Page 72 of The Stone Secret
“I’m glad I know,” Palia said.
“Me too,” Ginia added.
“Me three,” Touron said, then looked at me expectantly.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m glad too.”
Touron rolled his eyes. “You need to say,me four.”
I stared at him flatly. “No.”
“Spoilsport.”
I take the seat opposite Cameron. “But you’re right to keep him out of it. You’re keeping him guilt free.”
“Now Cameron eat food.” Derek pushes the plate of egg and toast toward Cameron. “I made it.”
“You did?” Cameron looks up at him in surprise.
“Yes.” He watches her expectantly.
The eggs are stone cold now, but Cameron picks up her fork and digs in anyway.
Derek beams at her, showcasing his fangs and even white teeth. My pulse jumps slightly, and I look away.
Nope. I do not have a thing for Cameron’s shield.
Do I?
CHAPTER29
CAM
Everyone pooled into Arcana class. The seats had been arranged in a circle and Yarrow stood in the center of the space with his sister.
He caught my eye as I entered and waved me over. “There’s no need for you to take the class,” he said. “I’ll be working with Derek after this session.”
“I don’t need to do anything when it comes to shield work?”
It was Flora who replied. “As your shield is an independent entity, it’s him that we need to train. But we can certainly work on how you can summon him even if you don’t feel threatened or are in danger for your life.”
“We’ll work with Derek first,” Yarrow said. “Once he’s able to wield his power effectively, then we’ll bring you in.”
“You don’t want me at his sessions?”
They exchanged glances, and once again it was Flora that answered. “Derek has spent all his existence believing that he was a boogeyman. A minor construct, created to serve you. If he’s to self-actualize, he needs to do it away from your shadow.”
In other words, they needed me to back off because my being around would stifle his growth. “Ouch.”
Yarrow put his hand on my shoulder. “This is not a dig, Cam. You created an amazing being, and now all we want to do is help him flourish so that he can fight alongside you in the war against the graynites.”
“I understand. I’ll hit the gym and warm up for my back-to-back training with the elites.”
I joined the others. “Yarrow says I don’t need this class.”
Curi looked over at Yarrow with a frown. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, fine. He’s going to work with Derek later. Shar, will you stay with him?”
