Page 74 of Revenant

“Are you sure you’re reading it right?” I question, unsure if I’ll be able to move another step.

“I know how to read a bloody map, Alicent,” Naomi fires back at me, and if I had any strength left, I’d give it right back. But I need to conserve as much oxygen as I can. “It should be right up here.” And of course, it’s the last building on the block.

My head hangs between my shoulders, not an ounce of energy left to hold it up. Since I’m not looking where I’m going, I run straight into someone and they let out a yelp.

“I’m so sorry,” I start, until the person I slammed into looks my way. “Moriah?”

“Alicent? What—what are you doing here?” I would’ve expected excitement, curiosity, really anything besides the fear that seems to lace her tone.

“We’re trying to find Lacey,” I tell her but decide to elaborate a little more given the company I’m with. “It felt weird knowing she was missing, and no one was doing anything about it. I’d hate for something bad to have happened, ya know?” Now I’m word vomiting because I hate lying to her.

Her brows pull together. “I’m just…surprised to see you out and about with—” Her gaze catches on Naomi and the rest of the sentence dies in her throat.

“What’s the hold up?” Naomi yells before her eyes land on Moriah. “Great, another tagalong?”

The two of them make eye contact, and Moriah’s jaw works like she’s swallowing something she’d rather spit.

“Just shut up and rest for a second.” I scoff, pulling Moriah’s attention back to me. “Let me tell you, I’m going to need a drink after today.”

“Yeah…no kidding.” Moriah’s demeanor is completely different from what I’m used to. Usually she’s all bubbles and smiles, but right now? You’d think someone had just handed her a death sentence. “Look, it’s getting a bit late. Maybe you should head back to campus with me? I was heading back anyway.”

I pull out my phone. “Late? It’s only two o’clock.” Before I stuff it back into my pocket, I notice the No Service in the upper right-hand corner.

“Right, but you have class, don’t you?”

“Alicent, hurry the hell up!” Naomi shouts, impatiently.

I roll my eyes in Naomi’s direction. “Look, I’ve got to go. But when I get back, let’s get together. I’m sure this won’t take long.”

Moriah offers me a soft smile and nods her head, but her movements seem robotic. I wonder if something happened? I’ll make sure to ask later.

As I catch back up, Naomi is scaling the steps leading to the door, swiping some of her frazzled strands down. I don’t give a rat’s ass how I look; this whole thing is turning out to be more work than I bargained for.

Reed doesn’t wait any longer—probably just as annoyed as I am—and knocks on the door. Orange and light brown stones cover the weathered building, blending in seamlessly with the others surrounding it. Had we passed it on the street, I wouldn’t have given it a second glance, but I find it interesting that an entire coven of witches can hide in plain sight.

An older woman finally answers the door, pulling it open with a bright smile. “Naomi! What a pleasure it is to see you again!” The woman beams, and I’m starting to question her sanity. I would never describe her as a “pleasure,” but I digress.

“It’s nice to see you too, Clara. I’m sorry to stop by without notice,” Naomi explains, sounding perky and cheerful.

“No problem at all. I just put on a pot of tea. Come in, come in.”

“Thank you. You don’t mind if—”

“Of course not! Any friend of yours is a friend of mine.” Well, in that case, I should wait on the steps. But Naomi doesn’t correct her; instead, she thanks her again and keeps her head down as she passes over the threshold. Reed stands at my back, and as soon as I enter the home, he immediately stops in his tracks.

“Everything okay?” I ask, not wanting to sound like I’m worried.

“Yeah, just got a bit lightheaded is all,” he admits, shaking his head as though that will bring back clarity. He stumbles in on shaky legs, but pushes through, and suddenly, I’m more on edge than ever.

Can’t say I’ve ever been inside a covenstead—nor do I have much experience with them—but this whole thing is sounding warning bells off in my head.

The woman, Clara, shuts the door, her gaze lingering on Reed a little too long. “Now, what brings you by? Must say, I didn’t realize Lacey told you where our covenstead was located.”

“She didn’t,” Naomi says, not willing to explain any more than that. “Speaking of Lacey, is she here?”

“She hasn’t been to class in a while, and we were starting to get worried,” I add.

Clara’s gaze moves to mine sharply, studying me, as if she’s trying to decipher a deeper meaning to what I said. “She’s upstairs, but she’s been a bit shaken up since she arrived home.”