Tarot Academy 4 - Sarah Piper Page 0,86

just wants to pretend that everything’s totally normal—like we’re all just here in this house for an extended winter break party while the rest of the world is about one lit match from total annihilation.”

“Are we interrupting?” a voice calls from the doorway—Cass, with Kirin bringing up the rear.

“Yes,” I say, at the same time Stevie invites them in, scooting over to make room for them on the bed.

“We were just talking about Ani,” she says, showing them the reversed Tarot card.

She tells them about her Black Sun theory, Judgment’s dire warnings.

“Maybe it is Judgment’s influence,” Doc says, “but that doesn’t mean he’s turned. It’s possible he’s just being haunted, not unlike you were after your return. How are you feeling, by the way?”

“I haven’t seen the mark in a few weeks.” I lift my shirt and show them the exact spot on my chest where the blazing XX used to appear, but there’s nothing there now. “Maybe he’s gone.”

“Exactly a few weeks?” Kirin asks, narrowing his eyes. “Or roughly a few weeks.”

“Does it matter?”

“Actually, yes. Exactly three weeks ago, you came back to Red Sands and had it out with Janelle and Carly. I’m assuming it had something to do with whatever you saw in the realm, since it was Janelle’s house we—”

“Yeah, we don’t need to rehash that again.” I glance at Stevie, her eyes softening.

“I just meant…” Kirin shrugs, pushing his glasses up his nose. “Look, we’re assuming Judgment plays on our regrets and guilt, bad memories, all that stuff. The more we let things fester, the deeper the wounds, that’s where he really digs in. So by confronting some part of your past, or talking about it, or whatever… What if that’s what’s keeping him at bay?”

“It makes sense,” Stevie says. “The past doesn’t have as much power over you as it did in the realm. Which means you’re cutting off his food supply.”

“So long, walking buffet,” I say, and Kirin nods.

“It also explains why it hasn’t hit me as hard,” Kirin says. “I was able to talk about some of my shit with Stevie in the realm, and it didn’t follow me back here quite the same way.”

Cass rises from the bed and heads to the window, gazing out into the abyss. I tell myself it’s because he’s just a broody-ass motherfucker, and not because he’s experiencing any of Judgment’s post-realm wrath for himself.

“Whatever he did to us in the realm,” I continue, “it seems to have an echo effect here, triggered by our own personal guilt and shame. We all agree on that. So that begs the question…” I pick up the Sun card, turning it over between my fingers. “What’s triggering Ani?”

“Goddess, and I thought I was the sensitive one around here.” Ani blazes into the room and hops on the bed, his smile overly bright, his eyes glassy. “Who died? You all look about one animal rescue commercial away from bursting into a group ugly cry.”

“Ugly? Speak for yourself.” I scowl, scrutinizing his all-too-happy face. If Professor Broome wasn’t monitoring him so closely, I might think he was hopped up on another potion.

The fact that he’s bouncing around like the Fool’s puppy after being in a coma for two weeks doesn’t sit well with me either, not to mention the aggression he showed with Stevie the other night. We may be living with the Academy’s most talented potion maker and healer, as well as a boatload of kickass witches and mages, but Ani’s rapid recovery is just a little too far south of unnatural for my liking.

“Aww.” He shoves my shoulder in an aggressive move that’s nothing like the Ani I know, still beaming at me with that shit-eating grin. “You can stop pouting now, Baz. I’m back.”

“Yeah, and looking pretty good for a guy who’s been hibernating like a fucking bear half the month,” I say, trying to keep my tone light. “Lemme guess. Green smoothies and meditation?”

“Maybe I’m just naturally resilient.”

“Maybe you’re just naturally a pain in my ass.” I reach out and haul him in for a surprise a hug. For all the freaky shit going on around here, I missed the sunshine-faced asshole. More than he even realizes.

But it seems Ani isn’t in the mood for affections tonight—at least not from me. He shrugs me off and reaches for Stevie instead, pulling her close and nuzzling her neck. When she doesn’t respond, he moves in closer, going right for the kiss.

Stevie, shocking the hell out of all of