Page 77 of Rogue Witch

He shrugs. “My mom worries about everything. She didn’t want to let me come to The Academy in the first place. She might try to say that I’m too upset to come back.”

“Everyone who’s taken in a Reaping goes through counseling,” I say. “How about we tell your mom that she and your dad can talk to the counselor—with your permission.”

He considers. “As long as the counselor sees that I’m okay. I am okay, so it’s not a lie,” he quickly adds.

“Talk to your folks and let them know you’re fine with coming home for two days, You will talk to the counselor again before you go. Does that work?”

He nods.

“Now, what did you want to talk to me about?” I ask.

“I…I want to know if Leilah’s okay.”

I smile. “She’s resting—which is what you should be doing.”

“I didn’t have it as bad as she did.”

“What do you mean?” I ask carefully.

“I know it was only a lucid dream, but it was so real.”

“Lucid dreams are real,” I say. “They’re an alternate reality.”

“Are you sure?” he asks, and I get the distinct feeling he doesn’t want the lucid dream to be real.

“It’s kind of like the Reaping,” I say. “That’s an alternate reality, too.”

“Like the virtual War Games,” he says. “Only, the rules are different there than here.”

“That’s right,” I say.

“We couldn’t be hurt in the virtual War Games, but we could be hurt in the Reaping. And the lucid dream, I guess,” he says, more to himself than me.

“But you didn’t get hurt,” I say. “Neither did Leilah.”

He hesitates and a chill stirs in my belly. Something is wrong with Leilah. “What happened, Jonas?” I ask.

“I-you’re sure she’s fine?” he asks in a half whisper.

“I am,” I say, despite the fear clawing at my insides. “Why do you think she isn’t?”

“I don’t know that she isn’t okay. I just…”

I force calm and wait.

“Ariel got into trouble for what she did in the Reaping,” he says.

What in God’s name did Leilah do? “Did Leilah do something wrong?” I ask in a neutral voice.

He shakes his head vigorously. “No. She saved everyone—including Ariel, which she didn’t deserve. She hurt a lot of people. She tried to hurt me, but Leilah didn’t let her. I wasn’t there for the hanging.” His brow creases. “I was a coward. I was hiding.”

“Hiding doesn’t make you a coward,” I reply. “Discretion is often the better part of valor.”

He regards me. “Really?”

“Really,” I say. “Now tell me what has you worried?”

He swallows. “The Shadows that went inside her.”