With a trembling hand, I rubbed my forehead trying to make the pieces fall into place.

“Does this mean Holly is the one who told Ian about our blood?” I asked Dorian.

“I don’t know, but that’s what it sounds like.” Dorian pushed off of the tree and walked over to me. Taking the paper from my hands, he scanned the text. “Why would she leave this out for anyone to find it?” he asked, shaking his head in disbelief.

It didn’t make sense. Why would Holly share a secret with a person like Ian? And if it were true, Dorian was right, she wouldn’t leave it just lying around to be found.

“Maybe Ian was lying, he’s not trustworthy.” As much as I didn’t like Holly, I didn’t think she was in cahoots with Ian. “Why’d you show me this? I thought you and Holly had some sort of arrangement.”

Dorian folded the paper and shoved it in his pocket. “What gave you that impression?”

“I heard you talking to her about me.”

Dorian’s face relaxed as a smile curled his lips. “You were eavesdropping? What did you hear?” He took a couple steps forward, his head tilted to the side as he waited for my response. I didn’t like how close he was. My body tensed, and I fisted my hands at my side. I swallowed a few times to ease the dryness that settled in my mouth before I spoke.

“She asked if I was asking any questions, and you said the only ones I asked were about my powers. What questions was she afraid I’d ask, Dorian?” I paused as I observed his face to see if his body language changed. He remained aloof and amused. “Why are you here? You said you’re neutral, so why help the witches?”

Dorian stepped closer, edging me backwards until my back hit the trunk of a tree. He rested his arm against the bark and pinned me in my place. Although his eyes were obscured with sunglasses, I could feel them roam up and down the length of my body. A smirk dimpled his cheeks. He leaned in closer so only a few inches separated our faces.

“I didn’t agree to train the new spirit walker until I saw you on the side of the road. I knew what you were and you were the one Holly wanted trained. I came for you, Gwen,” Dorian kept his voice low and soft, but that didn’t stop chills from dancing up my spine and goose bumps erupting along my skin. He knew what I was the night I witnessed the car accident? He agreed to help Holly only to get close to me?

“Dorian, I can’t do this.”

“Tell me you don’t feel anything when I’m close. Tell me you don’t search a room for me every time you enter. Tell me your heart isn’t racing right now, that you don’t want me to kiss you, and I’ll leave you alone.” He leaned closer, and my heart responded with a hard thud. I did feel things when he was close, but that didn’t change the fact that I loved Aiden. Attraction wasn’t enough to put my relationship in jeopardy. I watched his full lips so close to mine and wondered how they’d taste. What kissing the Angel of Death would be like?

“You can’t, can you?” Dorian teased.

“I don’t have feelings for you, Dorian,” I told him with as much conviction as I could scrape up. Admitting I did feel a connection would only hurt him in the end. Nothing would ever or could ever transpire between us, at least not the way he wanted it.

“Liar,” he whispered before his mouth found mine. His lips were cool, but caused heat to spread through my body.

“Stop!” I used both hands to shove him as far away as I could. Dorian was a big guy, not easy to move, but he stumbled back a couple steps.

“It’ll never be like that between us. I’m thankful for everything you’ve taught me, but I love Aiden. I’m sorry if I led you on—”

“Stop, I don’t need your pity. If you choose to lie to yourself, so be it, but he’ll never understand you the way I do, Gwen.” Dorian turned to walk away. My fingertips trailed my swollen lips as I struggled to regain my breath. The kiss, although short, was something bizarre and amazing. It was like fire and ice colliding, leaving pure steam rushing though my veins.

“Dorian, wait!”

He half turned and looked over his shoulder. Taking a few steps forward, I stared for a few moments.

“I need to know if you and Holly have a plan for me. I have no clue who I can trust. Can I trust you?” It was a stupid question, I knew that. He could lie and feed me a line of bull just to gain my confidence, but I hoped I’d be able to judge by his body language. I liked Dorian, more than I should, and after I was done in Moon, I hoped to see him again. I wanted us to be friends. There was still a lot to learn, and he was the only one who could teach me what I needed to know.

“I cannot speak for Holly, but I do not know of any plan that involves you, nor do I have one myself. The only thing Holly told me to do was train you. She has been just as vague with me as she has with you.” His voice was surly. He turned to walk back up the road again. His explanation was vague at best. Not enough for me to fully trust him, but it also wasn’t enough to avoid him.

“Dorian,” I called out again as I followed him. I knew he wasn’t in any mood to help me, but if I wanted my plan to work, I needed his help.

“What?” He spun around and faced me straight on causing me to take a step back.

“Please don’t be mad. You’re the first person I’ve met who could teach me about myself. Can’t we be friends?” I hoped my voice and eyes conveyed my sincerity. There was nothing worse than seeing pity in someone’s eyes, especially someone you liked. Dorian didn’t need me to feel sorry for him or walk on eggshells around him.

Dorian snorted. “Friends? I don’t have friends, Gwen. I have acquaintances, enemies, and one night stands.”

I was sure if I could see his eyes, the cloudy abyss would be dark, angry rolling clouds. His voice was as harsh as his words. I guessed the Angel of Death didn’t get rejected too often.

“Which one were you going to file me under?” I snapped and crossed my arms. “Why does it have to be all or nothing with you?”

“What’s the point of paying attention to something if you can’t have all of it?” Without another word, Dorian turned and walked back to the castle.

17

“Gwen, hurry up!” Holly snapped from my doorway. The councils agreed to send me back to Flora where I would try to trick Ian into meeting me. My stomach cramped and nerves tightened my entire body into an anxious mess.

“Almost done,” I told her as I shoved my clothes into my suitcase. Aura, or rather my new black cat, wasn’t happy being jostled into her pet carrier. Seeing the feline was a reminder I’d lost the real Aura. When my hand brushed her fur, I no longer felt the prickly sensation of our magic meshing. Slipping the pet carrier onto my shoulder and the thoughts of loss out of my mind, I lifted my suitcase off of the bed and turned to leave.

“Holly, did you imprison Aura in the cat’s body?” Holly followed me down the staircase and was quiet for a few moments.

“What are you talking about?”

“I lost her; she just lifted out of the cat’s body. She told me she was grateful to be free from her prison. You’re the one who gave her to me.” I accused. Knowing my life could end as soon as tonight, I didn’t feel the need to watch my manners. I wanted to know what the hell Aura had done to be entombed in a cat’s body.

“You freed her?” Holly screeched.

“Yes. What’s the big deal?” I laced my words with magic so Holly had to tell me the truth. It didn’t work well on other witches, but Holly didn’t seem to notice. Her eyes glazed over as her lips moved.

“She is my sister, was my sister. She died a long time ago and vowed to haunt me for the rest of eternity for stealing her position on the council. I—” Holly blinked, her eyes returning to normal. She looked at me anger ablaze in her eyes as she sneered. “Using a spell on a council member is a grave offence, Gwen. If we didn’t have more important plans, you’d be dragged to the dungeon!”

Holly shouldered past me, almost toppling me down the stairs. Bracing my hands on the stone railing, I steadied myself. I was happy to get answers about Aura, but I wished I would have used the truth spell to figure out what Holly planned for me. Now that she was aware I’d cross a very dangerous line to gain answers, there was no way I could pull it off again.

*****

The entire plane ride home I thought about everything I’d learned and what I was expected to do. While training I wasn’t exactly vigilant. My mood was sour my entire stay at Moon, and now that my lessons were going to be tested, I was freaking out. Whereas I spent my adult life avoiding magic as much as possible, Ian knew as much magic as any well practiced witch. Lifting my head, I scanned the inside of the plane. All but two of the NAWC members were present and Dorian, who sat alone at the back of the plane. The VC and Aiden would wait until tomorrow to travel to Flora, one of the downfalls of being a vampire. The sun was peeking over the fluffy clouds, coloring them in brilliant oranges and pinks. The sky was beautiful and chipper, such a contradiction to the mood on the plane. The tension of the upcoming confrontation had everyone on edge. They fidgeted in their seats, their eyes darting out the windows and then back inside the plane.

Patrick studied a map of Flora while Holly watched him. Her knee bounced up and down, and her eyes flashed between him and the small window. What she was so nervous about? I was the one playing the bait.

Ignoring the council, I studied the beauty outside the plane.

“Gwen?” Dorian tapped my arm. Blinking a few times to escape my thoughts, I stared at him.

“I want you to know I’ll be right beside you while you’re dealing with Ian.” Dorian sat down next to me.

“Don’t you think that’ll give our plan away?” I asked perturbed. Dorian was a mystery. One minute he was trying to get close, and, the next he could be a complete ass.

“Not if I’m invisible,” he shrugged.

I shifted so I could see him better. “You can go invisible?”