Her eyes flicked to my face, and some small part of her came back to the surface.
The faintest hint of a smile. Like she’d gotten one over on them. I hoped she head.
But damn, I wanted to kiss those lips again.
The desire hit so strong I almost rushed into the corridor.
Dangerous, and too large to joke away.
Then Cosima touched Astra’s elbow to keep her moving.
Astra went with her.
Rev saw me last.
She lifted one eyebrow me.
I lifted my lip in a grin at her.
They turned toward the first-year corridor.
I started after them before I realized I’d done it.
“Marsh.”
Hale stood in the shadow beside the lower stair.
He hadn’t been there a moment ago.
Which probably meant he had been there, and I had missed him.
I resented that. I prided myself on my powers of perception.
“Instructor Hale,” I said. “Lurking suits you.”
“You were doing the same thing.”
“I was waiting.”
“So was I.”
Hale looked down the corridor where Astra had gone. His sleeve was buttoned, but his Mark pressed against the cuff hard enough for mine to answer.
Mine didn’t particularly like his.
It recognized it anyway.
For a moment, I hated him on principle.
Then Astra disappeared around the corner without looking back to ask either of us for help, and Hale stayed perfectly still.
The hatred lost some of its footing.
He wanted to follow her too.
I could see it in the way he held himself rigid.
“Well,” I said. “This is humiliating.”
