Read The Blue Woods for Free Online

asked.
    Nerina and Heath exchanged looks. “You saw the Harpy at the battle the other night,” Heath said.
    â€œTheir entire Concilio Argento is here,” Nerina added. “We cannot go up against that many Malandanti, even as a complete Clan.”
    â€œBut why is their entire Concilio here?” Cora asked. “The Waterfall isn’t the only site they’ve lost. Why haven’t they spread out to the other sites we control?”
    â€œPresumably, they will,” Nerina said. “The only way we will know if they have left is if one of our Concilio members tells us they’ve been spotted at one of the other sites. So until that happens—”
    â€œWe wait,” Jeff said.
    â€œWe wait, and we train the Lynx’s replacement as soon as he—or she—is Called.” Nerina paced in front of the fireplace against the wall. “We heal,” she said, nodding at me, “and we plan. The Malandanti will be out for blood in the wake of the Guild’s downfall. We cannot underestimate what they might do.”
    â€œUm, I have a question,” I said, raising my hand slightly. “Where the hell am I supposed to stay? I can’t go home. They know where I live.”
    â€œNeither can I,” Alessia said. “Or Heath, or Nerina, or my mom. When they found Nerina’s place, the whole farmhouse became compromised.”
    â€œSomeone can stay with me,” Cora piped up. “I think my place is still safe.”
    â€œBut it’s in Willow Heights,” Jeff said, naming the next town over. “I’d feel a helluva lot better if everyone were close by.” He scrunched his face up, looking around the room. “You can all stay here.”
    â€œThat’s going to call attention to you,” Heath said.
    Jeff shrugged. “The farmhouse has mold,” he said. “Black mold, deep in the walls. You’re all staying here until they get rid of it.”
    â€œMy mother would eat canned tomato sauce before she’d admit to black mold in her house,” Alessia said.
    â€œWell, then she’s going to eat canned tomato sauce, because that’s all we have in this house anyway,” Jenny said.
    â€œNerina and Cora can share the upstairs guest room. Lidia can take the pullout in the den. Heath can sleep on the couch. And Bree and Alessia can bunk with Jenny.” Jeff winked at the three of us on the couch. “You girls will be up all night giggling anyway.”
    I tightened my jaw. I did not giggle. I glanced over at Jenny, who had folded her arms across her chest and was shooting her dad a daggered look. Between us, Alessia slumped deep into the cushions. I was sure she was thinking the same thing I was. Eight people crammed into a three-bedroom house. She, Jenny, and I sleeping in the same room. Nerina without her fancy espresso machine, forced to drink drip coffee. If the Malandanti didn’t do us in, that certainly would.
    â€œI’ll let Barb know the arrangements,” Jeff said. He pressed his lips together. “And I guess we oughta call the school to tell them you three will be out today. That might raise some eyebrows.”
    I stared into the cold, ash-swept fireplace. The school probably cared more about me being absent than my parents did. They hadn’t reported me missing in the two days I’d spent in the Guild, or come to the hospital. Dad was probably holed up in his office, trying to figure out his next move to cover his ass now that the Guild was in shambles. And Mom . . . She was probably totally obliterated. Both their kids were gone. What the hell was wrong with them? I hardened my jaw. I could take care of myself. I’d proven that in the basement of the Guild, holding out against that bastard Malandante mage.
    â€œYou’ll probably be out of school for a while.” Alessia broke into my thoughts. “You can’t go looking like that.”
    Jenny leaned across her.