Zoey, Jace, and the girls didn't wait for the end of the school day. The moment things calmed, they took the two injured girls Calla and Nova back to Whispering Hollows. The drive was quiet, tension thick in the air as the two newcomers rested in the backseat, barely conscious.
Once they arrived, Zoey's parents moved fast. Sarah guided Nova inside while Sebastian gently helped Calla. They offered food, medical care, and warm rooms to the exhausted girls.
"They're witches," Calla explained once she'd regained some strength. "Hunters found us… they killed our coven. Our whole family. We ran and just kept running until we saw you."
Zoey's parents exchanged grim glances, already piecing together what this meant.
Upstairs, Zoey made her way toward Calla's room to check on her. As she neared the door, she paused, hearing voices inside.
"Calla, what are you doing here?" Jace's voice was sharp.
"I didn't know where else to go," Calla replied quietly.
"You can't be here," Jace said, firm.
"Don't tell me you really love her," Calla challenged, her voice rising slightly.
"Yes. I do. She's nothing like you, Calla," Jace snapped back.
A sudden pause.
Zoey stepped in just as Calla tried to kiss him—and just as he pushed her away.
Zoey folded her arms. "Calla, really?"
"I—Zoey, I didn't—" Jace started, but Zoey cut him off.
"I heard everything. But it would've been nice if you'd told me," she said, her tone controlled but firm.
She turned to Calla. "I don't know what your issue is, but clearly you can see we're together. I'm fine giving you and your sister a safe place to stay but if you want that, you need to back off my boyfriend. Got it?"
Calla rolled her eyes and looked away.
Zoey grabbed Jace's hand and led him to her room. Once the door closed, she spun on him. "You didn't think to start with, 'Hey, that's my ex-girlfriend'?"
Jace rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm sorry. You were so focused on helping them, I didn't want to make it complicated."
Zoey sighed. "Just don't let it happen again."
He smiled, then leaned in and kissed her. "You know… it was kind of hot, watching you go off like that."
Zoey laughed, rolling her eyes. "Shut up."
The tension broke between them, and together, they headed back downstairs.
Later that evening, the group gathered in the living room. Sarah clapped her hands for attention. "Calla, Nova we're enrolling you both in school starting tomorrow."
Nova lit up. "Really? I've never been to a real school before."
"You'll be going with Elaine," Sarah said.
Elaine waved shyly. "Hi."
"Hi," Nova replied with a small smile.
"And Calla," Sarah continued, "you'll be with Zoey, Jace, Alina, Mya, and the others."
Everyone greeted her warmly except for Zoey, who gave a curt nod and said nothing. The room fell into a brief, awkward silence.
Jace glanced between the girls, tension thick in the air once more.
Some lines had been drawn. Now it was up to Calla whether she'd cross them again.