“Sorin. Haven’t seen him today. We were supposed to meet—I mean, we had a potions test in chemistry this morning and he seems the diligent type.” Aoife’s freckled cheeks blotch bright pink.

“I’ll bet he is,” Morgan says with a knowing grin quirking up the corners of his mouth.

“Think it’s noro?” Hannah pipes up.

“A vampire with a stomach bug?” Aoife screws up her nose in an expression that holds no disdain as she shakes her head.

Hannah giggles. Gods, why couldn’t I have had siblings like this instead of the irritable asswipe I’m forced to share DNA with.

“Actually, I’m not sure there’s a stomach bug outbreak at all.” I’m afraid to say out loud what’s only been a nasty suspicion gnawing at the back of my mind. “I think it’s a cover-up.”

“Sounds dramatic. A cover-up for what?” Aoife asks, but Morgan flicks his gaze to Hannah and back, giving me a little shake of his head.

“Maybe it’s just a vampire thing,” he says. “Maybe Sorin ate some garlic yesterday.” He pulls a face, making Hannah giggle again.

“Yeah. Let’s hope it’s that.” Aoife doesn’t sound convinced.

The bell rings, signaling the end of lunch.

Aoife tosses her hair over her shoulder and straightens to her full height. “Come on, I’ll walk you.” She bumps her hip gently against Hannah then tousles Morgan’s hair before sashaying down the corridor, her arm draped protectively around her little sister.

Morgan turns to me, his smile instantly melting off his face. “I did some digging. Peter, Elijah, Qendresa, Risto, Manami, Natalie, and now Sorin,” he says. “They’re all really good at magic.”

“Everyone’s good here.”

“Yeah, but they’re better than good,” he says. “Each of them is pretty exceptional in their own way.”

“So, all the allegedly sick kids also happen to be ultratalented with magic?” A queasy feeling ripples through my belly.

“Think we should check the dorms and infirmary? Make sure they’re not being quarantined somewhere Sini wouldn’t have seen?” Morgan asks.

Part of me really wants to believe this is all some big misunderstanding, but I saw the liekkiö. I heard Natalie’s voice and she asked for my help.

“No, screw that.” My vehemence takes me by surprise. No more skulking about where we could run into MacCrone. Despite Morgan’s attitude, if either of us get caught skipping any more classes, we’re going to be in serious trouble.

“I think I have a better way to figure this out,” I say. “Can you meet me after school at the bridge?”

“Why not go right now?”

“I’ve got some prep to do. See you later?”

“You sure?” He eyes me uncertainly.

“I’ve got this. Promise. Just meet me after school, okay?”

“Okay. Later, Tai,” he calls after me as I hurry toward Miss Kaneda’s class.