Nightworld Academy: Winterfall Legacy by Swallow LJ

Author:Swallow, LJ
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Emu House Publishing
Published: 2023-05-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

MAEVE

I’ve only travelled to Lex’s once, but the place already feels familiar, imprinted in my mind forever by the secret I discovered that day. I’m already picturing all the little things, such as the burgundy colour of the candles in his lounge, where he keeps mugs in his kitchen—every nook of the cottage and corner of his small garden tamed within the wilds that surround his home.

The journey takes some hours from our place, and I take the opportunity to nap as Jamie drives. As he takes the rougher track towards the cottage, I already sense the magic and open my eyes. I don’t remember Lex owning a car last time, but how ironic the silver hatchback is parked on the spot where Lex almost killed Tobias—the first time.

Lex walks from the cottage and waits beneath the porch in front of the doorway. I’d told him Tobias wasn’t joining us, but I catch him looking behind Jamie as we climb from his car. The moment I step out Lex’s aura hits me—the sadness I detected in his voice yesterday is magnified now that I’m in his presence. He’s dishevelled, strands of long hair around his face escaping where he ties it back, grey T-shirt crumpled.

“Is he okay?” whispers Jamie. “You did check we’re welcome?”

My heart jumps into my throat as I rush over. Instead of speaking, Lex encompasses me in a hug, which intensifies his and my uneasy energy.

I pull back to look at him, and Lex rubs a pale cheek and smiles. “Don’t look worried. I’m happy to see you, Maeve.”

“You don’t look good,” I say.

“Slept badly.” He inclines his head. “Come on in.”

I glance at Jamie; he must sense the same in Lex’s aura as I can. We head inside and into Lex’s kitchen, where a solitary mug sits in the sink beside a couple of empty wine bottles. Is everything I’m seeing and feeling his response to seeing Astrid?

Lex catches my concerned look and smiles. “Don’t stress about me. I’ll be alright. I’m more concerned about this First creature living in the Winterfall House. Near you.”

Jamie pulls out a chair and sits at the kitchen table. “Yeah. Things are next level, Lex.”

“Maeve explained what’s happening. Has Andrei left yet?” I shake my head and swallow. “He’ll be okay at Gabriella’s, Maeve.”

“Last time, she took him and the other guys and tried to lure me,” I say and sit too.

“Like you say, next level. Gabriella won’t trust Andrei, but she won’t hurt him. She’ll want to know his motivation and any information he has.” Lex rests against the kitchen counter. “And Gabriella’s given Andrei the blood that equalises them. She wouldn’t do that and then harm Andrei because that guarantees none of you will harm her either.”

I rub my temples. “And you know the story about the Blackwoods, Winterfalls, and the First. Have you found anything in your grimoire? You said you had some Blackwood spell books. Tobias worried the First burned them all when she set fire to the Blackwood estate.

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