chapter 42

When I was a little girl, I sometimes wondered what life was like for Cinderella after she married the prince and her wicked stepmother was punished. The story ended after all the exciting parts; did that mean nothing ever happened to her again? It’s starting to feel like that was the case.

Aconitum Hall has no shortage of diversions. Televisions in nearly every room, a glorious, multi-room pool in the basement, a library with more books than we had at the academy, and of course, internet access.

Werewolves are feudal, but not completely stone aged.

There are only so many episodes of syndicated television I can watch, though, and only so many social media sites I can scroll before I’m intensely bored in a too-quiet house. I call Hannah, and she answers on the first ring.

“Is everything okay? You never call me,” she says in lieu of hello.

“Sorry, I know.” I can count on one hand the number of times Hannah and I have spoken on the phone since I returned. “I didn’t mean to alarm you, I j