Page 40 of Unshaken

“Watch where you’re going, Miss Jones.” Rodyn yanks me to my feet, turns and opens the front door for me. I sneer at him in response.

“Sunshine? If you wait, I can come with you!” Trys yells from somewhere in the house.

“She’s fine. I will walk with her,” Rodyn says, knocking the air from my lungs without even touching me I was so shocked. The sound of footsteps and a tug of concern on our Tethers alerts me to Trys and Ty’s presence.

“You going to try to kill me in broad daylight now?” I fold my arms across my chest defensively. I don’t trust him, and I am not going to pretend that I am OK. “I can walk on my own, thank you,” I say to him with a pointed look. I turn to Ty and Trys, hoping they can feel I need some time alone.

“OK, then, we will see you in class.” Ty kisses me, leaving me breathless. Not to be outdone, Trys grabs my waist, yanking me to him, he slams his lips to mine. When he pulls away, releasing me way too soon, he winks, and leaves me in the doorway wondering what the hell I was supposed to be doing.

Rodyn clears his throat. “I’m not going to hurt you. I think we need to talk.” He sighs in frustration, rubbing his hand through the waves of his faded haircut. He is painfully handsome, and he knows it. I hate that I can’t stop myself from looking. Treasonous body.

“I tell you what. You convince your ex to back down on her challenge and we can talk.” I turn and make my way down the pavement, trying to put as much distance between us as possible before he caught up with me.

“I can’t do that. That’s not the rules,” he says with a shrug. “She issued a challenge; it must be met.”

“Yeah, I get that, but aren’t you all influential and shit. Rules can be changed, especially considering who your mother is.” I don’t turn to look at him as we walk. I won’t make this easy for him.

“Oh, she won’t stand in the way of a challenge, no matter who the person is. If you break the rules for some, you have to change them completely for everyone else,” he says, as if this is a business transaction, and not someone's life at stake. His face shows no emotion as he walks beside me, hands in his pockets looking all casual as if we were out for a morning stroll.

My tablet pings as a new notification pops up.

NEW MESSAGE!

Esme:I wanted you to know I am still in the hospital wing. I wanted to let you know I still need time. I am not ready to talk about any of this yet, but I will be. Let me come to you. Please. Thank you for coming for me. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but please give Trys and Ty a big squeeze as well. You all saved my life. I am forever grateful.

I read the message twice before I reply quickly. At least she didn’t ask me to stay away. I will give her the time she needs. When she is ready, she will find me waiting.

Micah:See you soon.

“Is she OK?” Rodyn asks, and I look up at him, furious that he is still beside me.

“Why are you still here?” I step away from him and he frowns. “Be glad she’s fine or I would hunt you down to the end of the earth, Tether be damned. I’ll accept a piece of my soul fracturing in order to kill you if it has to come to that. Let that sink in. Don’t attempt to be nice or concerned now that your little plans are fucked because you are experiencing the side effects of your rejection of me! Fuck off, Rodyn. Right now! It hurts to look at you, I am so pissed. Now, if you can’t stop Sasha, then there is nothing else for us to discuss.” I cut him a glare so hard that he doesn’t move as I walk away from him. I leave his ass right there, alone.

My tablet pings again. I huff at the notification.

NEW MESSAGE!

Professor Star:Miss Jones, do you have time to meet me in my classroom before class this morning? I’m afraid that this is very important, confidential even.

Micah:Can I come now?

Professor Star:Yes, I’ve just arrived. I will be waiting.

I grab a quick coffee to go from the Underground and make my way to my first class early. Professor Star is working at her desk when I arrive. She stands, grabbing her cane to help her maneuver around her desk.

“Close the door, will you, Miss Jones.” I do what she asks. My nerves are getting the better of me as I find a seat as she gestures for me to sit.

“Have you managed to talk to your parents at all, Miss Jones?” Professor Star asks. I watch her lean heavily on her cane. Her bronze chain links on her orange skirt and handkerchief blouse make a tinkling sound as she moves.

I look up from the distraction hating my reply. “No, unfortunately not.” I shrug. It’s as simple as that. My parents were ousting me, and what hurt even more, so was Marcus.

“The other day when we did the lineage study, you left in such haste.” I open my mouth to apologize again but she stops me. “Completely understandable, I assure you. But, Miss Jones, there was more. When you left—” She pulls out a test tube filled with red, green, and something else swirling around in it. “I had to keep it, to study it further.” She hands me the tube, and I lean over the table I was sitting at to take it from her.

I study the tube, the colors for a Witch and Demon are still moving around each other follow by what looks like—

“Is that gold?” I ask in utter amazement. Professor Star reaches behind her and finds a book that is laid out on her desk.

“Yes. This marker is so rare that it’s not on our usual key. You have to understand, that celestials—

---