb trail fit for a horror film.

I was getting lightheaded. My hands and feet were numb. But up ahead the hallway ended with open air. The midnight-blue sky beckoned me, the sparkling stars cheering me on like fans in the bleachers egging me to steal home plate. I was so close. I just had to make it. I dug my heels in and pushed my legs as hard as I could, then lunged into the open air— my feet hit cold, wet grass. My legs buckled on contact, and I stumbled a few feet before my balance gave out and I crashed onto my knees. My lungs were burning. I held my hands up and wanted to scream.

No blood.

A quick scan of my body showed my sweatpants and hoodie I'd fallen asleep in were still on and there wasn't a single drop of blood in sight. No white gown. No puncture wounds in my throat from fangs. I groaned and braced my hands on the dirt for a few seconds to try to catch my breath. After a few seconds, I sat up and leaned back on my heels, then looked around. I was outside Coven Headquarters, but not out back where we'd done my initiation and not on the side closest to the school campus. I was on the other side, right along the edge of a dense forest and a little too far from the house than I was comfortable with.

Apparently I'd been sleepwalking. That was new for me.

The trees in front of me rustled. I sucked in a breath and jumped to my feet just as Queen Sweyn emerged from within the shadows.

My breath left me in a rush.

She looked exactly like I remembered. Tall, thin, and with skin as white as snow. Her hair still fell straight down past her hips like someone dumped white paint on her head. Those eyes though . . . There was no forgetting her glowing red eyes.

"My, my, that was easy, little witchling." She let out a husky laugh and licked her lips and took a step forward, stepping out from the line of trees.

Glowing blue forms shot up from the ground, forming a line between Sweyn and me. They were people. Translucent people. My eyes widened as it clicked. These were spirits. Two more popped up on either side of me. They gripped my elbows and dragged me backwards so I was out of arm's reach for her. Then they kept going.

Sweyn snarled and lunged after us, but a light-gray dragon shot out of the tree line to my left and landed right in between me and her. Sweyn flinched and jumped back, but she aimed lasers with her eyes at the dragon. My brain was trying to wrap around the fact that a dragon stood in front of me, but I needed to pay attention to the threat.

Movement in my peripheral vision made me jump, but it was just Savannah, Thiago, Willow, Chutney, Lily, and Easton.

Savannah wiggled her fingers and black smoke curled between them. "Time for you to go, ma'am."

Sweyn growled. "I do not fear you infants, nor your rodent. Do you really think I'm here alone? What's a few of you against me and my vampires?"

Rainbow mist swirled right beside me, then Tegan appeared in its spot. Beside her, the other Bishop family members stood tall and terrible and ready to fight. Sweyn's glare faltered for a split second. She stepped back without taking her eyes off the Bishops, like she was afraid of them.

Tegan made that tsk sound . " Didn't think it'd be that easy, did you?"

Sweyn's face was an ice-cold mask of hatred. "Well, she came out here."

"Because I let her." Tegan looked down her nose at the Vampire Queen in disgust. "I left her unprotected and you showed your hand. You're too old to be this foolish."

Sweyn snarled and lunged for her, but Tegan was faster than I expected. She opened a white portal box right behind Sweyn, then summoned a gust of wind to slam into her chest and throw her into the portal. We still heard her growl echoing between the trees as the portal vanished.

"Get Frankie back inside," Tegan said in a rush.

I opened my mouth to disagree when the bright white light of Tegan's portal washed over me. The other Coven members were right beside me. The last thing I saw was rainbow mist flying straight up into the air. When the light faded, I stood in the living room of Coven Headquarters.

"What the fuck just happened?" I said to no one specific.

"You went for a walk," Tenn answered.

I looked over and found him sitting at the dining room table next to Deacon. "You're up."

Tenn shrugged one shoulder. "You'll find I don't sleep much."

Deacon grinned. "Let's just say we all watched you go running out the front door in your sleep."

"That's great news," I grumbled and waddled over to the table to sit. I cursed. "But what the fuck just happened ? I do not sleepwalk?—"

Tegan reappeared in the seat right next to Tenn so abruptly I actually flinched. "I'm not sure you don't. At least not now that your magic woke up."

I stared at her.

"Look, some people—and I use that word lightly—have the ability to go into people's dreams or subconscious minds." Tegan leaned forward and steepled her hands in front of her face. "I won't pretend I knew Sweyn could do this. And I won't pretend it doesn't unsettle me a bit."

Tenn laughed.

Deacon covered his mouth and snort-laughed.

" Ma'am, what is wrong with you—you know what? No." Savannah shook her head and her hands as she stomped for the stairs. "I'm going back to bed. Holler if you need me."

"Good night, Savannah," Tenn and Deacon yelled together.

Tegan smirked. "Thanks for your help!"

She stomped up the stairs, grumbling something about her cats on her pillow again.

"They're singing a song about being on her pillow. They think it's funny." Chutney giggled, but then she yawned. "I'm gonna let that be what I remember from tonight."

"What about Silas?" Thiago pointed to the front door.

Chutney stopped on the first step. "He's sleeping on the porch like the good guard dog he is."

Willow looked up the stairs and sighed. "Hey Tegan, could you—" she vanished into a white box.

Thiago held his hand up. "My turn?"

Tegan giggled and flicked her wrist and Thiago was gone. "Anyone else?"

"And miss the view?" Easton scoffed and gestured for Lily to go up the stairs in front of him in her little loose pajama shorts. He grinned. "See? Night, y'all."

Hunter tapped Kessler's shoulder, then opened the door on the side of the stairs. "I'm going to stay with Devon?—"

"Dad, you need a bed?—"

"I gave him one." Tegan looked to her father. "Please don't stay awake. If you can't fall asleep, let me know and I'll get something for you. Please?"

He just nodded, then disappeared down the stairs.

Kessler stared after him for a moment and then pinched the bridge of his nose and cursed. "I'll go talk to him."

Emersyn walked to the stairs before pausing. "Deacon, come to bed."

"I was going to go down and check on Henley—" He stopped and narrowed his eyes. He smirked. "It can wait."

And then it was just me, Tenn, and Tegan.

"This almost feels nostalgic," I said with a chuckle.

Tenn grinned that mischievous grin I used to see on Archie every day. "I feel like you shouldn't have said that."

I looked to Tegan. "Are you about to suggest I be bait again?"

"Not bait." She pursed her lips like she was thinking. "Let's say I have an idea to protect you, but it's crazy and unconventional and might not last?"

I shook my head and chuckled. "I'd say your last scheme worked well, so go for it."

Tenn arched one black eyebrow. "Do you want to know what her idea is?"

"Do you have a planned-out strategy you think will work? Like you did these last two times?"

Tegan's eyes sparkled. "Yes."

I nodded. "Well, I didn't know those plans until after, so why change our style now?"

Tegan grinned. "So you're cool with whatever?"

"I trust you." I leaned back in my seat. "Just let me know when it's over, okay?"

"You got it." Tegan stretched her hands and rolled her neck. Then she recited a spell in the ancient language and threw her rainbow magic right into my face. "There, that should do it."