He flushed. “Yeah, but you know Brady. He gets away with whatever he wants.”
“Sprites. The smallest type of fae, right? What are they doing here?”
“He probably caught them. Or had someone catch them for him,” Javi answered me.
“We should set them free,” Shiloh insisted.
Javi ran his fingers through his hair. “Shy… how? Let me talk to Brady. I’ll convince him to release them.”
Shiloh’s eyes narrowed. “Not after the party, Javi. Now.”
He blew out his breath and nodded. “Okay. Okay. Let’s find Brady.”
The front door opened, revealing a bare-chested vampire dude. He gave us a sloppy grin. “Welcome, what’s the magic password?”
We glanced at each other.
He broke into drunken laughter, the drink in his cup sloshing with the movement. “Kidding! Come in.”
Javi and Shiloh went first with me close behind them.
“Hey, what are they supposed to be? Prom king and queen or something?” He snorted.
“Bruce Wayne and a doll.”
His glazed eyes slid down to my legs. “And you?”
“Not the slutty costume type.”
I shoved by him and held my breath as I passed him. Yuck. He smelled like cheap beer. You’d think with their parents’ crazy paychecks, they’d be able to afford the good stuff.
My chest tightened. Growing up at the vineyard, Papi always let me sample our stock. The last time I’d tasted Cabernet it was with him.
“Come on,” Javi’s voice broke through my memories.
Dismissing the depressing thoughts, I trod after him and Shiloh, deeper into the thick of people. It wasn’t long before we found Brady. Unlike everybody else, he wasn’t in costume. Instead, he wore tight white pants and a salmon colored button up that showed off his muscles. His blonde-brown hair was slicked back revealing his high cheekbones and judging by the dazed look in his brown eyes, he was a few drinks away from total impairment.
He spotted us and raised a glass toward us before slugging it down. Shiloh nudged Javi forward, clearly not forgetting her mission.
Javi squared his shoulders and approached our host. “Brady,” he shouted over the noise.
“Javier. Rose. Shiloh,” Brady greeted us with his usual smirk.
“Thanks.” Javi took the drink he offered him.
“The sprites, Brady. You can’t keep them locked up like that.” Shiloh stepped forward, her eyes darting from Javi to Brady.
Javi shot her a look. “I was getting to that.”
I snorted, earning a glare from my cousin.
“Don’t worry about it, Shiloh. I’m sure Grayson will free them as soon as he sees them.”
My eyes widened. “Grayson is here?”
Brady’s gaze slid to me. “Upstairs. Alone like a loser. You guys should get some drinks. There’s an open bar down that way and pretty much anything goes. Okay? Have fun, kids.”
With that he turned on his heel and disappeared into the crowd of costumed teens. Shiloh’s lip curled. Javi gave her a sheepish smile and said something, but I couldn’t hear over the music and noise. I glanced up the stairs, fighting the urge to peek at Grayson. What was he doing hiding out at a party? The words he’d thrown at me earlier replayed in my mind.
I needed to set him straight.
“We’re going to go back outside for a sec.” Javi leaned toward me and shouted in my ear.
I winced. “Okay. Fine.”
He handed me the glass. Shiloh led him back the way we came, a determined look on her face.
I downed the rest of the drink, surprised to find it whisky and not beer. I coughed and set the cup down on a side table. Giving in to my curiosity and need to justify myself, I climbed the stairs.
The music faded as I made my way up. I glanced around at the empty hall and marveled at the lavish décor. The place made Tío’s house look modest. If he was so rich and powerful at the school, what did Brady’s dad care about my tío?
A loud thunk caught my ear. Up ahead at the end of the hall. I followed the sound to its source behind the last door. My heart raced. Before I could work up the nerve to knock, it swung open, making me jump back.
Grayson’s eyes widened at the sight of me. My cheeks flamed as I tried to think of a good excuse for getting caught trying to spy on him.
“Hello, Rose.” His voice was gruff.
I flushed. “Hi. Grayson.”
What the hell are you doing? He’s gonna think you’re stalking him.
“Did you… need something?” His brow furrowed.
“Nope. Just… exploring,” I finished lamely.
His mouth quirked into that amused smile. “I can’t tell if you came in costume or... you going for rocker chick?” He waved a hand down my outfit.
“You’re not dressed up either,” I shot out, heat spreading across my face at my embarrassment.
His eyebrows knitted together. “I wasn’t invited to the party.”
“Oh. Then why are you here?”
He paused and sighed. “I’m working.”
I stared at him. “Working? I thought you worked at the....”
Don’t bring that up, stupid.
He gave me a long look. “I do. And part time here for the headmaster. Sometimes in his office at school and sometimes at his home office. I’m his assistant.”
Right. Shiloh had told me that.
“He’s also my legal guardian, but we’re not related. I don’t have any family left, I guess.”
I fell silent. He was an orphan—like me.
His eyes studied me warily as if waiting for me to insult him or dig deeper. I winced. I did have the habit of throwing verbal jabs at him. But this wasn’t something I’d make fun of.
“I’m sorry about the cafeteria. I had no idea they planned that. Promise.”
Shoulders visibly relaxing, he shot me a cool look. “Aren’t you supposed to be studying? You know to pass the upcoming physics exam? And completing all the extra homework?”
My cheeks flushed. “How do you know about that?”
“Everyone gossips about the new girl.”
Of course they did. I stared at him. Was it more, though? Did he hear about my mark from the headmaster?
I shrugged. “I can study later. There’s still time.”
He shook his head at me, making me bristle. What did
