to, but this is your new 'home',” I say.
I wouldn't call the place a cell, but the room barely has room for more than two single beds and nightstands. At the academy, mine and Jamie’s was twice the size. Ryker darts a look around and points at the spare single bed, piled with my clothes.
“Do I sleep there?”
“Oh. Yeah.” Gathering my spare clothes in my arms, I dump them on my bed instead. “I've been alone a while.”
“Sweet,” says Ryker and he dumps his rucksack onto the brown blanket covering the bed. The thin mattress's springs creak beneath the weight as he sits and takes in his surroundings. I switch on a light hanging above us, which highlights the peeling paintwork and scratched wooden floor. Sweet?
“What did you do?” he asks.
I arch a brow. “Uh. We don't ask that question, Ryker. People choose whether to tell you or not. My advice: don't ask anyone else that question.”
For the first time, I spot unease in his eyes. “Right. Well, I didn't murder anyone, in case you're worried.”
“You can't use magic in here, so that wouldn't bother me if you had,” I lie. He looks at me expectantly. “No, I didn't murder anybody. Okay?”
“Sweet.”
I hope he doesn't keep repeating that word, because it's already annoying me.
Sitting on the edge of my unmade bed, I clench my jaw, pissed off his arrival spoiled my plans. I can still 'talk' to Amelia, but the only place with privacy outside my room is outside, on the benches looking over the tarmacked exercise yard.
Scottish winter? I won't be able to sit outside long, and that pisses me off more.
17
MATT
“You seem more upset than usual,” says Amelia, her voice faint in my mind.
I draw my knees to my chest, placing heavy boots on the wooden bench, as I 'chat' to Amelia. The cold gnaws at me through the heavy jacket and I'm losing sensation in my ears. “I'm outside and it's fucking freezing.”
“Why outside?”
“I have a new roommate,” I grumble.
“Oh. Unfortunate. What's he like?”
“Dunno. He arrived this evening and I haven't spoken to him much. Dumped him in the witches' common room. Jay can fill him in on life at the holiday camp.”
Amelia's voice peters out and I grasp out for her in my mind. “Amelia?”
“I'm still here.”
Although I live for my time with Amelia, part of me knows I should let her go. Amelia admitted that thinking about how awful things are for me at Ravenhold upsets her, but I'm aware how much this upset is caused by missing the guy she's bonded to.
“How's academy life?” Not that I want reminding, but we've little else in common right now.
“Maeve seems friendly. She struggles with the whole 'I'm a witch thing'.” Amelia pauses. “I think she has a thing for Ash.”
I smile. “A lot of girls have a thing for Ash. How's Jamie?”
I hear a chuckle and the sound lifts my day. “I think he has a thing for Maeve.”
“Oh,” I laugh too. “Complicated. A witch and a shifter. She should add in a vampire and complete the set.”
“Maeve is definitely unique,” she says evasively.
Amelia talks about academy life, but only if I push her. Sometimes I ask questions and she evades them. I challenged her once and she told me odd things are happening at the academy and she's paranoid our telepathic conversation might be intercepted.
At first, I scoffed at her, but when I thought about our chat later that evening, worry seeped in. If Amelia is concerned somebody could hear our conversations, whatever's happening must involve powerful people.
Is Ryker right about Dominion infiltrating Nightworld academies?
“Is Maeve the reason you won't talk to me about the weird things happening to you all?”
“Partly. I told you about the attacks.”
I stare across the place I shouldn't be—a place I can't protect Amelia. “I'm worried about you, Lia. Please don't get involved with shit. You're not—”
“Strong enough?” she interrupts, with a hard edge to her thoughts.
“No, that isn't what I was about to say.” I rub my eyes with my cold fingers. “You're not safe. Every time I talk to you, I walk away scared for your safety.”
“I'm okay. Don't worry.”
My stomach fills with fear for her that spreads to my aching heart. “I should be with you, Lia. I want to keep you safe.”
“Keep yourself safe. You won't be at Ravenhold forever.”
No, but I feel like I'm lost in a forever nightmare. The grey clouds hang over the depressing stone building but do nothing to keep out the