depths. “You know, there’s another way you could get the information you’re after.”
I scrunched up my brows, confused. How? We’d looked through every book in the library on compulsion and memory magic. There wasn’t any way—
“There is,” she interrupted the thought, her expression guarded. “But it wouldn’t be in any of your books, Harper.”
I realized what she was alluding to and my mouth fell open. Never again.
I told you I wouldn’t do blood magic ever again.
I had no idea there even was a blood magic spell that would help with this sort of thing.
“There’s a blood magic spell for almost everything there isn’t a spell for using traditional magic. It’s simple really, and all it will do is to help her remember whatever she’s been made to forget.”
“I won’t do it,” I growled at her, balling my hands into fists and my magic rising.
I remembered how the dark magic had tainted me before—made me almost high on its effects. How I’d almost succumbed to the darkness cloying at me from within and wouldn’t let it go. I could have held it there inside me forever. Stayed powerful. Stronger than any witch who ever lived. Letting it go hadn’t been easy, and I wouldn’t tempt myself like that a second time.
Rose threw her hands up and I saw that she was already starting to fade away. That had to be a new record. She was coming less and fading faster. “Fine. Do as you please,” she said, clearly annoyed. “I was only trying to suggest something that might help.” Her gaze rested on with a flicker of the insanity I’d seen in her a few times before, her anger forcing it to the surface. She laughed, the sound echoing off the stone walls before she blinked out of existence again.
“Ah, here they are,” Bianca said, coming up for air from the closet with her own set of black heels to wear tomorrow. She seemed oblivious to the silent argument that’d gone on right beside her, and I was grateful. “These will be perfect!”
“Are you girls ready?” Granger asked with a hint of sarcasm as we stepped into her office in all our finery late Saturday afternoon. Did we not look ready?
I laughed, feeling only moderately ridiculous in the gown Bianca had bought for me. I’d have felt more ridiculous if she wasn’t wearing its twin in soft pink with silver tulle instead of black. At least we got to look ridiculous together.
It would be almost nine in the evening at the Abbey, and I was willing to bet the guys and whichever of our classmates dared to show up were already there. Elias was portaling Cal, Adrian, and grudgingly—after he heard what I’d allowed Draven to do to me—Draven too. Ms. Granger had insisted I allow her to escort me this one last time. She said she couldn’t stay late, but was honored to receive an invitation. I supposed she didn’t know the invites went out to all the professors at the academy.
Probably because most of the professors had tossed their invites in the trash without a thought, just like I was sure most of the other students had, too.
Good. Fewer people to sift through. I hoped there were only a handful of people who showed up, no matter how embarrassing that would be.
“We’re ready,” Bianca said with a curt little bow, playing the part of the princess she looked.
Granger shook her head, and I realized even she’d dressed for the occasion. She had changed into a deep burgundy dress that was just long enough to sweep the floor. The color suited her, and the deep red of her lipstick matched.
“You look nice,” I told her.
“So do you,” she replied. “Happy birthday, Harper.”
I smiled. “Thanks.”
It felt strange to know that today was the anniversary of my birth when we’d always celebrated it on another date. It didn’t feel like my birthday. But it was kind of nice to finally have a real one.
I’m an adult now—officially anyway, and that was a thing worth celebrating. It was a thing worth smiling about. I could come and go from the academy as I pleased from now on. I could take my guys and travel the world. Go see my family’s vacation home in Spain. Sip wine in the French Riviera. Tour Rome.
I’d done a lot of traveling in my short life already with Leo and Lara, but all it’d done was make me hungry to see more. Taste more tastes. Smell more smells.