“Rafe,” Daphne murmurs, clearly guilty as she reaches out and cups his cheek in her palm. “I’m sorry, I just –“ “No, Daphne,” Rafe replies, laying back against the pillow and closing his eyes, moving his arms so that his hands press lightly against her back. “Don’t be sorry – don’t ever be sorry f
Jesse’s shoulder slump and he looks down at his bedspread, tracing his fingers across it. Rafe, a little moody in turn, doesn’t say anything and heads directly for his bed, opening his dresser and pulling out some pajamas. “Where have you been!?” I bite out from my place in my nook when Jackson
“I’m talking,” Jackson says, looking evenly between my brother and my cousin, “about the fact that Alvez spends most of class giving Ariel seriously lewd looks –“ “He so does not!” Rafe bursts out, appalled. “He so does!” I counter, crawling forward on the bed to stare at my brother. “Like the e
Rafe sighs, clearly all worked up, and Jesse groans, turning away from me after giving me a quick glare. “All right!” Jesse snaps, striding back towards his bed and fishing, bizarrely, for something behind his headboard. “Family meeting! We’re all having a drink and we’re talking this through. And
“I delt with it,” I say, straightening my shoulders, frowning at my brother and my cousin. They both look up at me. “As best as I could, I delt with it. I did what I had to do to stay in the school, keep my secret, and keep myself protected.” They both stare at me for a long moment before Rafe nod
“With weapons,” Jesse growls, his eyes lighting a bit devilishly. “No weapons,” Jacks snaps and Jesse’s face drops into a scowl. “We don’t need them, and we’re not giving him any reason to disintegrate us on the spot. Alvez is powerful – don’t forget that. We don’t want him to feel so threatened t
Jacks just stands and looks back at Rafe, a little awkward, waiting for him to react to the secret he just told. “That’s really cool,” Rafe whispers. “So, you probably are fitter than me,” Jacks says with a shrug. “Just…not magically powered. Why the hell did we run so far today?” “I don’t kno
Jacks nods, solid. “She’s really funny. And…surprising. I never know what she’s going to say next. It’s just…” he shrugs, at a loss for words. “Great.” Rafe smiles a little, unable to help it, pleased that these two found each other. But he sighs again, still troubled. “Do you want my perspectiv
“We won’t be here all the time.” A new voice surprises me and I turn, starting to cry in earnest when I see my dad come around one of the houses, Rafe at his side. “We have a country to run, after all.” He grins at me, opening an arm. “Dad,” I croak, shaking my head and tucking myself against his
“Come back here,” Neumann calls, pointing at the ground in front of him. Midnight appears again in the corner, dismissing her shadows, and dashes back over, smiling her delight. “Are you seriously encouraging this?” the Captain murmurs, shaking his head and heaving a big sigh. Neuman doesn’t rep
“If I’m dismissed from the Academy now,” I interrupt, holding up a hand and conjuring up my blue flames, which make him take a step back in surprise. “Then the military of Moon Valley loses the opportunity to train and make use of its most powerful weapon. Which, if you ask me, is far too much of a
“Ut-oh,” Jesse says, turning to grin at me. “Looks like the secrets out.” “You could look less cheerful about it,” I say, glaring at him even as I climb out of bed and move towards the door as Jackson pulls on his shirt. “It’s not your education at stake, after all.” “Nooo, don’t forbid me my gl
Marigold laughs a little but just nods. “Are we doing this?” Jesse says, glancing up at the clock that looms large over the entire station. “We don’t have a ton of time.” Jackson looks at me and arches a brow. I laugh and nod, grinning at our little party. “Let’s go!” The next morning I wake u
Marigold, perched high on Jackson’s arm, looks around the train station with wide eyes as she munches on a cookie. I bite my lip for a moment, watching her, anxious that she’ll be anxious. After all, her life has already involved so much change… “She’s fine,” Jackson murmurs, smirking down at me f
I can’t help it. I just get incredibly jealous. “Tell me,” Jackson urges, feeling the shift in my emotions, tightening his arms around me. “I just want to do that,” I say, laughing a little, shaking my head, feeling petulant. “It sounds so cool, and important, and…vivid. I want to do that work,
I scootch forward on the window seat, making room behind me. Jackson takes a moment to dip low, pressing a kiss to Marigold’s cheek and then to her hair, telling her how much he missed her and how glad he is to see her. The little girl laughs, beaming up at her father, and I can feel both of our hea
“Ariel,” my mom calls after me. “Please, come and talk to us –“ “It’s time for the meeting anyway, Ella,” dad murmurs. “She needs space to think and we don’t have any more time to talk.” As I head into the darkness of the hall Jackson’s voice appears in my mind, soft and apologetic. Do you wan