Blood Pledged (Arcane Arts Academy #3) - Elena Lawson Page 0,17

from the other pack members as we strolled past, but the former hostility I was used to seeing directed at Cal was mostly gone. He was no longer pack, which meant he was no longer a threat to Atlas’ leadership. The only thing he could challenge for now was territory, something we’d agreed we would find on our own.

“Cal!” A blur slammed into his side, almost taking them both down as a hand shot out and grabbed at my shirt. “Adrian!”

“Tommy!” Cal said with equal enthusiasm, ruffling his chocolate-brown hair. His brother, Derek, jogged up behind him and watched us both with a nervous smile. “Everything okay?”

Derek shook his head and his smile broadened to a grin. “He was disappointed he wasn’t invited to the ceremony last night.”

I snorted. “It wasn’t anything special.”

“He’s been going on nonstop about the witch who saved you all.” Derek shuffled his feet, scuffing his bare heels on the ground. “Last night was the first time she’d been invited back since it happened and he missed her, so he’s upset—”

“I’m not upset!” Tommy whirled on his brother, face bright red. “I just never got the chance to say thanks, is all.”

Taking in the tense set of his shoulders, clenched fists, and the slightly mortified expression on his face, Cal rubbed his hand over his mouth to hold back a laugh. “We can take your thanks back with us,” he suggested. “Unless you just really wanted to do it in person.”

“I’m pretty sure I thanked her enough for the both of us while you were unconscious,” Derek told him, fighting back the same amusement.

Tommy glanced between us, then lowered his eyes and grit his teeth. “Fine. Tell her I said thanks.” He chanced another peek at Cal. “But ask her to come by soon. It’s not fair I didn’t get to meet her when she basically saved us all.”

“Even though she’s a witch?” I asked, not bothering at all to hide my grin.

“That just makes it cooler,” Tommy insisted, his eyes widening with the first signs of hero worship. “Like, they’re supposed to be the enemy, but she has you two for friends and she risked everything to walk into camp and boss Atlas around to plan a rescue! She’s got guts.”

What I wouldn’t give to have been so open-minded when I was his age, so eager to see the best in everyone. I hoped he kept that with him, balanced with a healthy dose of caution, as he got older.

“Or a death wish.” I chuckled and pushed Tommy’s head to the side. He swatted at my hands, drawing himself up indignantly the way only carefree youth could. “We’ll see what we can do, but we’re not pack anymore, little cub. I’m not sure Atlas will let her back here. She makes too many of them nervous.”

I nodded my head to where a small group of shifters were watching us. All but two turned away when we looked over. Tommy’s shoulders drooped, head hanging in the most childish pout I’d ever seen from him.

“Bunch of wussies,” he complained under his breath.

Cal took a step toward the trees. “We’ll pass your message along, but we’ve gotta head back.”

“Are you staying at that school?” Derek asked. His tone held none of the disgust most of the others lathered on when talking about the witches. In fact, if I had to judge, I would’ve sworn there was a hint of envy. He was an academic, and Harper had mentioned his maps played a big role in our rescue.

“Sort of.” Cal shrugged and took another step, waving at them. “See you around!”

Derek looked like he had more questions, but Cal and I bolted for the treeline. Harper’s anxiety had kicked up and, without a way to communicate, we needed to get back quickly in case something was wrong. She had a habit of finding trouble everywhere she went.

“Probably just a big test she forgot to study for,” Cal joked.

“I don’t know.” I huffed, threading my fingers through my hair. “With Harper, you can never be sure. Here lately, it seems like someone always ends up dead. Evil witch headmasters, shifters and vampires—”

“That is not on her,” Cal snapped, baring his teeth at me. I flinched at the alpha-like tone. “She was the only one who could find us. She tried to save everyone.”

I held my hands up in surrender. “I know, I know. I’m saying that… I don’t know, it just seems like she has a cloud of bad luck