Page 161 of Stormbreaker

We lie together, our bodies moving, our hips insistent, and I feel what this is doing to him in the hardness pressing against me. After a minute, he pulls away, his eyes bright and his cheeks flushed.

“Poet,” he says in a rough voice as he hovers over me, his hands planted on either side of my head. “I wasn’t expecting this. I didn’t think I’d feel anything at Amery.”

I smile up and tuck a piece of his hair back before my fingers dance across his lips.

“Feel what, Rook?”

“Like . . . I want to question everything I’ve ever known.”

I sense something important in that statement. In the wild, churning heat in his eyes. I’ve never been in love, but I’ve always wanted it. It’s too soon for those kinds of sentiments—I know that. But I can’t help but acknowledge this bubbling in my chest, churning to the surface.

“Me too,” I answer, because I didn’t expect it, either. Because over the last few months, I’ve also looked into the shadowy, hazy eyes of truth and wondered if it has been ringing false all along.

“Whatever happens, I’ll protect you, Poet.”

“But you think I’m trouble,” I say, and he smiles.

“Nothing but.”

Then I don’t get the chance to answer, because he closes the distance, and we’re kissing again.

58

It’s two weeks later when we find ourselves back in the Central Park Tree Farm for our year-end cadet training exam. Dressed in our tactical gear, we huddle together in the cool morning breeze.

My gaze catches Rook’s, who stands relaxed on the edge of the crowd. While we’ve limited our public appearances, we’ve been spending a lot of time alone in our room together. Sometimes, he reads to me from one of his books. The series I’m loving best is about a girl who’s forced to compete in a government-sanctioned death match alongside a bunch of other kids, only to discover they’re all being manipulated. I can’t get enough of her strength and resilience, and how she’d do anything for the people she loves.

Sometimes, we just sit quietly, staring at the fire, and more often than not, we do a lot of kissing and touching and yearning. I can’t stop blushing at random moments, thinking of his hands and mouth. We haven’t taken it any further yet, though I desperately hope we do.

Rook doesn’t talk much about his past in terms of other girls, except to tell me he’s had a few casual relationships and wants to take things slow between us. I know there are things in his past holding him back, but I don’t want to pry where he doesn’t want me. I hope I can earn his trust enough to share the stories he’s reluctant to reveal.

I’ve been fine with it, but I’m also crawling out of my skin.

I want to wipe every memory of Knox from my body, and something tells me Rook could do that in a single night.

“Good morning, cadets!” Henry’s voice booms over our heads. He stands in his full Storm Guard gear along with about a dozen other fully trained Breakers, everyone wearing their tactical pants and tank tops, layered with shiny purple harnesses. “I’m happy to see so many of the same faces we welcomed during our first week of training months ago. You’ve all worked hard and been tested to your limits, and today, you’ll demonstrate where all that effort has paid off.”

He gestures around us. “Central Park is approximately two and a half miles from end to end, and nestled within the trees, you’ll find an obstacle course that includes ropes, swings, bridges, and more. The path is marked, so you’ll follow it through to the other side. Of course, it won’t be that easy.”

He looks up, and the same net I remember from my Society test winks into focus as the purple crisscrossing pattern buzzes overhead. “You’ll also need to avoid this. The grid must discharge occasionally to release buildup. That means it can strike at random intervals throughout the park. So, keep your focus and your eyes and ears peeled. You’ll receive only a second of warning.”

Domino links her elbow with mine, leaning against me. I don’t think she even realizes she’s doing it as she joins everyone staring at the flickering net overhead. I lay a hand on her arm, and she looks at me, almost as if she’s surprised I’m there. I try to offer her a reassuring smile. We’ve made it this far. We’re so close.

“The cadets from each Society with the three fastest times will automatically be granted entry into the second-year program,” Henry says now, eliciting an excited chorus of chatter around the circle. “The rest of you will be evaluated based on your training and tests throughout the past year.

“You’ll begin with staggered starts in alphabetical order. The only rules are that you cannot touch anyone else or the trees. You must stick to the course and cannot deviate more than six feet beyond it.”

He scans our line. “Everything clear?” We all nod, and then his expression shifts. “Before we begin, we have one other item we must deal with.”

A rustle comes from behind us, and I nearly squeak at the sight of four Extinguishers emerging from the trees with Lieutenant Dire among them. Behind them come several E-squad recruits, including Trinity. I haven’t spoken to her in weeks, haven’t even seen her since that night I ran away from her in Sogno. Our gazes meet, and guilt flashes over her expression.

“As many of you are aware,” Henry continues, “numerous deaths within New Manhattan have been attributed to the presence of the infected in the last few weeks.”

I shift on my feet, still clinging to Domino. In fact, there have been two more incidents since the night at Sogno, and we’ve been subjected to more Extinguisher presence than ever.

“House Aria has been developing a new tool to help root out infected Keepers, and we’ve been asked to let them test it on all of you today.”

Henry’s expression makes it clear what he thinks of this request.