“You were woolgathering as we discussed plans for the festival of Haloa,” Petra complained.
Petra Drakos and her cousin, Maia Norcott were two of her dearest friends, along with Antonia.
“I suppose I still do not understand what the festival is and why you have one,” Samantha explained.
“That is not what you were thinking about,” Antonia grinned.
“Do not read my aura,” Samantha warned.
“I see a light blue, which is not unusual because you almost always have that color,” Antonia explained.
“What does it mean?” Petra asked.
“Happy and peaceful.”
Maia rolled her eyes. “We know that even without seeing auras. I was hoping to learn a secret.”
“I have none,” Samantha defended, to which Antonia arched a brow.
Maia’s eyes widened. “But she does. What other color do you see, Antonia?”
Samantha’s heart raced. Was it possible that her aura could have revealed that she was thinking about kissing Mr. Jourdain?
“I would not share Samantha’s more private colors any more than I would share yours,” Antonia finally said.
Samantha nearly blew out a sigh again, but then Maia and Petra would be even more convinced that she had something to hide.
Petra narrowed her eyes. “Then it is a color that means something important.”
“I bet it is the color of love, passion, desire,” Maia decided.
“For whom?” Samantha nearly laughed and hoped her friends could not see the truth.
“Cassian,” Petra answered.
“Why would you think such? He barely speaks to me,” she quickly rebuked their suggestion.
“He took you to the Sacred Grove yesterday.”
“Because Lady St. Alban told him to,” Samantha reminded her friends.
“I have seen how you have watched him when you do not think anyone else is looking,” Maia teased.
“I do not.”
“Yes, you do,” Antonia and Petra cried at the same time.
“And he watches you when he does not think anyone is looking,” Maia said knowingly as she nodded her head and raised her eyebrows as if she had a secret. Which she did not.
“He does not,” Samantha argued just as her heart and pulse sped, hopeful that what they said was true. Not that Samantha would dare admit such secret desires to her friends. “I have not seen as such.”
“Because you were not looking.” Maia rolled her eyes.
“We have all noticed you glancing at him, Cassian watching you, but neither one of you talking to the other,” Antonia assured her.
“That is likely why my aunt had him escort you yesterday and not anybody else. We are all tired of waiting,” Petra added.
Goodness! How could they all know? She was careful. Very careful. Except, she had only been afraid that Mr. Jourdain would notice her watching, not anyone else.
