Even with four dragons surrounding me, Diana approached. “Dacia”—she stood between Malcolm and Val—“we really need to talk.”
Malcolm bared his fangs at her, but she didn’t back down. I couldn’t help but wonder how she’d react if he was in his dragon form. Val lifted his arm and positioned himself so his body blocked me.
I peered at her over his shoulder. “Why?” I grabbed my book, notepad, and pen from my bag. “I don’t do well in cages. It won’t work for me.”
She leaned closer and whispered, “Don’t you care about the consequences?” Her face slackened, and she slowly shook her head. “Are you really selfish enough to put your happiness above the fate of the world?”
My mouth dropped open, and I stared at her. She knew what I’d been through to save the world and everyone in it. How could she think for one minute that I didn’t care? I’d nearly died to save the planet from Nefarious. My friends had been taken prisoner and nearly killed by Draconian before I ended his life. Then less than a month ago, I’d killed myself to make sure life would go on for everyone else. I hadn’t known Death would give me a reprieve, and even so, I’d sacrificed everything.
Cash growled, a deep, ominous sound, and Diana backed up a step. His pupils were slits in his amethyst eyes. “She cares more for this godforsaken planet than you and yours ever will.” He started to get up, but Tye pressed down on his leg. “Where were you when Draconian was seizing control of the dragons? None of you fought to help us.” He clutched the desk. “How many of you are there? But this lone girl who’d barely been trained freed us.”
For the second time in less than a minute, I was flabbergasted. Cash stood up for me? The world might end sooner than expected. I cleared my throat, hoping my voice would work. “Diana, you might want to leave now.” I looked at Cash, but he didn’t spare me a glance. “Strange forces seem to be at work here.”
Val laughed, and everyone in the room turned to stare at us. Heat crept up my neck and onto my cheeks.
As Diana walked away, she looked over her shoulder. “Think about it, Dacia. You could be safe and happy with us.”
I knew differently, though. No matter what the Nephilim thought, I wouldn’t be happy being trapped. I wouldn’t be myself without my powers.
When class ended, the Nephilim didn’t follow so closely. Cash walked in the grass beside me, keeping more space between the two of us than any of the others did. It was a warm day, the sun shone, but when the wind blew, I shivered.
I looked at Cash again, not sure what to think of him or how to get through his hard shell. I bit my lip, pulling it into my mouth, debating whether or not to say something to him.
“Don’t,” he growled. “I can’t stand self-righteous angel spawn. I didn’t say it so we could be friends.” He pointed at himself then at me. “We will never be friends.”
“Thanks anyway.” I shrugged.
Val wrapped his arm around my shoulders, roughly pulling me into his side. “Keep at it. You might just get through his tough hide.”
The dragons dropped me off at my room, then disappeared into Aurelia’s. Even though I knew they were still watching me, it was nice to get a break from them.
My friends and I hung out there until going to dinner. Six dragon guardians escorted us, but only Diana and the dark-haired Nephilim from the first day trailed us.
Cody looked over his shoulder several times on the way to Sedum. Finally, he said, “Just two?”
“Yeah.” I squeezed his hand. “I think Cash made them a little nervous earlier.”
Malcolm opened the door to the cafeteria, and all the smells hit me. Pizza, burgers, bread, cookies, fries, garlic, onions, spaghetti sauce, soups. They wafted through the air, and my stomach growled in response.
Cody smiled when I put fried chicken, mashed potatoes, rolls, and steamed vegetables on my plate. He walked with me to our usual table in the back of the room. The dragons sat at one next to us. Their plates were heaped with meat of all types.
The Nephilim sat as far from us as they could at the closest table to the door.
I was about halfway through my dinner when Cassandra and Bryce sat down across from me. “So”—Cassandra flipped her hair over her shoulder—“where are the rest of them?” She pointed her fork at the Nephilim.
Samantha started to answer, but I held my hand up. “I don’t know if I can trust you, but if you let me read your auras, I’ll find out.”
Bryce looked from me to Cassandra and back again. “So, what does that entail?”
“She’ll look into your eyes,” Dan said, “and see some of your memories.”
“You’ll see them, too.” Samantha smiled reassuringly. “No big deal.”
Feeling like I should be completely honest with them, I added, “It’ll make it so I can sense your presence, too.”
“That doesn’t sound too bad.” Cassandra looked at Bryce and shrugged.
“I have no control over the memories I see.” I picked off a piece of my roll and stuck it in my mouth. Everyone at the table stared at me, making me extremely uncomfortable.
Finally, Cassandra nodded. “Okay. Let’s do it. What do I need to do?”
Samantha stood. “Sit here.” She moved to Dan’s other side, taking her food with her.
For only the second time since I’d met her, Cassandra didn’t look confident. She pulled the chair out and sat, folding her hands in her lap, staring at them. “What now?”
“Just look into my eyes.”
She lifted her head. Fear shone in her ice-blue irises. I stared into them. The first memory that flashed through her mind was when I froze her hands together. Then I saw her dumping her coffee in my lap. Then I was sitting
