Well, none of that sounded good.
Lexen stopped his sister’s half hysterical rant by grabbing her hand. “It’s going to be okay, Star. I won’t let your first Earthside friend be murdered by our enemies, even if the council washes their hands of her.”
Excellent news. Best news I had heard all day.Wait a minute …I soooo wasn’t ready to hear them admit they weren’t from Earth – I was definitely ignoring thatEarthsidecomment.
The bell rang before I could push for more information. My first class today was AP English, and I wondered which of my new group of protectors was with me.
“I’ve got Emma for this class,” Lexen answered my unspoken question. “Star, you’re with Jero and Marsil in chemistry.”
I shuddered, and she jerked her head back. “What? Is chemistry … bad?”
Another shudder rocked me. “The worst. Just … good luck.”
She blinked her wide pretty eyes at me and I couldn’t stop the smile any longer. “I’m kidding … kinda. I’m pretty good at science and math, but chem is not my favorite.”
Star brightened then. “I’m really good with numbers. This is exciting.”
She linked her arms through her brother’s, and started chatting loudly as they moved over to jump on a moving path. I found myself staring after them. I was a little enchanted by the sweetness of Star. She somehow made the world seem a little brighter than usual. Her innocent joy in simple things was … nice. I was going to try to learn from her example.
“Ready to go?” Lexen’s low voice sent a brush of tingles down my spine. I took a second to calm my rapid heartbeat.
“Ready when you are,” I said.
He started to walk and I fell in step beside him. When we reached the door, I waited for him to step through, but he hesitated.
“I need to speak with someone,” he said, before he peered inside the classroom. “You should be safe for a minute. I’m only going to be right there.” He pointed across to the far wall, where a few students were lingering.
I nodded. “It’s fine. I’m not a baby. You don’t have to worry about me eating food off the floor.”
His lips twitched but he didn’t reply. He just turned and walked away. I sucked in a deep breath, and then forced myself to stop staring at him and step into the classroom. Luckily, English was one of my favorite subjects, and I had read ahead in most of the assigned books. Because something told me I was not going to learn much today with Lexen at my side.
10
The classroom was empty, those fancy desks clean and shiny, waiting for students to arrive. I hesitated just inside the doorway, unsure about seating arrangements. Was I supposed to stick really close to Lexen? As in, sit in the elite area?
After a few moments of deliberation, I decided to sit in the same front desk I’d chosen yesterday. Lexen would no doubt be happy as long as he could see me. He might even prefer I didn’t confuse thehumanseven more by breaking social rules and jumping twenty levels to elite.
When I took my seat I slumped forward and felt some of the tension I’d been carrying for days ease. I had no idea why; nothing much had changed, but it felt like as I sat down I physically couldn’t hold on to that much stress any longer. I had to let some of it go.
“Oh. Em. Gee.” The excited exclamation jolted me out of my thoughts. I turned to find Cara sliding in to sit at the desk next to me. “So, I was freaking out on the bus thinking you were going to miss school, and then I get here and the rumors are flying.” She was waving her hands in the air, fifty-plus silver bracelets she wore jingling like chimes. “You arrived with the Darkens. Like in their car. Stepped out, walked between them. Didn’t get murdered for getting too close. Oh. Em. Gee.”
She collapsed into her chair, looking exhausted. Her face was still turned in my direction, her expression a mix of confusion, awe, and shock.
I cracked up. I couldn’t help it. She joined my laughter, her eyes – which were a very pale green today – filled with tears of mirth as she held her stomach.
“Oh. Em. Gee.” Another voice burst in from the side and Cara and I laughed harder. Ben looked more than a little confused as he glanced between the two of us. “I have no idea what you bitches are laughing about, but seriously, I need all the gossip.”
His eyes were locked on me, that mop of curls flying in all directions as he wiggled on the spot.
More students were entering, but no Lexen, so I leaned in closer. “I met them, last night on our street. Their sister has just arrived to start school. She was living … back with their other family. We hit it off, and they gave me a ride to school today.” The fact that most of that was true helped me keep to the story. I wasn’t the best liar.
Ben and Cara stared at me, wide-eyed and slack-jawed. It was like they had no idea how to process this information. Ben finally spluttered, “Touch this girl, she’s freaking blessed.” He then took me completely by surprise when he reached out and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me up and out of my seat into a bear hug. I knew from my brief time with Ben yesterday that he loved to give hugs, and again it didn’t bother me very much. I was getting hugs all over the place at the moment.
Was I actually starting to heal?
Before I could delve too deep into whatever was my next psychological step of healing, a shadow fell over us. Everything inside my body tightened – I knew exactly who it was.
“Put her down.” Lexen’s voice was a low caress across my nerves. There was an undercurrent there I didn’t understand, but the look on his face was calm.
