Page 31 of Captive
As I sat on the common room sofa with my head in my hands, trying to think, I became aware of another presence in the room. When I turned around, Dean was watching me.
“And they saywe’rethe creeps,” I muttered.
“What’re you thinking about?” he asked somberly, leaning on our room’s door frame.
“The same thing you’re thinking about, I’d imagine,” I answered, leaning back. “How we’re going to protect her when we don’t even know what she is. When the people whoshouldbe keeping her safe are hiding the only knowledge that could do that. How a fucking husk got past all the school’s defenses.”
“Like Dr. Price said, he had to have an in,” said Dean. “Now we just have to find out who it is and twist ‘em in half.”
I snorted. “Right, and that’s going to be easy to do when the school is in lockdown and there’s someone working for the enemy, likely in the administration. For all we know, itisDr. Price.”
“How would he have tied himself up?” Dean asked doubtfully.
I blinked at him, finally realizing he was serious. “He could have had an accomplice tie him up.”
Dean mulled that over for a second before nodding. “Guess so. Well, if it is him, we’re all fucked. He’s the most powerful psychic on Academy grounds.”
“No kidding,” I admitted. “But we can’t trust anyone. We’re on our own now, and if there’s one thing we can agree on, it’s that we have to keep her safe. Whatever it takes.”
“Yeah,” he agreed with a heavy sigh, joining me on the couch and taking up the rest of the space. My space. “We can definitely agree on that.”
Before I could complain, the bathroom door opened and Bells stepped out, wrapped in a plush black robe the same inky shade as her hair. She didn’t look much better than when she went in. I stood immediately to make room for her on the couch. “Hey… how are you feeling?”
“Like shit,” she admitted, sinking into the corner. With Dean, there was barely enough room to squeeze in, but I wasn’t going to let him monopolize her, so I claimed my spot on her other side. “I keep thinking about that dream.” She frowned, staring off. “At least, that’s all I wish it was.”
Dean put his arm around her shoulders, his fingertips brushing my hair. My spine stiffened and I glared at him, but he was oblivious, fixated on her. It was obvious he had no idea that wasmyhair he was stroking tenderly.
On second thought, not telling him was probably a better punishment.
“We’ll keep you safe,” he assured her.
Bells gave him a smile that didn’t meet her eyes.
“I mean it,” he said. “In case you haven’t noticed, I could probably level the whole school if I really wanted to.”
“Don’t,” she mumbled, leaning back so her side was pressed against him. It didn’t seem like an entirely intentional gesture, but it flared an irrational amount of jealousy within me anyway. “You already came close to getting yourself killed today because of me. I don’t want either of you getting hurt.”
He scoffed. “Who knows what that creep would’ve done to you if I hadn’t shown up?”
I glared at him again. “Not what she needs to hear at the end of today.”
Dean stared at me for a minute, like he was going to argue, then sighed. “Yeah, yeah,” he grumbled, giving her a squeeze and finally getting his fingertips out of my hair.
She stiffened up for a second, but slipped her arms around him and buried her face in his neck. I looked away, resenting my primal instincts for making me the possessive monster I’d always taken pride in not being. It seemed I just hadn’t found the right catalyst.
Dean flashed me a triumphant grin. So much for a truce.
Bells pulled away, and the fact that his scent was on her was making it even harder to think straight. I stood before I could make a complete fool of myself. “I should probably get to bed. Early day.”
Her eyes met mine, and for a moment, I got lost in them. I could tell she wanted to say something else, but didn’t know how.
“What is it?” I asked gently.
“I just…” She sighed, hugging a pillow from the couch against her chest. I’d never been so envious of a piece of upholstery. “I know this sounds stupid, but I’d rather not sleep alone tonight.”
“You don’t have to,” Dean said immediately. “You can sleep in my bed.”
“You take up the whole thing,” I reminded him. “Where’s she supposed to sleep, on you?”
