Rage and Ruin by Jennifer L. Armentrout Page 0,118

know if it’s a student or a teacher or just some random person roaming the school.” Zayne finished off the candy with one last frustrated snap of his jaw. “All we know is someone is rounding up ghosts and trapping them in the school, and Shadow People are involved.”

Not knowing how much Stacey was aware of, I chose my next words carefully. “That’s not all we know. I’m pretty sure it’s related to what everyone is looking for.”

Zayne’s hand halted halfway to the bag. “You think so?”

I nodded.

He cursed under his breath as he grabbed another strip of candy. “I don’t know if that’s good or bad news at this point.”

“Good,” I decided. “It’s a lead.”

“I have no idea what you two are talking about.” Stacey took a drink. “I don’t like to be left out.”

Zayne spared her a brief grin. “I’ll fill you in later.”

He would? When his gaze shifted to me, I arched a brow. “We need to go to that school.”

“Agreed.”

“Well, you’re going to have a problem doing it during the day, because there are always people there, and right now they’re doing renovations in the evening and overnight.” Stacey placed her empty glass down. “Except on the weekends.”

What was today? Monday. So, that wasn’t too long of a wait, but I wanted to go now, see if I was right—that this was connected to the Harbinger.

Could it be that Sam had given us our first real lead? Damn, it was almost too convenient, so much so that it was also disturbing to think that, if Sam had not had followed Stacey when she’d come to Zayne’s place, we wouldn’t know about what was going on at the school.

Made one wonder about cosmic interference.

Looking across the table, I saw that Zayne was finished with the second Twizzler. I couldn’t believe he actually ate them with ice cream. The same guy who removed buns from grilled chicken sandwiches.

There was something wrong with him.

And there was something wrong with me because not having known Zayne ate ice cream with Twizzlers made my chest ache.

How stupid was that?

My gaze flicked over Stacey and Zayne, taking them in sitting side by side, him so much larger and broader than her tiny frame. They looked good together, even if they were just friends who had been more at some point, and things would be easier for them if they wanted to be more again. Yeah, Wardens weren’t supposed to date humans, but Zayne did a lot of things Wardens weren’t supposed to do. It wasn’t the same with us.

It was time for me to hit the road.

“I hope it...helps to know Sam obviously cares about you and wants to make sure you’re safe,” I announced awkwardly as I focused on Stacey. “I know it probably feels good and horrible all at once, knowing that he’s been around, but when you’ve had time to sit with it, I think—or at least I hope—it’s a good thing. He wants you to be happy, and if you can do that, you’ll be doing the best thing for you and for him.”

“You...” Stacey lowered her gaze as she toyed with the spoon jutting out of her soupy ice cream. “You really think he’ll be back?”

“I do.” I wasn’t sure if that was going to be a good thing in the long-term. I bit back a sigh. “Anyway, sorry I busted up your ice cream social. I honestly didn’t mean to.” I glanced at Zayne as I slid out of the booth. “I’ll see you later.”

Zayne’s jaw was working overtime as I gave them a quick wave. For the briefest moment, I felt what was coming through the bond, and it had me backing up and turning around as fast as I could. Soon I stepped out into the hot air and started walking, the scents of melted fudge and vanilla following me.

Anger.

Simmering anger was what I’d felt, and it had left a peppery taste in my throat.

Zayne was angry, but at what? His ruined ice cream social? Me showing up? Sam’s unexpected appearance and how it had affected Stacey? Ghosts and Shadow People hanging out at the school? The whole situation, including what had happened between us? The options were limitless.

Whatever. At the end of the day, at least we had a lead.

I didn’t know where I was going. Back to the apartment, I guessed, but I had no idea if I could get back there. I really didn’t care right then. I’d just keep walking