The Hunt by L. J. Smith

“But this is ridiculous.”
    Cassie noticed Adam’s jaw tighten as he watched the couple dance. Diana was laughing, squeezing Max close, having what appeared to be a pretty good time. Cassie wouldn’t dare say so to Adam, but she couldn’t help but sense Diana wasn’t thinking about the Circle anymore.
    A few minutes later, Chris, Doug, and Sean turned up at Cassie’s side.
    â€œDo you see what I see?” Chris asked, and Cassie followed his gaze to the opposite side of the gym.
    It was Mr. Boylan, standing with his arms crossed in a finely cut dark suit, his gaze locked on Max and Diana on the dance floor.
    â€œHe looks like he’s about to kill someone,” Doug said. “What should we do?”
    Just then Mr. Boylan turned the other way and stormed out of the gym.
    â€œFollow him,” Cassie said.
    The three of them—Chris, Doug, and Sean—bolted toward the exit without a moment’s hesitation. Cassie saw from the look on his face that Adam was anxious to join them.
    â€œThis is my chance to search Mr. Boylan’s office,” he said. “For his relic.”
    So much for a night off , Cassie thought. But if Adamcould steal Boylan’s relic from him it would be the equivalent of robbing him of his power. He couldn’t perform the killing curse without it.
    Cassie grazed Adam’s cheek with her hand and nodded. “It’s a good idea, but you shouldn’t go alone. You’ll need a lookout.”
    â€œWe’ll go,” Deborah said. She and Suzan stepped forward, a little too anxiously. “We’ve been itching for something interesting to happen all night. Or at least I have.” She acknowledged Suzan, who was still sulking about being pulled from the dance floor.
    â€œBe careful,” Cassie said, as if it were an order. She was still a Circle leader, after all. “I’ll keep an eye on Diana and Max.”
    Adam gave Cassie’s hand a squeeze and then took off. Deborah and Suzan followed him toward the hallway that led to Mr. Boylan’s office. Cassie allowed herself a moment to breathe, to remind herself that though everything was suddenly happening so fast, it was all under control. Her control. Then Nick materialized from the crowd with another glass of punch for Cassie.
    â€œI’m pretty sure it’s not spiked,” he said. “But at this rate I think we can both at least count on a sugar high.” Then he noticed the expression on Cassie’s face. “What’sgoing on?” His dark brown eyes darted back and forth. “Where is everyone?”
    â€œChris, Doug, and Sean are tailing Boylan. Adam, Deborah, and Suzan are searching his office.”
    â€œI thought we were here to take it easy,” Nick said.
    â€œChange of plan.” Cassie scoped the gymnasium for Diana’s blond hair and Max’s broad shoulders, but they’d gotten lost in the swarm of students. “Do you see Diana anywhere?”
    Nick inspected every couple on the dance floor then shook his head. “It’s too crowded. But I have an idea.” He ran to the punch table and, to the dismay of the servers, climbed up on top of it for a better view. He scanned the room back and forth and then he froze in place. His sharp features turned deathly serious.
    â€œCassie,” he whispered, and jumped down. But before he could utter another word, Cassie caught sight of a wild mane of dyed-red hair. It was no hallucination this time. No paranoia. Right in the center of the crowd was Scarlett.
    Nick looked ready to pounce, but he didn’t move a muscle. “She’s casting a spell,” he said.
    Scarlett’s arms were rigid at her sides and her eyes were as black as marbles. She was muttering somethingunder her breath, obviously some kind of dark magic.
    â€œWe have to get you out of here,” Nick said. “Right now!”
    Cassie was smart enough not to argue. She and Nick