“I’ll have to ask Kaz about it. Either I’ve been asking the wrong questions, or you’re a total genius.”
“I’d like to think the latter is true.” Rafe chuckles, and I poke his ribs with a knuckle. He jerks away from my attack, but I dance after him, jabbing his sides lightly until he tears up with laughter.
A grumbly grunt breaks through our antics. I don’t have to turn to know who’s glowering at us, but I do anyway, throwing him a bright smile. “Landon. Here to correct our form? I thought my style of attack was pretty effective.”
Landon crosses his arms. “I probably would be if you were actually practicing the move.”
“Come back around when it’s my turn,” Rafe says. “Because Billie doesn’t need any help, but I definitely will.”
I can’t help but grin at his adorable people-pleasing-conflict-diverting tendencies. A dark thought chases right along after this pleasant one, memories of the way his mom treated him. How much of this was his innate personality, and how much of it was abused into him? Is this why he’s such a good liar? Because for years he had to keep up a facade of positivity while he was dying inside due to his mother’s torment?
Melissa might be wrong about him being treated badly because he’s a shifter, but she might have a point about some of his actions being reactions. And in that sense, I am part of the problem. Rafe doesn’t have to take on all the burden of mediating conflict. That’s not fair.
Squeezing his shoulder, I soften the challenging smile I have aimed at Landon. “I’m sure you’ll do great. And you’re right, Landon, we shouldn’t be goofing off. That was my fault. We’ll get back to it.”
Landon’s scowl twitches a little, like it wants to give up and wave the white flag, but he solidifies it quickly and stalks off to correct some other poor soul. Pity the fool who breaks out of line and suffers under his wrath. Not everyone has the moral fiber I do to deal with that steely stare, though Yasmin looks like she might just have the brass to do it.
The second he pauses by her and Quinn — who she’s partnered with in all of our classes together — she glares right back at him. Relieving Quinn of the pad, Yasmin shoves it into Landon’s hands and, almost before he’s set up and steady, throws a punch so hard it knocks him back a foot or two. His eyes actually bug a little.
I cover my mouth to stifle a laugh and turn to Rafe. “Sorry I got us in trouble.”
“Totally worth it.” Rafe swallows and holds the pad up again.
His gaze slides out of focus. Every time I hit the vinyl, it takes a beat for him to set up again, almost like he’s on a delay. After a few more punches, I pause and wave a hand in front of his face.
“You okay?”
“Uh, yeah.” He rubs the back of his neck. “Just had a horrible thought.”
I crack my knuckles with a thumb. “What?”
Rafe’s nostrils flare and he hugs the pad to his chest. “What if—” his voice cracks. “What if Paige was killed and got twisted and that’s why I can’t find her? What if that’s why I’m not being drawn to her?”
My throat tenses up and my stomach takes a dive. The thought really is horrible, one that brings tears to my eyes in such a rush, I have to take a few breaths before I can respond. I sniff, then clear my throat.
“That’s a terrifying possibility. But...all the more reason to look for a cure, right?” My smile fails badly.
Red flushes the bottoms of Rafe’s cheeks and he drops his gaze. Tension runs along his jaw so the tendons stand out. I’m torn between running out of the room to get away from the intensity of his pain and trying to hug it out of him. Neither will necessarily be effective.
So, I take a breath and squeeze both of his shoulders. “No matter what happens, I promise to help you in any way I can. I don’t care what everyone else says, I don’t believe there’s nothing we can do for the Twisted. But don’t assume anything before we know for sure.”
After class, Rafe goes to meet with one of the counselors, and I head for the dorms. Before I get very far, Landon catches up with me. “Hope you know what you’re doing.”
I lift my brows. “Generally I don’t, though I think I fake it pretty well. To what are you referring specifically?”
“You and Rafe. It’s stupid to try and start a relationship in the afterlife.”
I roll my eyes. “You mean like you and Erin?”
It’s a horrifically low blow, but his antagonism is really starting to get to me. Landon grabs my forearm to pull me to a stop. I expect to see fury on his face, but instead, all I see is pain. If I felt guilty before, I feel even worse now.
He pulls in a breath. “That’s exactly why we’re having this conversation. Losing her was one of the worst things that’s ever happened to me. We both knew it would be hard when either one of us finished our unfinished business, but seeing her get twisted…” Landon winces.
“I’m not going to let him get twisted.” My voice shakes with this weak rebuttal.
Now Landon rolls his eyes. “I’m not even going to dignify that with a response. But even if you do manage to protect him, what happens when one of you gets ready to pass on? What if one of you finishes everything before the other? I might be wrong, but since Rafe’s been dead longer than you have, my guess is he’ll be ready to pass on first. What happens then?”
I glare. “Well then he’ll pass
