INTEGRATION (Bonfire Academy Book Two) (Bonfire Chronicles) (24 page)

I opened my eyes and stared into Jagger’s silver-grey ones, immediately feeling calmed.

“No, no,” he whispered gently. “Don’t transform back just yet; you still have a bit of healing to do.”

I nodded and glanced around the room. King Sebastian was peering over Jagger’s shoulder, along with a woman I didn’t recognize.

“I’m Edith, the sovereign witch of New York,” the woman said. “You’re in my apartment.”

“Edith saved your life,” King Sebastian added. “What were you thinking, Cordelia? Why didn’t you exit the girl’s body? You nearly got yourself killed.”

I tried remembering, but the only excuse I could come up with was that I was so infused within the girl that I hadn’t been able to detach quickly enough.

As if reading my mind, King Sebastian said, “You took over her mind, did you?” He shook his head. “After everything I said. This is why you suffered physically. Your body reacted to hers, even though you didn’t directly sustain the injuries. Anyway, it won’t take long for you to heal. Just be patient for a while longer.”

I nodded. “How did you find me? How’s Jenny? Did you get the old lady? She did this to me.”

“Are you sure, Cordelia?” King Sebastian looked at me thoughtfully. “Did you manage to put the voice together with a face?”

“Yes, I’m positive. It was definitely the woman in the burgundy dress. And she even knew my name!”

“You talked to her?”

“Not exactly. But she asked me if I was looking for her, then she called me Cordelia. That’s just before she hit Jenny and knocked us out.”

“Hmm,” he replied. “She was long gone when Jenny’s body was found. I, along with the rest of the people at the ball, heard screaming coming from the ladies’ lounge and rushed to find out what happened. A group of ladies had wandered into the room and found Jenny’s body on the floor, shredded to bits. Luckily, Edith got to the restroom early and cast a confinement spell around it, preventing anyone else from entering. We managed to get everyone out of there, and then I got you out and brought you here.”

“Jenny? Shredded?”

“Yes, sorry. No longer with us, I’m afraid,” Edith said. “Our concern was to save you. She got left behind for the paramedics. There was nothing they could do.”

I felt awful. If I had just left her alone, the poor girl would still be alive. I should have been able to protect her.

“It’ll be all right,” Jagger soothed, rubbing my hands.

All right for me, but not for that poor girl. “How did you get here?” I asked Jagger.

“Ryker dropped me off. He’d been told to come get me.”

King Sebastian added, “Although Edith worked her magic, your heart was weak. It was obvious Jagger’s help was required.”

“You knew about Jagger?”

“Spencer knew.”

I guessed Ryker must have shared Jagger’s and my synching with his uncle. I should have been angry, but I was more grateful at the moment. I gazed into Jagger’s eyes, letting him know how I felt.

He leaned down and kissed my lips gently—my pus-seeping demon lips. “Close your eyes and rest up.”

T
wenty-four hours later, I didn’t have so much as a scratch on me, though I was still feeling pretty light-headed. I had woken back up in my room at the Academy with Jagger by my side. He was no longer beating my heart for me, but his hand enveloped mine in a steady grip of warmth and security. I had pulled our hands up to my chest and hugged them, noticing my soft, smooth skin. I must have had transformed back into my human form.

“How are you feeling?” Jagger asked.

“Good. Hungry.”

I heard Faustine laugh. “Hold up. I’ll get you something from the kitchen.” She returned in seconds with a plate of succulent steak cubes.

“Mmm, mmm,” I mumbled appreciatively, as she dropped them, one by one, into my mouth. By the time I finished chewing the last of them, I felt the strength returning to my muscles, and I wriggled, trying to sit up.

“Hold up,” Jagger commanded. “Let me help you.”

“No need,” I said, chuckling. “I’m not a little old lady. I feel much better. Let me try on my own.”

He sighed, but held back, watching me struggle to scoot my bottom backward while leaning forward. He cracked a smile.

“Okay, okay, I know I must look ridiculous!” I leaned back on the bed frame to catch my breath, feeling a little light-headed from the effort.

“You okay?” Faustine asked.

“Yep, just a bit dozy. I’ll be fine. What day is it?” I had no idea how long I’d been out.

“It’s the day before my birthday,” she retorted with a smile. “So hurry up and get better!”

Phew. I was glad I hadn’t missed her party.

“I’ve got to go—Integration class. See you later. Smooches.” She left before I could protest.

“Jagger, you should go with her, I’ll be fi—”

“Ryker’s with her,” he assured me before I closed my eyes again, letting my head fall onto his shoulder, and succumbed to another nap.

A long nap. Suddenly, Faustine was standing by my bed shaking my shoulder. “Wakey, wakey, sleepyhead! It’s my birthday!”

I opened my eyes in shock. Jeez, I really had slept in. I was supposed to have been up hours ago to make her breakfast in bed before her day out on the slopes. “Oh, Faustine! I’m so sorry.” I sat up too abruptly, sending my head into a dizzy spin.

“Oh, easy there!” she said. “No worries. You’re not a hundred percent, yet. I’ll take a rain check on the breakfast in bed. Here, eat up.” She put a tray down in front of me.

“Aww, thanks!”

“Don’t thank me. Jagger dropped it off earlier with this note.” She held out a sealed envelope. “He had a tray for me as well, and I should have waited for you to wake up, but I was hungry.”

I laughed. “I know how that is. I’m pretty hungry, too, so excuse me while I stuff myself. Any news about Quinn?” I managed to get out before my first mouthful.

She shook her head. “No. Nothing. I am really worried about him. Why do you think he’s not called you? Is it because of Jagger?”

I shook my head. “No, he doesn’t know about us.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes…” I suddenly felt nauseous. Maybe he did know.

“Hey, you look sick again. Take it easy. Eat. I’m sure Quinn’s fine,” she said, obviously trying to comfort me. “I’m going to jump into the shower while you eat.”

As soon as I heard the shower running, I tore open the envelope and slid out a piece of paper. Jagger explained that the reason he wouldn’t be around this morning was because King Sebastian had asked him to help with the last-minute stuff for Faustine’s birthday. I was pleased to hear that none of what had happened in New York had messed with the birthday plans. However, I really needed to find time to debrief Faustine’s dad. I had so many questions about the whole incident in Manhattan. I wondered if he had apprehended the old woman and how she fit into everything. Had they managed to find Quinn? I guessed my questions would have to wait until after the festivities, which I wasn’t going to be able to partake in fully because even though I looked as good as new, I still felt a bit woozy. I must have taken quite a beating.

I got out of bed and stumbled into the kitchen for more food. I ate everything I came across—leftover lamb, steak, roast beef. Then, as soon as Faustine was out the shower, I jumped in and let the hot spray massage my muscles. Once I had washed my hair and scrubbed my skin clean of the last couple of days, I felt much more like myself.

Jagger’s note asked me to bring Faustine down to the ski shack and text him when I was on my way. He’d left the keys to his Range Rover on my bedside table.

I almost laughed when I saw Faustine sitting on the makeup stool in one of my Chanel dresses, playing with and putting up her hair.

She must have noticed my obvious amusement, as she turned and scowled. “The Smelt said I could wear whatever I wanted today. I didn’t think you’d mind.”

“No, no, of course I don’t. You look fabulous.” I walked into my closet and, standing on my tiptoes, retrieved a box from the very back of the top shelf. The box was wrapped in the loudest, most garish birthday design I had been able to find in Paris, hiding the elegant wares inside. I walked over to Faustine and held it out to her, laughing at her expression.

“Wow!” was all she could get out at the sight of wrapping paper covered in clowns and elephants diving into puddles of water filled with balloons spelling out
Happy Birthday
.

“Open it!”

She smiled and tore the wrapping, chucking the tissue on the floor. She sighed appreciatively at the Balenciaga box before opening it as she tittered in excitement. She bent and sniffed the red patent-leather biker boots, then stood up and threw her arms around me. “Thank you! Those are just…awesome! I adore them! I’m going to wear them today.”

Then she looked down at her dress. “Hmm, I can see why you gave this outfit a funny look. It won’t go with those boots. Wait, I’ll go change.”

She dove back into my closet before I could warn her that it didn’t matter what she wore because she’d have to change soon. She came back out looking totally different in a pair of black leather pants and my Chanel biker jacket. She looked way older, but still cute.

I threw on some clothes, grabbed the keys, and took her elbow, ushering her out of the room.

“Where are we going?” she asked. “I’m supposed to have a session with Colton this morning, but that’s the other way.” She pointed.

I had involved Colton in our little deceit for the big day. As far as Faustine was concerned, she was supposed to have classes as usual, with time off later in the afternoon to celebrate her birthday.

“The note from Jagger,” I explained. “He wanted me to get a folder for him. Can you come with me? I don’t feel great.”

“Yeah, of course.” She put her arm around my shoulders. “Just lean into me if you feel woozy, and I’ll take you back to your room. If you want, I can get the folder for you. You could sit here and wait.”

“No, it’s okay. I’m enjoying the walk.”

“So, while we’re walking, are you going to spill? Just give me a hint of what’s happening this afternoon, so I’ll at least know what to wear.”

I zipped my mouth shut.

“Oh, come on! Be a sport!”

“Ha, ha. I may not feel like my usual self, but you can’t get one over on me that easily.”

We arrived at the parking lot entrance to the main building, and I swung open the door, holding my breath as a cold wind greeted us. Neither of us was dressed for the weather, but I figured we’d be fine as long as we could make it to Jagger’s truck. Our ski outfits were ready and waiting at the lodge.

I grabbed Faustine’s hand and pulled her between the cars in spite her protestations, not stopping until we arrived at Jagger’s black Range Rover. “Get in!” I yelled.

“What? Why? Just get whatever, and we’ll run back. It’s flipping freezing.” Her teeth chattered as she spoke.

“It might take a minute, so get in the car. It’s definitely warmer inside.” I yanked the driver’s side door open, jumped in, and closed the door. I slipped the key into the ignition and turned it, hoping the car would heat up quickly. My internal temperature wasn’t working as well as it usually did.

Faustine hopped into the back and started rummaging through the clutter. “What exactly are we looking for? A file folder—what color?”

I clicked my seatbelt, put the car into
Reverse
, and pulled out of the parking space. Once clear, I shifted into
Drive
and drove out of the lot.

“Cordelia! What are you doing?”

“Might as well go for a ride since we’re already in the car.” I smiled. “It’s your birthday, after all. The mountains look gorgeous, don’t they?”

She scrambled into the front passenger seat and put on the seatbelt. “What’s gotten into you, Cordelia? We’re going to get into heaps of trouble. I am, anyway. I’m supposed to be in a session. Don’t get me wrong, though—I’d much rather be going on a joyride with you.”

“Just a short one. Colton won’t mind,” I reassured her.

“He does seem nice for a shifter, doesn’t he?”

“Yes, of all the shifters I’ve met, he’s probably the most palatable.”

She laughed. “You’re weird about animals, aren’t you? Didn’t you have any pets at your house?”

“Ugh, no. Did you?”

“No, but I’ve always wanted a dog. Mom said that our lifestyle wouldn’t be fair to a pet because we’re never around. Still, we could have hired a dog sitter.” She paused.

“Faustine?”

“I was just thinking that it would be awesome if Dad would get me a pet for my birthday. Just a small dog, that would be perfect. I’d call her Cupcake.”

“And where would your small dog—Cupcake—stay?”

“In our room, of course.”

“I don’t think so. I don’t think a small dog would last very long at our school.”

She pursed her lips. “Ha! No one would try anything with a dog of mine.”

Maybe. I was glad King Sebastian’s surprise didn’t involve such critters, but hoped she wouldn’t be too disappointed. Maybe I could get her one for graduation.

We arrived at the ski lodge, and I spotted Jagger waving at us from the porch.

“What’s going on?” Faustine exclaimed, her voice full of excitement. “This wasn’t just an unplanned little joyride, was it? You’re up to something!”