Immortal Consequences(60)

Louise blushed. “Yeah. Still the newbie.”

It was in that moment, the two of them standing among the oak trees, the wind sending strands of pale blond hair across Louise’s ivory skin, that the similarity dawned on Wren. It was so jarring, so sudden, that she let out a shudder, unable to stop herself from stumbling backward.

Louise’s face fell. “What—what is it?”

“It’s just…” Wren could barely get the words out, her mouth running dry. “You…you remind me of someone.”

“Who?”

Wren couldn’t bring herself to say it. To speak her name. She hadn’t spoken her name in eighteen years. She hadn’t let herself. Because speaking her name meant reliving what she had tried so desperately to forget. If she spoke her name, she made her real. She made what had happened to her real.

Wren shook her head, composing herself. “Just…someone I used to know. From my old life.”

Louise nodded, clearly sensing that Wren didn’t want to push the matter further. Her face broke into a soft smile.

“You know,” Louise began, glancing up at the sky, “despite everything that’s happened…despite all of this”—she gestured at Blackwood, arms falling by her sides—“I’m glad I met you.”

An overwhelming warmth spread through Wren, a profound fondness that instantly melted away any reservations she might have had. August was right—there were still moments of doubt. Moments when she considered there might be something she was missing, something unanswered. But looking at Louise now, she knew. Whatever this friendship was, it wasn’t just some fabrication.

It was real.

“Me too, Lou.” Wren smiled at her. “Me too.”

25

Emilio

“It’s going to be amazing!” Josie shrieked, kicking her feet up and down. She was lying with her head resting on Tristan’s lap, legs tucked close. “Can you picture it? Dazzling decorations…beautiful gowns…dancing!”

Emilio shuddered. It sounded like his worst nightmare.

After his final class of the day, he’d followed Tristan and Josie to the Main Yard, where they’d met with Georgia and Carter. The five of them had spent the past hour working on their assignments and reading beneath the late-afternoon glow, stretched out on a wool blanket that was covered in textbooks and fallen leaves. Josie couldn’t stop gushing about the Decennial Ball—going on and on about how wonderful the night was going to be.

“I do have to say I am a remarkable dancer,” Tristan teased, twirling a piece of Josie’s hair around his index finger. “I was a bit of a hot commodity during school dances.”

“Well, I’d better see some of those moves during the ball.” Josie giggled.

“I might have you beat,” Carter teased. He brushed his fingertips against the grass and a beautifully crafted tulip blossomed between his fingers, the petals glittering with magic. “My moves will have even you swooning, Abbot.”

Tristan rolled his eyes. “We’ll see about that.”

“Well, personally I am dreading the whole ordeal.” Georgia sighed, dramatically throwing herself back against the grass.

Carter rolled his eyes. “That’s only because you don’t have a date.”

“I had offers!” Georgia pouted and crossed her arms. “I just didn’t care to go with any of them. And who knows? What if we get eliminated in the next trial? We would be healing in the infirmary for weeks—maybe even months—and miss out on the rest of the Decennial. I just don’t see the point of getting all excited about a ball I might not even be able to attend.”

Emilio didn’t blame her. He’d thought the same thing himself. The second trial was bound to happen any day now, which meant there would be another round of eliminations before the ball.

It was just a matter of time.

“Either way…who am I gonna ask now?” Georgia groaned. “Everybody has already partnered up with someone.”

Emilio shrugged. “We could go together.”

Georgia blinked at him in surprise. “Aren’t you going to go with Olivier?”

Josie and Tristan shared a knowing look, stifling their laughter. Carter didn’t bother to hide his cackle.

Emilio blushed, eyes frantically darting among the group. “What? Why is everyone laughing?”

“I can’t tell if you’re joking,” Georgia replied, deadpan.

“I’m not!”

“Um…because you two are so obviously madly in love with one another?”

Emilio was sure he had gone three shades of red. “We are not—that’s not—I don’t know where you—”

“Oh, Emilio.” Tristan placed a gentle hand on his leg. “There’s really no point in denying it.”

Emilio buried his face in his hands.

“Am I that transparent?”

“You both are,” said Josie, ruffling his hair. “Honestly, it’s rather painful to watch. I just want to grab you two by the neck and—” She smashed her hands together and made a crude gesture that Emilio could only assume was the two of them kissing.

Tristan chuckled and shook his head. “What my dear Josie is trying to say is…you just need a nudge. Something that will push you past that awkward line.”