AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It looks like we just found another member of The Coven’s Shield,” Nadine said. “We’ll get you out as soon as we can.”
Hector reached out to shake Nadine’s hand. “It is your courage that inspired me, Priestess. The way you stood up to the others was honorable. You were right, and the Casts must work together. If anyone can save the coven, it’s you, Priestess Nadine.”
I felt accomplished once we’d left the Cat-fé after talking to Hector. I wouldn’t admit it, but I was skeptical when we’d formed The Coven’s Shield. I hadn’t been sure how we would get people on our side. Part of me wished to take the easy way out—to slay the priestesses and bring an end to this conflict.
But I knew that would only break the coven further. Our efforts meant nothing without the coven’s support.
The priestesses deserved to pay for what they’d done… but we had to be patient. The coven was in a fragile position right now, and one wrong move could tear us apart.
But we were making progress. Already, three new people had joined our cause. That gave me hope.
Nadine had class later that day, so we parted ways. I was on my way back to my room when someone called my name. I turned to see Professor Warren flagging me down.
Great. I was still a bit sour about our last meeting.
Oliver eyed him skeptically, and I cleared my throat. “Professor?”
“Lucas, I’m glad I found you. I have some… advising topics to go over. Do you have some time?”
“Not really,” I lied. I didn’t want to talk about my classes right now. I had other things to work on.
“It will only be a minute,” Professor Warren pressed. “I’d like to talk about the… essay you wrote.”
He shot a glance up and down the hall, but no one paid us any attention. While he was looking around, he conjured a paper and curled it in his hands. I caught sight of big letters spelling out The Shield scrawled on the front. It was the fake newspaper I’d created, the one with our coded message.
I forced my pulse to settle, as to not give anything away. “I, uh, suppose I have time.”
Professor Warren subconjured the paper. “Come with me.”
He led me to his office and closed the door behind me, then slapped his copy of The Shield onto his desk.
“You could’ve told me,” he stated. He wasn’t really upset, but he didn’t sound happy, either.
I sank into the chair beside me. “Told you what, exactly? You didn’t believe me last time. Why should you believe me now?”
Professor Warren dropped his gaze. He kept his eyes on Oliver, but I could see the regret in his features. After a few moments, he straightened his suit coat and sat behind his desk.
“I’m very sorry about that,” he admitted. “I should’ve listened closer. I’m willing to keep an open mind. Do you care to explain what’s going on?”
I eyed the newspaper on his desk. “Why don’t you tell me first?”
Professor Warren picked up the paper and turned it toward me. He’d scribbled all over it, and various words had been circled and connected together. “I deciphered your clues. You’re forming a secret society to go up against the priestesses, aren’t you?”
I chewed the inside of my cheek. He’d really broken my trust that day in the bathroom, after Professor Perez’s murder. I wasn’t sure how much to reveal to him.
“What makes you think I wrote that?” I asked.
Professor Warren frowned. “I’ve read enough of your essays to know your writing style. You’re a very good writer.”
“Well, I am a journalism major,” I stated bluntly.
“And I’m glad you’ve decided to keep writing. Don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with me. I meant it when I said I was sorry.”
He waited for my response, but I wasn’t sure what to say.
He drew a deep breath. “I may not know for certain that Professor Leto is a demon, as you mentioned in the bathroom, but I’m willing to accept the idea… and I want to join you.”
It took me a moment to digest his words. “Really?”
