Page 60 of The Claiming

She raises her eyes. “He would be horrified if he thought it would go anywhere.”

“Why?”

“Because I know my cousin and he would have planned the entire event last night to keep me from having any fun at Rockwell on the orders of my father. Jack will be warned off from anything heavy and Frankie will be able to face my father with a clear conscience.”

“That sucks.” I shake my head. “You won’t play by the rules – will you?”

She shrugs. “Who knows? I’m curious but I haven’t got a death wish. If I give it up to anyone, I had better be certain they can defend themselves against my family.”

“Jack can defend himself against anything.” I am sure of that because I’m aware of how hard he trains with the Reapers. There isn’t a warrior or soldier out there who can better them and if there is, they are soon drafted into our organization. I wouldn’t tell Siri how it works, just as she keeps her family matters private. It’s best that way.

However, as we head to the store, I hate the dull ache in the pit of my stomach at the thought of Jack and Siri and I’m not sure why.

* * *

Most of theday is spent in town and as soon as we return to the academy, I sense a shift in the air. We arrive at our dorm block and Eloise is heading out the other way.

“Hey.” She stops in front of us and glances around furtively before whispering, “The cops were here today.”

“Cops?” I don’t like the sound of that and she nods, a serious gleam in her eye.

“They cordoned off the woods near the boathouse. Something happened there last night.”

Siri gasps and as I catch her eye, my confusion is reflected back at me.

“The boathouse. Why?”

To my knowledge, the boathouse is nowhere near the dungeon, which gives me a moment’s relief and she nods slowly. “It’s all around the school that a girl was attacked there last night.Seriouslyattacked.”

Siri‘s eyes are wide. “Who?”

Eloise shrugs. “They won’t say, but it won’t be long before her name becomes public knowledge. Nothing remains a secret at Rockwell for long.”

She shrugs. “Anyway, I’m heading to the cafeteria. I’ll catch you later at the party, I’m guessing.”

“At the Elusive’s?” Siri asks and Eloise nods.

“It’s an invitation that is never ignored. If your name is published on the list, you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

“The list?” I ask, and she nods.

“Check the list on the student What’s App group. If your name isn’t on it then don’t even bother to try to get inside. It’s my lucky day because I’m included for once and I remember seeing both of your names. It should be a good night.”

She heads off with a short wave and Siri faces me with a worried expression.

“We should head to Frankie’s and find out what he knows.”

My stomach twists at the thought of seeing him and I nod, my curiosity piqued about the attack at the boat house.

It takes ten minutes to cross campus and as we reach the house on the edge of it, my heart beats like a drum inside me. It still feels strange coming here at all, but I suppose I should get used to it. Jack lives here and so does my, um, well, centurion, and as we bang on the door, I am struggling to conceal my nerves.

Luckily, Jack answers the door and his worried expression doesn’t help.

“Hey, you had better come in.”

We head inside and he ushers us into the front living area and sighs heavily.

“Abigail was attacked last night at the boathouse.”

---