“Oh, Jamie . . .” I panted against her lips.

  All at once, the door flew open and Gemma let out a shriek, crossing her arms over her bare chest.

  “What the hell’s going on here?!” the janitor bellowed, looking back and forth between us.

  I clenched my fists and pushed Gemma behind me to hide her. Locking my fiery gaze on the man’s, I saw the fear in his eyes, almost as if he realized who was hiding inside me. “Get. Out. Now,” I snarled.

  He stood there stock-still, taking in every word. Take what you need and don’t come back, I ordered him in my mind. Nodding, the man grabbed a bucket and some sponges. “Now go and forget what you saw.”

  The janitor closed the door and I relaxed, running a hand down the back of my neck. I turned toward Gemma, who was putting her shirt on. “Hey . . . What are you doing?” I pinned her hands to the wall. “We’re not done yet.” I kissed her neck and she smiled, lacing her fingers with mine.

  “You’re going to drive me crazy, Evan James,” she said softly, sliding her hands out of my grasp. “But now we’d better go to the game.” She slipped away, leaving me with my hands on the wall.

  “I should have killed him for interrupting us,” I growled with annoyance.

  “You wouldn’t,” Gemma said matter-of-factly.

  I pulled on my shirt and drew her against me, this time tenderly. “For you, I’d kill anyone,” I assured her, my eyes lingering on hers.

  “Even if he didn’t do anything?”

  “He got between you and me. That’s reason enough.” I winked at her and grabbed her hand, pulling her out of the broom closet. “You okay? Your hand is scorching hot.”

  “It’s nothing. It’ll go back to normal in no time.” My face darkened. It was the power.

  Two girls in red uniforms stared at us, whispering to each other with smiles on their lips. Simon and Ginevra had told me how everyone at school had talked behind Gemma’s back when they thought I’d abandoned her. If I could have followed my instinct I would have killed them all. But they’d already been taught their lesson. I smiled, listening to their whispers; now they were jealous of her. When one of them turned to look at us, I put my arm around Gemma’s shoulder and pulled her to me. Gemma was special. But most importantly, she was mine. And I was all hers. Everyone needed to know that.

  When we opened the doors to the Olympic Arena, a deafening roar hit us. The game was in full swing and the spectators were shouting and cheering on their teams. The stands were full of color because each class was wearing their team jersey. It was my first Winter Carnival at Lake Placid High but Gemma had explained everything to me with the enthusiasm of a child. It lasted two days, with all the high-school classes competing for points. On the third day they held the Snowball Hop, at which they announced the winning team and crowned the king and queen.

  The senior players wore jerseys and shorts in yellow, matching the two streaks on their cheeks and their headbands. The same thing went for the juniors, though they wore red, the sophomores blue, and the freshmen green. The seniors scored a point and Gemma cheered, hurrying to reach the stands.

  “Looks like it’s almost over,” I said. A moment later the referee called the end of the game. The stands exploded into cheers, including the rival teams. The Witches must have put on quite a show out there in the rink, dazzling everyone.

  “So tell me, has that uniform always been so short?” I asked Gemma, jealous when I noticed how short her skirt was.

  She blushed. “Nausyka did it. She altered the sweatshirt too, but I wore my spare.” The oversized sweatshirt she wore was definitely cozier than the tight ones Anya, Nausyka, and Ginevra had on.

  “Hey, what—what’s going on?” Gemma asked, suddenly worried.

  The spectators sat down again and a low murmur replaced the cheering. The senior women’s team had gathered together opposite the senior men’s team. I pricked my ears, canceling out every other sound around me. “The guys just challenged them,” I told Gemma.

  “What?!” She stood up, both frightened and excited. “That wasn’t in the program!”

  “It was Peter’s idea. Brandon and Jake backed him up. What did you expect? Ginevra’s team creamed their opponents.”

  The two senior teams, now opponents, went out onto the rink. The crowd stood up and cheered.

  “If they think they can beat the girls playing like that, they’ve already lost.” Gemma pointed to one of the male players. I laughed. He’d practically passed the orange ball straight to Anya.

  “Hey, what the fuck are you doing?!” Brandon shoved the boy and his reproach could be heard all the way from our seats.

  “Oh, nice. They’re even fighting with each other,” Gemma murmured.

  “It’s the Witches. That’s the effect they have.”

  “You mean they’re turning the boys against each other?”

  “They’re guys. With three girls that look like that in the rink they would have been at odds anyway, but yes, the presence of Witches triggers negative emotions in mortals.”

  The crowd cheered and Gemma stood up. “I don’t believe it! Peter scored!” she cried, jumping up and down.

  “Really?” I asked, scanning the rink for him.

  The Witches’ eyes glinted with defiance, but he stared back at them with more fighting spirit than I’d ever seen in him before. In the rink he knew his stuff. I’d always known he had it in him, but scoring against three Witch opponents was commendable. The entire men’s team was fixated on their every movement, but he was focused on the game and wasn’t letting himself be bedazzled. His love for Gemma must be so strong it left no room for little games of seduction.

  Faith and Brandon were contending for the orange ball, gliding across the ice with their long sticks. He’d just about reached his opponents’ goal when Jeneane blocked him, catching him off guard. The boy fell to the ice amid the crowd’s shouts. Nausyka skidded to a halt beside him and held out her hand, but he got up on his own, scowling. The women’s team was massacring them.

  “It’s not fair. The guys will never beat them,” Gemma said.

  The Witches moved gracefully, like seductive panthers. “Even when they aren’t using magic, Witches are a thousand times stronger than mortals—not to mention the power they wield over their souls simply by being near them. This isn’t a game; they’re just having fun toying with the guys.” Nausyka passed a boy and whispered something in his ear. They were playing dirty, and I wasn’t happy about it. “But Peter’s giving them a run for their money.”

  Just then, with Brandon backing him up, Peter managed to score another goal and the crowd went wild. “Way to go, Peter!” Gemma cheered. “You’re right. I bet they weren’t expecting this. The Witches can read the guys’ minds and foresee their every move, but he’s managed to score anyway.”

  “Funny, Peter’s never been the unpredictable type. It must be the girls’ strategy to avoid boring the crowd.”

  “I don’t think so. Nausyka looks pretty pissed off,” Gemma pointed out, suddenly worried. All at once she froze, her gaze unfocused. “There’s something in the air. Can’t you feel it too?”

  I touched her hand to reassure her and a spark flew between us. Just then, in chorus, the spectators let out an oooh of concern. We looked around, but everyone had rushed down to the rink. I did the same, pulling Gemma by the hand, and leaned down to look. I had a bad feeling. A boy was stretched out in the middle of the ice, unmoving. My eyes scanned the rink. When Nausyka’s eyes met mine, I slammed my fists against the railing and a growl of frustration escaped me. I knew what was going on but I wasn’t going to let it happen. Grabbing hold of the railing, I leapt down and pushed through the crowd that had gathered around the boy. The coach held me back, but let me by after one fiery glance from me. I went up to the boy. His heartbeat was weak; the Witch was drawing him to her. Soon he would be dead. As I pretended to check his eyes, I rested a hand on his chest, counteracting Nausyka’s efforts to take his soul. The boy shot bolt upright, avidly gulping in air, and an audible sigh of relief spread through the crowd.

  I looked up at the Witch. Don’t try to mess with me again, I threatened her mentally. I knew she could hear me. The coach knelt beside the boy and I stood up, leaving him to the others to take care of.

  I followed the Witches into the dark hallway. “Sorry, Evan. I tried to stop her,” Ginevra said softly. She’d also heard my thoughts and knew what I was capable of doing in order to keep Gemma safe.

  I walked past her and stopped, my face inches from Nausyka’s. “What did you think you were doing?!” I hissed.

  She smiled contemptuously. “Was it against the rules? I’m new and not very familiar with your games . . .”

  I punched the locker by her head, crumpling the metal. “You guys are here to protect Gemma,” I reminded her sternly.

  “No one told us we had to stop being what we are.”

  “I’m telling you.”

  “He was mine. I’d already claimed—”

  “No souls,” I said. She raised her chin, irritated. “Not in this school. Not when Gemma’s around,” I emphasized. We couldn’t risk drawing in more Subterraneans.

  “Evan.” Gemma touched my arm and I pulled my fist away without taking my eyes off Nausyka.

  “He’s right,” Anya insisted. “You seduced that boy’s soul despite my objections. Why didn’t you stop when we told you to?”

  “Because I don’t take orders from you,” her Sister shot back.

  “It wasn’t an order,” Ginevra intervened. “You can take his soul some other time. He’s yours to claim.”

  “If he’s stupid enough to listen to you again,” I added, drawing looks from them.

  “Right now,” Ginevra went on, “our priority is protecting Gemma. I was wrong too, to let myself get wrapped up in the mortals’ stupid game, but you crossed the line.”

  “Oh, come on, what did I do, anyway!? The kid’s fine now, isn’t he?”

  “No thanks to you,” I grumbled. “Anyway, let’s get out of here before we attract too much attention.” I put my arm around Gemma’s neck and we all headed toward the door.

  “You sure he’ll be okay?” Gemma asked, watching the boy being loaded into an ambulance despite his protests.

  “He’ll be great,” Nausyka interjected, passing me to get into the BMW. Ginevra and Anya got into the back. Ginevra had had a new light in her eyes ever since she’d started spending time with her Sisters, as though she’d rediscovered a part of herself.

  “Gemma!” someone called as she was about to climb into the car. “Hey, guys! Wait up!”

  We turned toward the voice. Faith was walking toward us, followed by Jeneane. “You disappeared. We were looking all over for you!” she exclaimed when she reached us.

  “Great game! You guys were amazing!” Gemma cheered.

  “I know!” Faith said excitedly. “It was unbelievable! I’ve never felt so charged up before, or so strong.” Out of the corner of my eye I glanced at Nausyka, who was smiling to herself.

  “The guys must have taken the defeat pretty hard,” Gemma said with a grin.

  “We’ll be making fun of them literally forever!” Jeneane enthused, and all three of them laughed. From the car, Ginevra called to Gemma to hurry up.

  “We’re going to Saranac Lake tonight to see the Ice Castle. Coming with us?” Faith asked.

  “I don’t know . . .” Gemma said, looking at us questioningly.

  “Why not?” I replied.

  Jeneane cheered. “I heard they built a maze in it this year, too. It’ll be so much fun!”

  “Okay.” Gemma smiled. “See you later, then.”

  “We’ll go find the guys and let them know!” Faith said.

  “And make fun of them!” her friend added as they hurried off.

  I shook my head, grinning, but when I looked at Gemma I noticed she was smiling. It was nice that once in a while she could live the carefree life of an eighteen-year-old with her mortal friends, temporarily forgetting the fact that a horde of supernatural creatures was battling for her survival while the other half wanted her dead.

  We got into our seats and I started the engine. Gemma turned on the stereo and Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran filled the car. We exchanged glances, hiding a smile, both of us thinking of how we’d danced in her dream to the notes of that song.

  “Hey, you two, hold off on the thoughts. We can hear them, you know,” Nausyka groaned.

  I smiled and took Gemma’s hand. “So what? I’m not holding off on anything for you,” I replied with a sneer. I raised Gemma’s hand to my mouth and kissed her fingers, gazing into her eyes.

  The Witch snorted in disgust. Though they’d already witnessed what had happened between Ginevra and Simon, they still couldn’t stand the sight of a Witch and a Subterranean together. Gemma isn’t a Witch yet, I reminded myself.

  When we reached the driveway of our estate, I turned off the car as the gate was closing. “Gemma, going to school with you was fun. When can we do it again?” Anya asked, her voice eager.

  “Never,” I said sternly. “Not if you guys intend to cause trouble.”

  Gemma and Ginevra had arranged with the school principal for Ginevra’s “cousins” to be able to attend class with us during their visit. Ginevra, whose powers of persuasion seemed unlimited when it came to the principal, had even gotten his permission for them to join in school sporting events like the Winter Carnival games.

  “Come on, Evan!” Anya took my arm and walked beside me toward the front door. “Nausyka won’t cause any more problems, you have my word. We want to go to the Ice Castle too!” she said enthusiastically.

  How could these creatures be the same ones I’d met in Hell? They seemed like a group of silly adolescents with raging hormones. Yet I hadn’t forgotten the time I’d spent with them in Hell: the torture, their filthy blood games. I hadn’t forgotten they wanted to take Gemma away from me. No, there was nothing silly about them. I couldn’t trust them. They were Witches. And I was a Subterranean.

  “I’ve got a better idea,” Nausyka said. “Why don’t you stay here like a good little Soldier? We’ll take care of protecting our Sister.”

  I rushed at her, but Anya stepped between us. “Calm down, she was only kidding,” she said, casting a reproachful look at Nausyka, who was smirking, her long white hair blending in with the snowy background.

  “All right, you can go, but I have no intention of babysitting you. You’re not here for a guided tour—you’re here to watch over Gemma.”

  “That’s what we’re going to do,” Anya assured me happily.

  I opened the front door and two panthers stopped to stare at us. I still had to get used to them. No, I thought. I never would.

  Gemma leaned over to pet Irony, who’d waddled up to her, tail wagging. For some reason the big felines’ presence didn’t scare him. Maybe it was because Witches were in tune with nature and all its creatures bent to their will.

  “Welcome back.” Devina slunk down the stairs toward us.

  Gemma was laughing with Anya and Ginevra, but her mood changed the second she saw her. “Well, well, if it isn’t the Wicked Witch of the West,” she said, dumping her backpack on the ground. “What were you doing upstairs? You don’t have permission to go wandering around our rooms,” she reproached her threateningly.

  Without blinking an eye, Devina drew closer to me. “Oh, I only stayed in his bed for a little while . . . after he left.” She looked at Gemma to provoke her and I clenched my fists. “Speaking of which, you left these in your room when you got dressed again.” She rested her hand on my chest, her nails digging into me, but I didn’t take what she held in it. I wasn’t about to play along.

  Gemma strode over to her and tore my boxers out of her hand. All at once something made her freeze, as though she’d gotten a shock. Her eyes became unfocused and for a second her pupils seemed to lengthen like a feline’s. Devina smiled and moved her lips to Gemma’s ear. “He’s so sexy without them,” she whispered.

  A sconce on the wall exploded. Gemma tried to control her breathing. I’d never seen her like this before. She seemed to be trying to tame a demon raging inside her, like she was on the verge of making Devina’s head explode through the power of her mind.

  “Gemma . . .” I said, but her eyes remained locked on the Witch’s, as if in communication with her. I noticed red drops dripping from her palms and went to her, breaking the dark spell between them. “You’re hurt.” I took her hands and ran my thumb over the cuts in her palms. She’d clenched her fists so hard her nails had pierced her flesh. I scowled at Devina. “You know, some bastards put collars on their dogs to make them stop barking. I’ll get you one. I’m sure it would work on cats too.”

  “I’d be happy to wear it if you put it on me yourself. Electric shocks make everything more interesting,” she replied mischievously.

  “Devina, that’s enough!” Ginevra broke in. “None of us likes staying under the same roof, but we’ve got to deal with it for as long as necessary, and you need to understand your place once and for all.”

  Devina cast her a haughty glance. “Who ever said I didn’t like staying here?” She winked at me and walked away, leaving the door that led down to the dungeon open. She wanted us to watch her as she made her exit.

  Ginevra closed it with a mental command, grumbling over her Sister’s behavior. “It’s hopeless. She’ll never change.”

  “Was it just my imagination or did the little Witch make a lamp explode?” Nausyka asked. Gemma still looked shaken but her eyes had gone back to normal.

  “Gemma . . .” I said.

  She turned to look at me. “You undressed in front of Devina. I saw it,” she hissed. I swallowed, shocked by her words. The dismay in her voice paralyzed me.