The Blue Woods Read Online Free PDF Page B

this? I’d pored over all of her damn books and not one of them had ever mentioned this. “For real?”
    â€œI’ve—seen—it happen.” Nerina’s skin was pale, and not just because she’d been living in an underground lair for the last couple of months. “Bree, I know you found out about turning a Malandante into a Benandante. Alessia told me, and she also told me that Jonah wants out. But what you read about—the way it has to happen—is impossible. You need to get it out of your head.”
    Her whole body was tense, like she was about to take flight. I narrowed my eyes at her, but she wouldn’t turn my way. She was hiding something. I was sure of it. Well, she wouldn’t be hiding it for long. I was a freaking mage, after all. I had ways of finding things out.

    Jenny Sands’s dad was the last person I ever expected to be the Stag, but I had to give him credit for letting the entire Clan descend on his house unannounced. Alessia patted the spot on the couch next to her when I walked in. Jenny sat on her other side, and I saw her eyes widen as I made my way to the couch. I’d checked the mirror before we’d gotten out of the car; I knew what I looked like: purple bruises encircling my eyes, broken blood vessels staining my skin, swollen fingers, medical tape across my chest that peeked out from my shirt’s neckline . . . I lifted my chin a hair as I passed her. She could sit on her little popular-girl pedestal all she wanted. I was a goddamn hero.
    As soon as I settled next to Alessia, I leaned in close to her ear. “I have to talk to you,” I muttered.
    â€œMe too. Later.”
    â€œI suppose introductions are not necessary,” Nerina said in her I’m-in-charge tone at the front of the room. “Although I guess I should introduce myself. I am Nerina.” She paused for a moment, as if she expected applause or something, but everyone just stared at her. I choked back a laugh.
    â€œIn any case,” Nerina went on, “we should inform the rest of the Concilio that we know each other’s identities.”
    â€œWhy?” Alessia asked.
    â€œBecause we tell them everything that goes on in the Clans,” Nerina said. “They should know that we’ve been compromised.”
    â€œIt’s a stupid rule,” the redheaded Eagle said.
    I raised my eyebrow at Alessia. “Her name’s Cora,” she told me in an undertone.
    â€œCora’s right,” I said loudly.
    Nerina narrowed her eyes at me. “That ‘stupid rule’ has saved countless lives,” she said. “Even you would have revealed our identities had they tortured you long enough.”
    â€œHey!” I tried to sit up straight, but the overly squishy couch cushions wouldn’t let me. “I resent that. I would’ve held out.” I pointed my finger at her. “And actually, by your reasoning, if the Concilio knows we all know each other’s identities, then they could be tortured for that information too.”
    â€œShe’s right,” Jeff said.
    Nerina looked thoroughly annoyed that we’d out-reasoned her. She threw her arms up in the air. “Fine. I won’t tell them. Let’s get past this. We need to figure out our next move.”
    â€œWe should go in tonight,” Mr. Sands—Jeff—said. “With a complete Clan, I’m sure we could retake it.”
    â€œBut we are not a complete Clan,” Nerina said. “We are missing the Lynx.”
    â€œWe have you,” Jeff replied.
    â€œYes, but technically I am not a member of the Twin Willows Clan. The spell will not work,” Nerina said. “Besides, we will be even stronger if we can find the Lynx’s replacement and go in with six of us.” She ran her hand through her hair, making the ends twitch with static. “It may even take more than that.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Cora