sees me.
“You’re so paranoid,” she yells at me with a smirk. “I told you I would be fine.”
I scoff as my eyes trail over her. Everything seems to be in line except for the red ribbon on her neck.
“Did he use his fangs?”
She shakes her head and pulls up her sleeve, revealing the bandage and matching ribbon. “Kortrastet. The ribbon is just for the barter girls.”
Relief flees my lungs in the form of an exhale and she laughs. “I’m official.”
Something about that bothers me but I nod in agreement.
Beyond her, Gemini flashes me a childish face before turning back toward the castle. I can barely fake a laugh.
“Does your arm hurt at all? Feeling weak?” I ask, turning my attention back to Savvy.
“Um, a little weak, yes, but not bad at all. I’m surprised.”
If you were with Giomar you wouldn’t be saying that.
I open my mouth to speak but quickly shut it, searching for a good place to start, but Savvy beats me to it.
“Lord Zein didn’t do anything to me like he did with you, don’t worry.” Her mouth curls into a grin as she glances at her fingertips. “It was normal, like what we were taught at Nightingale.”
Something strange wells up inside me. An unknown irritation reveals itself as I am blindsided by how beautiful and optimistic my friend is—how she’s more of a prize than I could ever be… to Zein. But why does that bother me?
I’m about to question her sincerity but she opens her mouth first.
“Also, um.” She stops me. “Is there any way you can not mention anything about me to him from now on? Like you said, he seemed on edge about something, and I… I don’t want to constantly worry about my place here.”
Embarrassment reddens my cheeks. “Yes, of course. I’ve learned my lesson.”
“Thanks, Wave.” Savvy grabs my arm. “Come on. If I don’t get food soon, I’ll fall over dead. You haven’t any more of those spare, mid-meal tickets do you?”
I laugh half-heartedly, still uneasy from our previous conversation. “Yeah, right. I’m not a part of Anaya’s cult so I don’t get them, remember?”
Her chuckle is a warmth that fills my heart. At least my friend is well and treating me the same as before. Nothing’s changed.
I walk down the spiral staircase to the recreation room with Savvy, both of us guffawing along the way. Throughout our conversation of our favorite cafeteria treats, an unsettling embarrassment lingers in the pit of my stomach. Did I make Savvy believe that I cared if anything happened between them? Between her and Zein? Did she think I would be jealous?
Of course, as my mind skirts the suggestion, images of Zein penetrate my train of thought—knocking it off path. His beautifully taut skin always adorned by chains of allegiance, and robes of royalty. His silvery diamond eyes, gleaming beneath the blue lanterns, allowing in frugal needles of light. The tall form, the deep voice, his usually calm nature. How he lets me talk to him and analyze him even though it is against everything I was ever taught. How he attempted to right his regret by way of a purely human affectation. Do I actually care what he thinks of me versus how he thinks of everyone else? There’s no way… right?
I’m so lost in thought that I almost don’t notice Katarii’s approach in the recreation room. I don’t have time to clam up when she faces me.
“I’m sorry about earlier,” she forces out in one, swift breath.
Well, I wasn’t expecting that. Savvy, however, seems pleased. So maybe they weren’t talking bad about me earlier.
“I just… I was mad,” Katarii admits, folding her arms across her body in discomfort. “And I have a limited filter when I get mad, so.”
“Maybe we have more in common than I thought,” I say, offering a small smile. “I’m sorry, too.”
And like that, all the drama is over. Everything goes back to normal. Katarii nods and jumps right into questioning Savvy about her summoning.
Funny, how the scenarios that we build up to be giants in our heads end up being nothing but mere pebbles. And here I was, thinking that nothing would be the same between our group again. Sometimes it’s nice to be wrong.
Beeeeeep! Beeeeeeep! Beeeeeep!
The tag on my arm goes off and the three of us jump. My heart soars into the back of my throat. What? But Savvy was…
Savvy and Katarii both wear horrified expressions upon their flushed faces. Sometimes it’s nice to be wrong.
Then again…
✽✽✽
“Lord