Midnight Kisses (Shifter Island #1) - Leia Stone Page 0,86

right. The loneliness that had been eating away at me the past few days ramped up a notch. I quickly ate every bite on my plate before sighing with contentment. “That was a good burger.”

“Yes, all three of them.” She snorted and jerked her head toward the door.

The cafeteria was empty, save Kalama, but I wasn’t about to argue our departure.

We stepped out into the cool air of autumn, and I chuckled. “All right, tell me what’s up. I can deal now.”

“That’s just it,” Kaja muttered, her expression tight. “I don’t know what’s up. You just don’t seem like you anymore. You’re a ghost, always studying, always busy. Ever since that night … you don’t come over anymore.”

“Wait a minute. What do you mean, that night?” I tried to buy time while my brain assessed the situation. Was she mad? Hurt? How bad did I screw up? I’d just been trying to give them space.

“That night … you know, the one where you saved my life by binding yourself to a dark mage with a blood debt for a year.” The longer she spoke, the more her shoulders drooped. Finally, she offered me a small smile. “That one. You pulled away.”

I cocked my head to the side and shook it. “You think I’ve pulled away? I thought no one wanted me around. Rage and the Midnight boys hate me because they think my uncle killed their dad. You almost died, so you probably want time with family. Nolan is demon-spawn, and I’m … coping. Sort of.”

She frowned and reached for my hand. “Nai, you used to come over all the time, and now? Only in the morning, and just enough time for Nell to cover your marks.” She shook her head and swallowed hard. “Do you … are you mad at me? I’ve been giving you space because I thought you were mad about the blood debt. That you regret it.”

I shook my head, shocked she’d misunderstood, and tears blurred my vision. “No. Not at all. I could never regret saving you.” I pulled her in for a sideways hug. “You’re my BFF. You do know that the second F is for ‘forever,’ right?”

She sniffed, and the sound pulled at all the strings of my heart.

“We … I-I thought … I was afraid you’d resent me.”

I chuckled, not because her pain was funny but because the whole misunderstanding was so crazy. Relief poured through me as I came to terms with my lame coping skills. I’d blocked everyone out because I was hurt, but maybe it was better to get it all out in the open.

“Nope.” I popped the p. “I don’t resent you one bit. I thought you and your sisters wanted or maybe needed time together to heal. Because—” I shrugged. “—the school doesn’t offer therapy.”

Kaja snickered. As she pulled me into a tight hug, she whispered, “You’re certifiable. Also, you’re my BFF too. And I want you around all the time.”

On second thought, the alpha king could keep the money and get his own therapist. I had Kaja.

“Let’s go order pizza,” Kaja said, pulling me toward the Harvest dorm. “Nell and Rue will probably demand a sleepover too. Girl, don’t ever think we need time away from you. As far as we’re concerned, we’re all part of the same pack.”

Tears pricked my eyes again as we strode toward her dorm, each of us with an arm around the other. We walked through the door, and both Rue and Nell screamed and raced forward to greet me.

“Nai’s back!”

Nell burst into laughter.

“I can’t wait for us to all go to Samhain tomorrow,” Rue said.

Oh, crap.

The ball was tomorrow, and I didn’t have a dress.

I stared at the empty white dress box that lay at the edge of Kaja’s bed, the red silk ribbon now on the floor from when she’d torn it open for me.

I clutched the card against my chest and tried to rein in my breathing.

Beautiful Miss Blue,

Wear this tonight so I can find you.

-Your Mate

“It’s sooo romantic,” Kaja squealed.

I ran my fingertips over the dark blue silk where it faded to teal near the hem.

“It’s psychotic,” I replied.

Nell and Rue shared a worried glance, making me feel like I needed to explain.

I shook my head. “He’s not proud to be my mate in real life, only in hidden corners and moonlight runs. I feel like a secret mistress.”

Tears burned my eyes and clogged my throat. Mother Mage, I care too much. More than I’d allowed myself