“We waited like you asked,” the first Warden said, and as I recovered from my mini heart attack, I realized he was wearing a shirt. While he was in his Warden form with wings out.

Huh.

“We haven’t heard anything coming from inside there,” the other Warden said while I stepped sideways to get a better view.

The shirt the first Warden wore had two slits running up both sides of his spine. More than enough space for his wings to come out. That was ridiculously clever, and embarrassingly so, considering no one else seemed to have caught on to that method.

“Not a single sound,” the first Warden confirmed, glancing at me.

I clasped my hands together and smiled. “I like your shirt.”

He turned briefly to Dez and then swallowed. “Thanks?”

“She’s a...consultant?” Captain Washington asked. “In what capacity other than seeing dead people?”

“That kind,” I said, pointing to the darkening sky as I allowed the grace to pulse inside me.

People normally had no clue what I was. Not until I allowed a little of my grace through. I had no idea what they saw or if it was something they sensed—something that spoke to whatever survival instinct in them—but Captain Washington took a step back, bumping into the fender of the sedan.

And she didn’t look like a lady that took a step back often.

“Cool. Cool,” she whispered, clearing her throat. “You all should get in there.”

“We’ll find your officers,” Dez promised, and I thought that probably wasn’t the smartest thing to do.

Dez caught ahold of my shirt as he walked past, bringing me with him. “I thought you weren’t supposed to reveal what you are,” he stated in a low voice.

“She doesn’t know what I am, and the Wardens already know, so whatever.” Taking a deep breath, I finally lifted my gaze to the actual school.

Immediately, I wished I hadn’t. Lights were on inside, a glare that was welcomed and yet grotesque. Hundreds of tiny bumps broke out over my skin. Like before, it felt like thousands of eyes were on me even though the lit windows of the first floor were empty.

They were still in there—the ghosts, wraiths and Shadow People. And they were waiting.

12

Iclimbed the wide steps carefully, not wanting to trip and break my neck in front of the captain. That would totally ruin my perceived badassery. My sedate pace had nothing to do with the creepy crawly sensation tap-dancing over my skin. Nope. Not at all.

Once we reached the covered entrance of the school, I drew in a shallow breath and looked to the two Wardens. The feeling of being watched increased tenfold. “I don’t think I’ve met either of you.”

“Only in passing,” the one with the clever shirt replied. “My name is Jordan.” He then nodded his head at the other Warden. “That’s Teller.”