I stared a little too long before nodding. “Thanks,” I said and stepped toward the door.
“That's it?” she said. “Nothing?”
I paused as my hand reached for the door. I inhaled deeply and let it out slowly, then spun to face her. “I want to tell you, I do. I’m afraid if I do, it could put us both in danger.”They kill people who discover their secrets.
“Danger?” She rushed forward. “Are you okay?”
“It’s not that.” My cheeks heated. There was so much I hadn’t told her, so much I wanted to tell her. “It’s…about my dragon. He’s not…his pedigree is a fake. And I’m not Fairfax’s niece. I’m…just a bottomsider.”
It was almost the full truth, but now that I knew about magic, these truths felt inconsequential in comparison. Still, the weight that lifted from my shoulders was freeing.
She placed one hand on my shoulder, a smile softening the look of surprise on her face. Then she leaned closer. “A bottomsider? I wondered…” She tapped her lips with two fingers. “That changes everything, doesn’t it? Actually, it makes everything much more exciting.”
Exciting was what I’d thought at first, too, when I’d been offered this place at Cardan Lott. Now, all I could hear were Rush’s words…the group that kills everyone who uncovers their secrets.Telling Vanyathatsecret would only put her on the list, and I couldn’t do that to her.
“Well, come on, then.” Her arm looped through mine. “Thanks for telling me,” she whispered. “Why don’t we show them what a bottomsider can do in the classroom, too.” The way she said the word was more like a crowning achievement than an insult. “How fun would it be if you got a top score in one of our classes?” She giggled all the way to breakfast, thinking of a thousand ways the truth about my heritage was actually the best thing she’d learned all year.
Rather than feeling like I was coming into exams at a disadvantage based on my upbringing, by the time we entered the common room, I was laughing loudly, almost believing myfriend that I might actually give those Sapphire students a run for their money.
But as soon as I spotted the predatory sneer on Luther’s face, my smile vanished.
CHAPTER 24
Luther stood up from the couch, eyes on me, but I tried to ignore him, assuming he was simply in one of his moods. Several of the other faces in our common room were puffy from lack of sleep. Rush leaned against the sideboard in the common room, waiting for another pot of coffee to be brought in by the staff. Dark circles hugged his eyes. We briefly made eye contact as I circled around the table piled high with pastries and fruits, toasted breads and jams.
He pushed forward, reaching for a plate just as I reached for the honey jar.
“Oh, sorry,” I said, drawing my hand back.
“Ladies first,” he said, shoving his hand in his pocket as he waited, the ghost of a smile on his lips.
I changed my mind and grabbed the jam instead, not able to bear his nearness. My mind darted to the way his chest had felt pressed up against my back, his arms moving me to safety. I cleared my throat, slapped some jam on my toast, and hurried toward the table where Vanya was already seated, sipping orange juice. Luther walked into the dining area, stretching loudly.
“House Ruby,” he said, collecting everyone’s attention. “You have final exams today. Hatchlings, beat Sapphire. Insomething. Please.” A few chuckles sounded from the older students, but the first years all looked a bit shocked. “Or I’ll run you ragged all spring.”
He clapped Rush on the back as he passed. Then, to my surprise, offered me a quick nod.
Surely he was looking at Vanya instead. But then his fingers were pressing against our table, and he was leaning toward me.
“Yes?” I took a bite of toast, assuming he would leave me alone. But his stare only intensified. I glanced up at him, my mouth dusted with crumbs.
He poked his thumb at me and looked at Vanya. “I saw these two”—he pointed his thumb at Rush—“coming in near dawn this morning.”
Vanya sucked in a breath and dropped the croissant in her hands. It bounced off of her plate and rolled onto the table. Her eyes traveled to me and then to Rush.
I froze, as stiff as marble, my appetite suddenly gone. Luther bent his elbows, lowering his face closer to me. “That was not something I expected from you. But I guess you’ll do anything to climb the ladder.”
My jaw fell open at his words.
He stood up and turned back to Rush. “How was she?”
Rush’s eyes fled toward me, then back to Luther. For the briefest moment, I saw my plans flashing before my eyes and drifting away like dandelion fluff in a gale. Whatever Rush’s response, he held my future, my reputation, in his hands. Shep, who had paused at the breakfast table, stared at me with wide, sad eyes and a slack mouth.
Rush coughed. “Her. No.” He said it with such easy disdain. An invisible knife carved through my stomach. “We got strandedtogether when the race broke up. She couldn’t afford the train ticket back.” He shrugged and took a bite of a muffin.
Every muscle in my body lit on fire, and I suddenly felt sick as my stomach turned flip after flip, my mind racing. He’d said the right thing, thenicething, compared to what he could have said, but it still hurt. I was nothing to him. A poor girl with a dragon he needed.
He turned with his muffin in his hand and walked out of the common room.
