Free Falling into the White (The Ancients Series) by Christine M. Butler Page A

if you wanted to call Mikael or Evan though.”
    I just closed my eyes, and sat down on the rim of the fountain. “Just Asi.” I put my head down in my hands.
    “Well, at least I didn’t have any tests today.” She glanced at her watch as she waited for someone to pick up on the other end of the line. “Asi, we need you at the school. We’re waiting in the quad, right now.” She was silent a moment. “It’s very important, and I don’t…” her voice cut off. “There was a witch here talking to Jess.” She was quiet again for a minute, then hung up the phone. “Asi will be here in a minute. He’s bringing us to Evan too, so get yourself prepared for that.”
    “I figured.”
    Asi showed up about ten minutes later on high alert. The few people still milling about in the quad between classes were enraptured with him. The men looked like they were trying to figure out what his deal was. Asi could have been security detail, spy, or drug lord. He was dressed to impress today in slacks, a button down shirt, with blazer over top, and shiny dress shoes to round out the look. His sandy hair was slicked back from his face with some styling gel, and the longer ends were beginning to curl up on him. The women in the quad, were gawking. A couple brave ones started heading towards him until they realized he was walking with a purpose, and ignoring them completely. He was scanning the entire area as he approached, no doubt looking for threats, but he seemed unaware of the attention he was getting. “Come on, let’s go.”
    We followed Asi to his car, and got in with him. “What about…” I started to say, but he cut me off.
    “We’ll come back for your Jeep later. I’ll send someone else to make sure it wasn’t tampered with.”
    “What do you mean tampered with? If the witch wanted to hurt us, she was standing two feet away. I’m sure…”
    “Jess, I know you enjoy your independence, but I work for someone. I can’t question direct orders.”
    “Fine. Whatever.” I was angry again.
    “Jess, it’s not…” I cut Ashley off before she could finish defending Asi.
    “I know it’s not his fault, but damn it I am tired of people acting like I am not my own person, in charge of my own destiny. If one more man tries to tell me how to run my freaking life, who to love, how to use my cell phone, or when to drive my own damn car, I am going to blow the fuck up!”
    Ashley’s eyes were huge, and she was staring at me like she didn’t even know me. “You need a serious vacation,” She looked me over once more, “or maybe at least some chocolate, or good sex.” I rolled my eyes at her, but I couldn’t help the smile.
    “I’m not hormonal, I’m pissed.”
    Asriel was apparently feeling brave, because he chimed in with, “I think we get that.”
    I sat in silence for the rest of the short drive. We were being taken to De’ Lune’s, the club, not a private residence. That was good, or at least I thought so until we walked in. Evan was waiting for us in the back room of the club. He was not alone though. Eleanna was there with him. Both of them looked stunning, which made me wonder what everyone had been up to today while Ashley and I were at school. Ashley didn’t really seem to be caught off guard by everyone’s dress, so I assumed she already knew.
    “Jess,” Evan spoke first, “come tell us what happened.”
    My first instinct was to tell him, and his whole family to fuck off. Instead, I took a deep, calming breath, closed my eyes for a minute, and then started in with what I wanted them to know. “A lady approached us on the quad today. She said her name was Estella Sophia Marquez.” Leanna sucked in a breath at the mention of the name.
    “It really was a witch, then,” she said.
    “How do you know?” I asked her.
    “Because she’s the reason I ended up bonded with Antoine. Estella, well she goes by Sophia, is the one who stripped his first bond.”
    “Oh, right!” I squeaked out.