“Lore…” I say. “I’ve got it.”
She circles back from heading out the door and comes to land on my shoulder. “What is it?”
I read the poster: “The Mid-Semester Trials. Do you have what it takes? See Professor Worgren to apply.” I turn to look at Lore. “Remember what Declan said during our first Advanced Combat class? He said the prize is usually one of the godly relics. If I can win…”
“It says here it’s a team trial,” Lore says, examining the small print. “Teams of five only. No more, no less.”
I bite the inside of my cheek. “I guess I’ll need to be careful about bringing this one up…”
Lore hoots her agreement, and her beak rubs against my cheek so tenderly, that my eyes burn with unshed tears. “Let’s just focus on getting through this morning and then we can figure out all of the details.”
I nod because that’s all I can do.
We finally leave the building and start down the steps that leads to the courtyard. A few figures dot the footpaths, out for an early morning run like I’m technically supposed to be doing.
With that I mind, I hop into a jog, sending Lore back into the air. Burned orange and bright red fill the horizon, and my chest tightens as I focus on the new light overcoming the deep blue of the night’s sky. My feet pause and Lore turns to me, hovering in the air, her head tilted as much as an owl’s can.
“We have to head back to the house, Serena,” she whispers, but I shake my head.
I watch the rising sun on the horizon, the way it chases away the darkness of the night. I sit on the cold, dewy ground, imagining that it’s chasing away the darkness inside me and look up to Lore who is flying circles over my head.
“Can we stay out here? Just for a little while?”
Lore says nothing but flutters down to land on my leg.
We watch the sunrise together.
If only my darkness could be washed away so easily.
Chapter 9
Low muffled whispers ring through the door before a thump, and everything goes quiet. My lips pull into a smile, and I finish getting ready. I’d meant to come home before all of the guys were awake, but watching the sunrise had been very… therapeutic.
I open my bedroom door, and I snort as the four of them scramble away, trying to pretend they weren’t waiting for me. I guess I worried them all with how quiet I was coming through the front door during breakfast.
“I’m okay, guys. Really,” I say, rolling my eyes.
They all look to Dane whose aura had brushed against mine for a second before drawing back. He tilts his head and nods. “She’s telling the truth.”
The guys go back to their usual joking as we head down the stairs and to the front door. Dane’s aura mingles with Paxton’s, and a pinch forms between his eyebrows. “Why does Paxton keep picturing Poseidon waving his trident around?” he asks, and I bark out a laugh before slapping my hand to my mouth.
Declan watches me with one eyebrow raised. “Do we even want to know?”
Paxton and I share a glance before shaking our heads. What happens in fright club, stays in fright club—or at least that’s what I’m calling our little, two-man, can’t-sleep group.
Rory scowls. “You can’t just grin and not tell us anything. How is that fair?” He opens the door, waiting for all of us to pile outside before shutting it behind us.
“Life’s not fair, Rory. If you want to know, you’ll have to ask Pax.”
“You both suck,” Rory mutters.
Paxton and I chuckle, but mine is dry. The racing in my chest increases the more I think about my call with Master Rostova this evening. What I would give to not have to speak or see or even think of that man. It’s too late now, I guess. There’s no turning back. Not for me, anyway.
“Serena? Are you coming?” Dane calls out, and I realize I’ve been staring into the distance, my feet rooted to the ground.
I force my lips into a small smile as I nod. I hate this.
“Is everything okay, Serena?” he asks when I catch up. The concern lining his face lashes out at the guilt taking root in my bones. I look away.
“Everything is fine.”
I shut my bedroom door firmly behind me, muffling the sound of the guys watching TV downstairs. My eyes flick to the clock on my bedside table and stones drop in my stomach with each second that ticks by.
“I guess I can’t put it off forever…” I rake my hand through my hair and undo my braid, letting the brown strands flow freely over my shoulders as I sit on my bed with my back against the headboard. I glance at Keaira and say, “Keep an ear on the hall, would you?” She nods, standing sentry at my door.
I stare at the phone in my hand and draw in a deep breath as I tap through to my contacts and select the only one there. It rings five times before a click and eerie silence.
“Master Rostova. It’s Serena,” I say.
“Serena. I thought you weren’t going to call,” he chides, a warning hidden in his tone.
My eyelids flicker, threatening to descend to the Forest. I fist the soft fabric of my throw as I say, “Sorry, Master. Classes only just finished.”
He chuckles in my ear. “And I suppose you’ve learned a few things, have you?”
Rory’s smiling face, Dane’s comforting presence, Paxton’s understanding, Declan’s no-nonsense sensibility. I return the laugh dryly. “No. What they teach is nothing of use to me.” But in truth, I’ve experienced more kindness from them in the past couple
