“Call us anytime,” Tye added. “Day or night. Doesn’t matter.”
“I will.” I swallowed hard. “I should go.”
We said our goodbyes, and I ended the call before they could see the tears that had begun to gather in my eyes. I sat there for a moment, phone clutched in my hand.
‘Sad?’
“Just tired,” I lied, wiping at my eyes with the back of my hand. “Come on, we’ve got a meeting to get to.”
I stood and moved to the bathroom to splash cold water on my face. My reflection stared back at me, eyes a bit red but otherwise composed. I brushed out my long black hair until it fell in smooth waves down my back, then threw on a dark gray ballcap that used to be my dad’s before returning to the bedroom.
“Ready for an adventure?”
Noodle slithered up, coiling comfortably around my wrist, his scales gleaming in the fading light.‘Off to find the rats...’
I grabbed my long coat, headed for the door, and took one last look at my new room. It was beautiful, comfortable, everything I could want, and yet it didn’t feel like mine. Not yet. Maybe it never would.
The spiral staircase seemed even longer going down than it had coming up, each step taking me further from the safety of my temporary sanctuary and closer to whatever waited for me atImperium. I tried to ignore the persistent ache in my chest, the pull that wanted me to turn around, get on a plane, and go back to four men who had broken my heart.
Instead, I kept walking, one foot in front of the other. I’d survived worse than this. I would survive this too.
The common room was empty as I passed through it, though signs of recent occupation—an open book here, a half-drunk cup of tea there—suggested the Scorpio students weren’t far. I wondered what they’d make of me, the American Ophis suddenly dropped into their midst.
Outside, the mist had thickened as evening approached, wreathing the buildings in ghostly veils. I paused at the bottom of the tower steps, realizing I had no idea which direction to go.
“Lost already?” a voice asked from the shadows.
I turned, instinctively calling starlight to my fingertips before I could stop myself. Out from the shadows, leaning against the tower wall, stood a familiar figure. The scar on his face caught the light. It was James, a member of the Stardust Shield I’d met at the gala.
“Thought you might need a guide,” he said, taking a drag from his cigarette. The ember briefly lit up his green eyes before darkness claimed them again.
I let the glow fade from my fingers. “Were you waiting for me?”
“Yes.” He exhaled smoke into the misty air. “Figured you’d need help finding your way. This place is a maze at night.”
At the gala, I’d been too wrapped up in my own issues to pay much attention to the Stardust Shield, but I remembered James. There was something about him that screamedemotionally damaged.But weren’t we all?
“Jupiter!” Will called out, jogging over, his hair floppy and windswept. “Sorry I’m late! I got caught up with—oh.” He stopped when he saw James. “Evening, Kelso.” James nodded. “Iwas just coming to show Jupiter to Professor Winters’ office.” He glanced between us.
“I’ve got it,” James said, leaving no room for argument.
Will hesitated, looking to me for confirmation. I shrugged, uncertain myself why this guy was so interested in playing chaperone.
“Right,” Will said, stepping back. “I’ll see you in class, Jupiter. If you need anything, just ask.”
“Thanks, Will.”
He nodded respectfully and turned to leave, casting a curious look back.
I’d forgotten that the Stardust Shield attended Imperium. They were third-year students, I thought, though James appeared older, maybe twenty-four.
“You didn’t have to scare him off,” I said, watching Will disappear into the darkness.
James shrugged. “Will Thomas talks too much. You looked like you needed a break from the welcome committee.”
I laughed. “He’s just enthusiastic.”
“That’s one way to put it.” James crushed his cigarette under his boot. “Come on. Winters hates tardiness.”
