Immortal Consequences(95)

“Catherine?”

She nodded. “I know they’re not the same person, but I still worry. How could I not?”

“You think she’ll join the Demien Order.”

“She’s mentioned it before,” muttered Masika, dipping her voice lower.

August shook his head. “Irene wouldn’t. She’s smarter than that.”

“But she’s scared. Whether or not she admits it out loud, Irene is terrified. It’s why she’s desperate for power. She wants to feel in control. And a part of me can’t help but think that if she doesn’t win, if she doesn’t become part of the Ascended…” Her voice trailed away, but August knew what she was implying.

“You’ll have to keep a close eye on her.”

“I will.”

August sighed.

“Friendship in the afterlife isn’t for the faint of heart.”

“Neither is love.” She gestured toward Emilio and Olivier with an exasperated wave. “A part of me worries those two will never wake up and acknowledge their feelings.”

“Maybe they won’t.”

“Speaking of complicated feelings…” Masika chuckled beneath her breath.

August lifted his gaze.

“What?”

She nudged him toward the entrance. “Open your eyes.”

And that was when August looked up and saw her.

Her auburn hair had been set free from its usual braid, cascading down her shoulders in loose waves. The academy had gifted her a crimson dress that flowed to the floor in ribbons of silk. Rubies adorned her neck, like crystallized droplets of blood clinging to her ivory skin.

August was mildly aware of Masika’s amused gaze drilling into him, but he didn’t care. He couldn’t think of anything—of anybody—besides Wren Loughty standing before him, breaking through the crowd like a blood-soaked flame.

August.

He tensed as his own name rattled in his mind. For a brief second, he thought it might have been someone else calling out to him, his mind playing tricks on him. But he knew that voice.

He would always know that voice.

Wren continued to stare at him, his name echoing through his mind once more.

August.

A paralyzing shudder ran through his body when the realization dawned on him.

He’d figured there might be some residual side effects tied to the spell he had cast. Putting a piece of his soul inside someone was bound to have consequences.

Mind reading, however, was a bit of a surprise.

He had two options. He could pretend he hadn’t noticed and simply approach her as if nothing were wrong. Or…he could push the boundary a little more. Embrace the new connection and face the potential destruction left in its wake.

But as he watched her, as he let his eyes roam over her face, he knew there was really no choice. Not when he already knew what he was going to do.

He let out a shuddering breath…and dipped into her mind.

Loughty, darling. Are you going to simply stand there staring, or are you going to set aside your pride and come talk to me?

Confusion instantly washed over her face. Her brows scrunched. Her mouth slightly parted.

What…what is this? Her voice slithered into his mind. Why can I hear you?

Christ…hearing Wren’s voice was one thing, but feeling it inside his mind was something else entirely. It was overwhelming. Dizzying. Like a dangerously good high.

He needed to get a grip.

His legs moved robotically underneath him, cutting through the crowd. Neither of them dared to look away as they closed the distance between them.

When they were finally standing together in the middle of the dance floor, Wren let out a choked breath.

“What the hell is going on?”

August shook his head. “I don’t know.” It wasn’t a complete lie. He knew why it was happening—he just had no idea how it was possible.

“We can’t…I shouldn’t be able to…” Wren shook her head. “Telepathic communication goes beyond any of our magical abilities. That isn’t…that isn’t something we should be able to do.”

August smirked. Well, I guess we’re just better than everybody else.

Wren scoffed.

You’re insufferable.

“You look nice,” August added out loud, looking her up and down. Nice. It didn’t even begin to scratch the surface. She was so much more than just nice. Though truthfully, he doubted there were any words he could string together that could adequately describe how he felt about Wren.

“Thanks.” Her eyes nervously scanned the room, as though she was looking for somebody.

“Something on your mind?” He cocked his head, stepping closer. “I would expect you’d be a little more…persistent about figuring out why we can suddenly read each other’s thoughts.”

Wren’s eyes jolted back toward August. “I just…I have something important I need to talk to you about.”

Apprehension pressed against August’s chest.

“More important than this? All right. I’m intrigued.”

Wren gnawed on the inside of her cheek. And then, to August’s immense surprise, she slipped into his mind once more.

I went to the infirmary.

August cocked his head. “What for?”