Every new piece of information I uncover makes it clear that I don’t have time to waste. If another schoolmate is going to become a threat along with at least one of my teachers, I need to know ASAP.
I meander in Grady’s general direction without looking his way. Laughter and boisterous voices carry from his cluster of 16thyear guys.
A couple of them are friends I’ve seen him hanging out with at The Eclipse before. I don’t want to risk imposing any magic on Grady himself in case he notices, but maybe I can nudge one of them…
I direct a tendril of ephemera their way, thinking about the comments Grady’s made in the past. Elevation, connections, getting noticed…
The conversation about a recent bloomblight match continues for a few more exchanges. Then one of the friends taps Grady in the arm with his knuckles. “So, you ready to head to Groove Garden again and see what we can get out of it? Maybe Friday?”
That’s the dance club the bunch of them talked about before. Ears pricked, I edge closer.
Grady lets out a cocky laugh. “Oh, I’m not botheringwith that crowd anymore. I’m good. But you can keep trying if you want.”
As his friends start badgering him about not leaving them hanging, my thoughts whirl in my head. Grady just gives an enigmatic smile and brushes off their questions, but I can read between the lines.
He isn’t bothering with the dance club because he already got what he wanted: the attention of that woman Byron saw him with? Who’s probably the same woman so mixed up in my life—and Other Elodie’s death. Gwyn, Jovak called her.
Did he meet her at Groove Garden? It’s hard to imagine Kenneth having hung out at the dance club, but this Gwyn person might have more than one hunting ground when she’s looking to draw in new associates.
I’m so lost in thought I don’t notice the many eyes following my trek toward Thesan Hall until a snicker bursts out, followed by a hasty murmuring that includes my name. My head ticks up.
Some girls I’ve seen in my classes are watching me, whispering more when I glance their way. I raise my eyebrows at them pointedly, and they shuffle off with prying glances over their shoulders.
What’s that about? And really, where’s my usual crowd? My friends would normally have found me by now if I hadn’t found them.
I walk on, keeping my head up and pretending I don’t notice the gazes and giggles following me. My skin prickles with apprehension.
As I step into the main senior building, a guy in the entrance hall waggles his eyebrows at me and jostles his companion with an elbow. I stride onward, past several more stares and low voices.
“Can you believe…?”
“…get away with it.”
Sweat prickles down my spine. Did the secret of my sparked matches get out somehow? Or?—
“Elle.”
Stella breezes over to me with her usual elegant poise. Only the slight tightening of her jaw gives away any sign of tension.
She motions me to a quiet corner. I go with her, even more puzzled than before.
As soon as we’re off to the side, she tilts her head toward me and speaks in a hush. “Do you have something going on with Salvatore Cosgrave?”
My blood turns to ice. I hope I catch my expression before the truth shows on it.
“What?” I force an incredulous laugh. “Of course not. Why would you think that?”
“Everyone’s talking about it.” Stella’s gaze flicks over the various students studying us as they pass by. She hesitates before going on. “One of the headmaster’s assistants was asking around too, wanting you to come to the office. I don’t know if it’s about the same thing…”
The creases at the corners of her mouth deepen. I might not have known Stella Kingsley as long as Other Elodie did, but I can recognize her indecision.
“What else? What don’t you want to tell me?”
Stella meets my eyes again. There’s still a coolness in them, as if she’s not totally sure I’m worth the warning she’s already given me.
But she’s here anyway. Even though I insulted her.
Her, not Cadance or the twins.
