Page 15 of Monster's Past

She sighs and runs a face over her face. “They’re probably just dreams.”

“They?”

She bites her lip and nods. “They started after I turned twenty-one. At first, it was just one a week, but now it feels like I’m having them every night.”

I frown. That’s not good. “Are they always the same?”

“Variations of the same,” she says, looking off into the distance. “There’s always an eerie mist and a river. Can we not talk about it?”

I nod. “If that’s what you want.” As much as I want to help her, I know I have to let her tell me things like this in her own time.

For a moment, I think she’s going to change her mind, but she just keeps staring out into the courtyard. I want to ask her more about the dreams, especially because it sounds as if they’ve been plaguing her for a while, but I know better than to push her on this. If she wants to tell me, then she will. I can’t protect her if she doesn’t want to let me near her. I have to earn the trust for her to tell me about her dreams.

Another shiver travels through her.

“Come on.” I get to my feet and hold out my hand to her.

“Where?”

“Trust me and you’ll find out.”

She lets out a small laugh, already seeming more like herself now the dream has been shaken away. “What if I don’t?”

“You do.”

“Yes.” She slips her hand into mine and I feel as if something clicks within me.

I’m not sure precisely what’s happening right now, but I’m grateful for it, especially when it means I’m getting to spend time with her outside of the classroom.

CHAPTER7

Anja

“Where are we?”I ask as Cethin pulls me through a door with a small window.

“One of the cookery classrooms,” he responds.

“Are we allowed to be here?” I pull his blazer closer around me, enjoying the way it brings his scent closer. I’ve never considered that to be something that was important to me, but right now, I love the idea.

“We’re not even supposed to be out of bed,” he reminds me. “So I’m going to go with no.”

“We could get into so much trouble,” I murmur. Not that I have a choice about that considering I sleepwalked my way down here without even realising it. “Can we lock the door?” I wouldn’t suggest it to anyone else, but there’s something about Cethin that makes me feel safe even if I shouldn’t.

Cethin lifts a hand and his eyes glow purple as he sends a bolt of magic towards the door.

“Will that work?” I ask.

“Should do. Unless someone has an unlocking spell strong enough to break through it.” He heads over to a water heater and switches it on at the plug in the wall. It starts to whirr, presumably as it starts heating the water inside.

“Who would have one strong enough?”

“Presumably any of the teachers,” he responds.

“Reassuring,” I mutter.

“We’ll probably have enough warning that you can hide and I can take the punishment.” He searches one of the shelves and pulls out two mugs. “You drink tea, right?”

“Yes. But I’m not about to let you take a punishment because you found me sleepwalking.”