the front door?”
I waved the bracelet in response. “I have this for one which I hope to get off today but secondly,” I reached out and touched the fence my hand bouncing off of it before I could even reach it. “Can’t get through the barrier without a faculty member to lower it.”
“Ah,” Cass leaned close and placed his forehead against the metal bars. “If you could get the barrier down and that bracelet off, would you?”
“Would I what?”
“Leave.”
I gave him a suspicious look before getting as close to the fence as I could. “In a heartbeat.”
Though as I said the words guilt tugged at my heart. There were reasons to stay. Several in fact but my dad’s betrayal was hard to ignore. He didn’t even give me a choice in the matter. He just picked what side I’d be on and kept me in the dark so I couldn’t make up my own mind.
Shifting the conversation, I backed up a few steps. “Don’t your kind want to kill me?”
Cass gave me a panty melting smile, tucking his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “Why ever would I want to do that?”
“Because I’m an abomination,” I supplied for him. “At least, that’s what Michael called me.”
He laughed. “Michael has a big old stick up his ass. Not all of us think like that. Besides…” his lips curled up ever so slightly. “You’re the Watcher.”
“So, you knew who I was when we met?”
Shrugging a shoulder, Cass gave me a knowing look. “Perhaps I had my suspicions and all I had to do to confirm them was to follow your little group of misfits back here.”
I shrugged. “That’s just what I was told.”
“Well…you can’t believe everything you hear.” He cocked a brow and smirked, then paused and angled his head to the side. “Well, I better be going. I’ll see you around, Watcher.”
I unabashedly watched the way his pants hugged his ass as Cass walked back to his motorcycle. He threw his leg over it and winked at me before the engine roared to life and he drove away.
Not even a minute later Ayden came outside. “Hey, there you are. I’ve been looking all over for you.”
I glanced away from where Cass had disappeared. “I’m right here. What’s up?”
She gave me a curious look but then said, “Your dad’s here.”
Well, that was convenient. I darted a look back to the fence wondering if Cass knew that my dad had arrived.
“You okay?” Ayden stepped up beside me. “I know you’ve had a rough weekend, but things will look up soon. Trust me. Plus, you’re dad’s here.” She smiled brightly at me. “That’s got to count for something right?”
I didn’t remind Ayden that my dad and I had a strained relationship at best but now that I knew he’d been using me this whole time I wasn’t exactly sure what we had anymore. Instead, I forced a smile to my face and nodded. “Right. Let’s go. I want to get this thing off me and get my phone back.”
“Ugh.” Ayden made a face at my bracelet. “I got that thing taken off the moment I got back. I don’t know how you kept it on all weekend.”
I lifted a shoulder and dropped it, frowning. “I had a lot on my mind.”
She nodded. “I get ya. Dharma was such a bitch at the diner. Then on the bus she spent the whole-time talking shit about you to anyone and everyone who would listen. You’re so lucky you got to ride back with Dex.” Ayden sighed happily as if she would have enjoyed it a bit more than I did.
“Yeah, lucky,” I muttered as we walked into the school. “And don’t worry about Dharma. She’s just an attention whore.” I told her with a shake of my head. “There are more important things to worry about.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Like that hottie, Cass, from town.” Ayden clasped her hands in front of her, letting out a dreamy giggle. “I could think of a thing or two I’d like him to study if you know what I mean.”
I winced. I did.
Not wanting to burst Ayden’s bubble, I kept silent on the whole Cass was actual an angel bit. At least, it did explain why I was so drawn to him. The whole celestial attraction apparently worked both ways on Nephilim. Too bad it didn’t make my dad any more likable. I didn’t know how I was going to get through this conversation without burning the whole place