Page 79 of Storm Caller

“I said I’ll think about it.”

“I know, which means I’m coming.” I offer him another glare, and he laughs, then says, “Now, get your cute ass out of this bed. I’m starving.”

“Fine,” I say, grumbling and huffing while I change.

A short while later, we enter the cafeteria hand in hand. Rook squeezes my fingers as we stand at the entrance, and dozens of eyes swing our way. The whispers start immediately.

More people have returned than I anticipated. The new class of first-years won’t arrive for a few more weeks, so for now, it’s just those of us in second and third year.

I sigh. “I told you this would happen,” I say in a low voice.

Rook is casual, though, his posture loose. Ever the confident predator.

“Because they’re obsessed with us,” he says. “Come on.”

Then he’s leading me to the edge of the room. It’s quiet as we start filling our plates. After a moment, the swell of conversation slowly resumes.

By the time we’re done, everyone is talking again, but I don’t miss the sneaky glances directed our way.

“See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” Rook asks. I shake my head, and we make our way toward Domino and Journey, who are waving us over. We have no choice but to walk past a table of House Fiama students.

Including Knox.

I come to a halt as our gazes meet. His left arm is in a cast, and a faded scar slices across his cheek. Jackson and Sal sit across from him, both watching me with guilty expressions. I’m not sure what to say to any of them. In the end, Jackson and Sal did try to help us by switching sides at the last possible moment. I wonder if anyone realized.

But Knox.

He tried to stop us.

He tried to kill me.

He hurt Rook in the process.

Then he chased us down to the very edge of the city.

If he’d caught us, what then? Would he have delivered me into the hands of the Extinguishers? Or finished me off himself?

I squeeze the edges of my tray while Rook touches the small of my back. “You don’t have to talk to him.”

“I feel like I should say something.”

“Do it if you want to, but you don’t owe him anything.”

The decision is made for me when Knox rises from his seat, and it’s obvious he has something to say. Rook remains by my side as Knox does his best to saunter despite the limp in his step.

“Poet,” he says, then quickly glances at Rook. “I heard you were back after your little escape attempt.”

My entire body turns rigid with tension. “I heard you were still alive.”

“No thanks to your boyfriend.”

“You were chasing us,” I say. “You didn’t have to help them.”

“And let a Keeper go free?” he snarls. “My duty is to The Shield.”

I shake my head. “I’m not a Keeper. I just went through an entire trial proving I’m innocent.”

Knox spreads his hands in a helpless gesture. “And how was I supposed to know that?”