INTEGRATION (Bonfire Academy Book Two) (Bonfire Chronicles) (30 page)

“Is Jagger picking you up here?”

“No, he’s chaperoning Mason.”

“Why? What’s the point of that? It’s not like Mason can transform anyway, right?”

“True, and I’m really hoping to get to spend some time with Jagger at the dance, even though we’re both supervising. I guess we’re going to be busy keeping an eye on the trolls, though.”

“Aww, that’s too bad. Hopefully, it will all run smoothly, and you’ll get to spend some time together. Did you sort out the Octavia stuff?”

“Kinda. I know she’s into Jagger. I wish he could see that, but he just plays along with her. So annoying. Anyway, don’t worry about me. I’m looking forward to just relaxing a bit and having fun.”

A knock at the door stopped our girl talk.

“Come in!” I shouted.

Pascal opened the door. “Hey, Sis. Hey, Faustine. Wow! You both look awesome. I hope you’re not too embarrassed taking an Initiate to the ball, Faustine,” he said, suddenly looking bashful.

“Embarrassed? Of course not. I’m glad Cordelia asked you. She told me you dance really well. I suck at it.”

“Yes, Mom insisted on ballroom dance classes. Didn’t yours?”

“No, I got to choose my own after-school classes. Dancing really isn’t my thing.”

“Mine neither, and there would’ve been much more fun things to do than dance, if it wasn’t for that Smelt spoilsport. I can’t believe she disabled all our powers. We could have spent the evening making the shifters and faeries tango and whatever else we wanted.”

“Not a good idea,” I said, wagging my finger at them. “Especially after all the trouble you’ve been in with The Smelt. I’m glad that you won’t be able to.”

“I haven’t even figured out how to do that stuff yet,” Faustine muttered.

Pascal looked at her in surprise. “Figured out? There’s nothing to figure out; you just do it.”

“How?” she asked.

“I don’t exactly know. Just float into whatever body you want—except a demon one, obviously. I can’t believe you haven’t done it yet; it’s so much fun. I’ve been doing it since I was a toddler.”

“I guess I need to find someone I can practice on.”

“Yeah. Best to start with a full human. Paranormals are more on guard, and sometimes put up walls.”

“That’s going to be difficult in this place,” she said. “There aren’t any humans here. Maybe we could go into town and—”

“Okay, hold up,” I interrupted. “It’s not like you can at the moment anyway. And I’m sure your Initiation classes will cover it. I’ll talk to Professor Bern to make sure. Anyway, enough of the school talk. Time to have some fun. Ready to go?”

We made our way down the hallway, toward the Academy aquarium, the location for the Integration ball. With Pascal between us, Faustine and I walked through the shark tunnel, giggling at the sharks taking off as soon as they sensed demons near their habitat.

When we entered the main hall of the aquarium, we were greeted by the blare from the live band and the twinkle of hundreds of mini disco lights hanging from the glass ceiling. We stood by the entrance for a moment, looking for familiar faces in the packed crowd.

“Look! There’s Audrey and Viola. Let’s go say hi.” Faustine took my arm and pulled me toward them, with Pascal following at our heels.

She hugged and chatted with them. I couldn’t hear a thing over the sounds from the band. Pascal nudged me and pointed at the bar, indicating that he’d get us some drinks. When he left, I checked out the crowd. Mason and his friends stood in one corner, casting me occasional glances. Colton was on the dance floor, slow dancing with a stunning redhead. Chun and Kabir were making out in the corner. I’d have to go and break it up if they didn’t stop. The chaperones had been given strict instructions to curtail any behavior that could lead to an increase in adrenaline, and snogging at that rate would do it.

I suddenly felt my own adrenaline level about to hit the roof. I saw Jagger on the dance floor, smiling into Octavia’s beautiful, pale face. I considered heading over and smacking her off him.

“Dance?” Quinn’s warm breath against my ear stopped me from breathing. I couldn’t move; my feet had turned to stone. He moved closer to me, covering my back with his body as he put his arms around me and kissed my head. He slowly turned me around in his arms until we were face to face.

I stared into the blood-red eyes and then noticed the smirk on his lips. I drew back my right arm and punched him in the stomach as hard as I could. He didn’t even flinch. Not until my eyes teared up.

“Cordelia, I’m sorry. I was hoping to surprise you.”

“Where the fuck have you been? I’ve been worried out of my mind.” I shook out of his grip and glared at him.

“Let’s get out of here.” He took my hand and pulled me out to the aquarium gardens. The air was fresh and dewy, and we found shelter in an enclave.

“Explain, Quinn! Where have you been?”

“Cordelia, please don’t be so angry. I had to go. I went on an assignment.”

“And you couldn’t find a minute to tell me about it? Not even text me, or anything? I thought you were dead.”

“I know it seems unreasonable—”

“Unreasonable? Pah!” I stomped around him.

“I wasn’t allowed to contact anyone. Not even you. I’m sorry. Please calm down.”

“Calm down? Really, Quinn? You want me to
calm down
?”

He sighed. “Okay, okay. If it makes you feel any better, transform and beat the hell out of me.”

I considered it for a few seconds. Then I transformed. His jaw dropped to the floor. I laid into him again and again until I was exhausted. Luckily, he had the sense to transform too; otherwise, I’d have killed him. When I was done, I transformed back to my human form and stomped back into the ball, leaving Quinn outside to recover.

I felt as if I was about to explode again when I spotted Jagger still dancing with Octavia.

“Hey! What’s up? You look like you’ve been in a fight,” Pascal said, sidling up to me.

“Quinn’s back.”

“What? Where?”

“I smacked him around and left him outside.”

He looked at me as though I had gone completely crazy. “You did what? Cordelia?”

“I’m just… I don’t know. I’m losing it. I thought he was dead. Then he just turns up to
surprise
me. It’s just…unacceptable. He should have let me know he was okay, that he was coming back. I’m so angry.”

“Sheesh, Cordelia. Aren’t you happy to see him?”

“Duh! Of course I am.”

“Give him a break then.”

“Why? He’s fine! Better than fine. But he left me here to worry for months!”

“Look, I’m sure he had his reasons, Sis. Now, take a deep breath. He’s just came back in.”

I looked over at the entrance and spotted Quinn walking toward us with his hands up. “Babe, I’m sorry. I really am.”

Pascal squeezed my hand, and I nodded at Quinn.

“Come on,” Quinn said. “Let’s get out of here and talk. Okay?”

“Quinn!” Jagger said from behind me. “Where have you been? We’ve all been worried about you, especially Cordelia.”

“Yeah, so I hear. We were just about to head off to chat.”

“I’ll come with,” Jagger said evenly. “Everything seems under control here. Octavia and McKenzie will cover for us. Shall we head to the faculty lounge? It should be empty.”

“I’d like to come as well,” Pascal said, “but I guess I should stay and keep an eye on Faustine.”

“Yes, please. And call me if you need me,” I added, before I led the two boys out of the ball to the faculty lounge. I sensed Quinn’s anger at Jagger coming along, but I couldn’t be bothered with it. He deserved to feel bad, angry, or whatever, after everything he’d put me through.

Jagger must have felt my angst. He helped me get my pulse under control by the time we got to the lounge. I sat back in an armchair, letting Jagger beat my heart for me for a few seconds while I tried to push the feelings of frustration out of my system.

“Jagger,” Quinn said, sitting down, “I understand that you, like everyone else, are wondering about me. But to be honest, this is between Cordelia and me. If you could excuse us?”

Even though Jagger’s face remained an inscrutable mask, I could tell that he was furious at being told to leave. However, he stood up and nodded at me meaningfully before heading off.

“Come over here,” Quinn said, patting his knees.

“Quinn, you have to tell me where you went first. I’ve been so worried.”

He nodded. “I went to New York, to Manhattan.”

“Why?”

“Ah, now
that
I’m not allowed to share with anyone.”

“Says whom?”

“Frau Schmelder.”

“The demonized or undemonized version?”

He narrowed his eyes.

“Well?” I pressed.

“What are you talking about, Cordelia?”

I guessed he didn’t know, and I certainly didn’t want to explain it to him right now. I just shrugged. “Have you spoken with her since you got back?” If he had, she should have told him that she didn’t know anything about it.

“Yes, I just saw her.”

I was stumped. “What did she say?”

“She debriefed me, and then told me to get back to my regular schedule.”

Huh? Was it possible she was possessed again? “Quinn, what kind of assignment was it? Can you tell me anything about it at all?”

“I wish I could,” he replied, looking apologetic. “Anyway, what did I miss here?”

“A lot, Quinn. Martha was murdered.”

His face fell. “She was? How? When?”

“Oh, Quinn, I don’t even know where to start. So much has happened.”

He nodded. “I can catch up later. Right now, I just want to cuddle with my girlfriend. I’ve really missed you.”

“I’m too frustrated and have too many questions whirling around in my head to just relax and cuddle.”

He stood, walked over to me, picked me up, and sat in my chair with me in his lap. “Try.”

I felt as though my head was going to explode. But I bit my tongue, lay my head on his shoulder, and let him hug me until he nodded off—all while feeling Jagger’s breath in my ear.

“He’s asleep; I’m going to wander you over to my room,” Jagger whispered once Quinn’s snores were steady.

I closed my eyes and waited for the familiar feeling of being suspended in the air, relieved to get a chance to talk to Jagger.

“I’m guessing you listened in?” I asked once we were on Jagger’s bed, lying in each other’s arms.

“Of course.”

“And?”

“You need to tell him about us. Right away.”

“Yes, but that’s not what I meant. What did you think about what he said about The Smelt?”

“That was weird.”

“Yes. She was definitely possessed when she sent him away. I don’t get how she could have
debriefed
him. Unless someone has compromised her again. We’ve got to call Faustine’s dad.”

“Let’s do that. It could just be that The Smelt listened to what he had to say and played it by ear to find out what she could.”

“You’re probably right, but let’s call King Sebastian anyway. I want to tell him that Quinn’s back, so he can stop looking for him in Manhattan.”

I slipped my phone out of my pocket and called King Sebastian on Faustine’s private line.

“Faustine?”

“No, sorry. It’s Cordelia. Quinn’s back. I just wanted to let you know.”

There was silence on the other end of the phone. I wondered if we’d been disconnected.

“Your Highness?”

“I’m still here. I’m thinking. You’re sure? Did you actually see him?”

“Yes, I even talked to him. Why?”

“I tracked him down in Manhattan earlier today. We are in the middle of getting a rescue team together to get him.”

“From where?”

“The old lady’s residence. We detected his voice on surveillance recordings this morning.”

“The same old lady from the Waldorf?”

“Yes, the same.”

I had no idea what was going on, but there was one way to find out. “You know what, why don’t I just ask Quinn what’s going on with that? I’ll call you back later with an update.”

I heard a sharp inhale. “Cordelia, is that wise?”

“Wise? What else can I do? We need to know what he was doing there, right? He’s probably gotten himself involved in something dangerous without even knowing it. We have to warn him.”

“Be careful.”

“There’s no way I’m going to let you go over and see him on your own,” Jagger insisted once I was off the phone.

“You have to. I have to talk to Quinn on my own. I need to find out what he was doing at the old lady’s house in New York. He doesn’t know that she was here at the Academy, that she possessed The Smelt, or about the incident at the Waldorf. I mean, she tried to kill me! I have to warn him.”

“I guess I’ll just watch over you, then.” He frowned.

“Like stalk me? Listen, we have to talk about that. I have a right to privacy. You can’t just check up on me whenever, without my permission. We need to work out some boundaries.”

“Spencer Darley already went through those with me.”

“Which ones? They may not be the same ones I’ll need you to follow.”

We quickly hashed out some rules, knowing full well that I had no way of implementing them, and that at the end of the day, I’d just have to trust him. However, I felt better going through them. Every girl needs privacy. Ryker probably also needed guidelines. Maybe I’d talk to him on Faustine’s behalf. It was a bit creepy thinking that both Jagger and Ryker could watch us whenever.

“Promise you’ll keep to those rules?” I asked.

“Yes, unless I think you’re in danger, then I’ll have to break them.”

“All right, that’s fair. How will I know when you’re with me?”

“I’ll touch your ear.”

“I can live with that.”

“Good. Now back to Quinn…are you going to tell him about us?”

“I guess I have to. It’s time to let him go. It’s going to suck. I’ve never broken up with anyone before.”

“This will be the only time.”

I fell asleep in Jagger’s arms and woke with a start at the crack of dawn. I left Jagger sleeping and made my way back to my room, finding Faustine enjoying her breakfast while watching a
Gossip Girl
rerun.

“Boy, you’re up early!” I said, picking a piece of meat off her plate and dropping it into my mouth. “Mmm, mmm.”