Page 95 of Unbound

Beck places a hand over his heart in mock outrage. "How dare you."

We're all smiling when a piece of chalk flies across the room and bounces off Ambrose's forehead.

"Are we boring you, Ambrose?" Pilton asks.

Ambrose claps both hands over his head, wincing. "Why the hells is it always me?"

* * *

"I'm starving,"Beck says half an hour later once we're let out of class. The other aspirants with black uniforms and silver piping are filing out as we linger. "I hope they have that honey butter again in the dining hall."

"I think you may have eaten the entire year's supply last night," Ambrose says.

"You joining us?" Mireen asks me.

"Um, not yet. I wanted to squeeze in a little studying," I say.

My excuse earns skeptical looks from all three friends.

"Studying. Right," Beck says. "You know, if I wasn't so offended that you are obviously hiding a ravenous sex life with Raith, Bastian, or both from us, I'd almost be impressed. You really do sneak around well."

Red colors my cheeks. "It's nothing like that," I protest, though the memory of Raith's lips on mine sends a completely different message through my body. Except that I think it really may be nothing for Raith. I'm the only fool who can't seem to stop making more of it than I should.

"I think it's Bastian," Ambrose says matter-of-factly. "The mysterious, handsome legacy who occasionally finds excuses to be around Nessa at just the right time? And if I was a woman?—"

"Thank gods you're not," Beck mutters.

"I would choose Bastian," Ambrose continues.

"Agreed," Mireen says. "And that's speaking as an actual woman. I know you trust Raith, Nessa, but I don't. There's something off about him. And I still haven't forgotten he's a volunteer from so close to the border. I know his family is dead, but there's a chance they were all Red Kingdom before?—"

"Mireen," I say sharply.

She lowers her eyes. "Sorry. I'm just worried about you. I know you two spend time alone together. In… some capacity. What if he tries to hurt you? What if he's not being honest about his loyalties?"

"Then I'm pretty sure I'd be dead already. You guys don't have to trust him, but I do. Okay? So if you trust me, can you at least just believe in me enough to stop worrying?"

Ambrose shrugs. "She does have a flying fish following her around. I don't think even Raith Hollow stands a chance if he pisses that thing off. Maybe Nessa's right. We shouldn't be worried about her."

"But she hasn't said which one she's fucking," Beck says. "Can you at least tell us that much? Is it Raith? Or is it really both?”

I put my hands on my hips. "I'm not sleeping with either of them. Bastian has helped me a time or two, but we've hardly even talked much. I know almost nothing about him."

"Ah," Ambrose nods wisely. "But you have talked to Raith a lot? Pillow talk, perhaps?"

"All of you. Go!" I say, one side of my mouth curving in amusement. "Terrible detectives. Every last one of you."

"So she says," Beck jokes as he throws his arms around Mireen and Ambrose, leading them down the hall toward the dining room.

Almost as soon as they're gone, a girl steps in front of me, eyes orange and blazing.

Serena.

For a split second, I consider shouting for them to come back, but Typhon walks behind Serena, looming at nearly three times her size so he barely fits in the corridor. I may not want to reveal his real form, but I at least know he's here, ready to protect me.

"Nessa," Serena says. She wears her raven black hair in two long braids with the rest falling free to spill around her shoulders. It’s a show of confidence. Loose hair is a liability in combat, and she’s not-so-subtly projecting her confidence.

"What do you want?" I ask.

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