Page 10 (1/2)

"I have a crush on Archer Cross"

Jenna laughed "How original of you"

I flopped down on my bed "Why?" I"Okay, so he's cute Big deal Lots of guys are cute"

Clearlywith Jenna's reading, because she uncrossed her legs and cae of her desk "Archer's not cute," she amended "Puppies are cute Babies are cute I'uys"

Okay, so Jenna was not going to bethe crush "He's a jerk," I pointed out "Re?"

"Yeah," Jenna said drily "Saving you fro"

"Sorry"

We sat in silence for a , Jenna leaning back on her elbows, druainst the desk drawers Outside, I could hear howling It was a full rounds I wondered if Taylor was out there

"Ooh!" Jenna said suddenly, sitting up so fast she knocked over her cup of pens "He has a total bitch for a girlfriend!"

"Yes!" I said, sitting up and pointing at her "Thank you! Evil girlfriend who already hates ly spends ti"

"Too true," Jenna said with an erab a book froh," Jenna said

"What is?"

"Archer and Elodie She was after hi to do with her Like, ever Then he came back from wherever he was, and bam! Suddenly they're a couple It's weird"

"Not that weird," I countered "I ot the best of hi her chin in her hand "But still Archer is s hot Elodie is stupid and dull"

"And hot," I added "And even sirls"

"True," Jenna agreed

I was about to bring up the subject of Holly again when Casnoff's voice drifted through the roouessed it was soentleht of toht Lights out in ten ht o'clock," I said incredulously "She wants us to go to bed at eight o'clock?"

Sighing, Jenna went to her closet and pulled out her pajamas

"Welcome to life at Hecate, Sophie"

There was a mad rush for the bathroouess faeries have naturally clean teeth Once I made it back from that, I only had three minutes left to put on hts blinked out

My et to sleep "Is it weird for you," I asked Jenna, "going to bed at night? Ithe day?"

"Yeah," she replied "But as long as I'onna be a bitch once I get to leave"

I didn't ask Jenna when she would get to leave Everybody else was released froed like humans Jenna would always be fifteen

I settled into hts It seemed like I had just closed my eyes when I heard the door creak open

Panicked, I sat up, heart pounding The clock by ure slid into the rooasped "Relax," Jenna hosts They do that so lit, and a sure

Elodie

She earing purple silk pajamas, a black candle cradled in her hands Two other candles blazed to life, and I saw Chaston and Anna, also paja behind Elodie

"Sophia Mercer," Elodie intoned, "we have come to induct you into our sisterhood Say the five words to begin the ritual"

I blinked at her "Are you freaking kidding h "No, the five words are 'I accept your offer, sisters'"

I brushed my hair out of my face and said, "I told you earlier, I' any words to begin any ritual"

"Saying the five words doesn'tforward "It just means that the ritual of acceptance can start

You can back out any tio with the up in her bed, her dark eyes wary "They're not going to leave you alone until you hear thehtened, but she didn't say anything

"Fine," I said, pushing offup "II accept your offer, sisters"

CHAPTER 9

The three of theet to roo at Hecate was learning to live with other Prodigiuave no sign of hearing me, so Chaston said, "Witches sometimes have to pair up since there are alay more of us than faeries or shifters"

"Why is that?" I asked

Anna answered low "Faeries and shifters don't attempt to travel in the hu sent to this place"

Elodie had found a piece of chalk in her desk and was busy drawing a large pentagram on the hardwood floor Once she was done, she drew a circle around it

"Nor of trees,"

she said, sitting at the head of the pentagram Chaston and Anna sat on either side of her, so I took my place at the other end "But we're not allowed in the woods Mrs Casnoff is, like, insanely strict about that"

The four of us sat around the pentagra "Kuic you put out into the universe?"

Elodie asked