Page 86 of Stormbreaker

This choice will only make my life harder in so many ways. I don’t know why it matters so much to Devon, but I’m over worrying about how my choices affect the men in my life.

He’s not even in my life. Why does he care at all?

I turn to Stevie, who’s watching the entire exchange silently.

“Will House Aria have me?” I ask, and she studies me.

“I admit, I wasn’t thrilled with the idea,” she says. “These tests are supposed to be a clear and easy choice, but watching you save them both . . .”

She scans me up and down with an obvious sort of approval.

“Makes you far more interesting than I first thought. Why did you do it?”

“It . . . seemed like the right thing to do.”

Stevie nods. “I can’t make them like you. You understand you are the daughter of a rival House’s scion, yes? No one will trust you. They’ll all think you’re a spy or intent on some form of sabotage.”

I huff out a short breath. “Do you think I’m a spy?”

Stevie wrinkles her nose and folds her arms. “I don’t think you’re a spy. I think . . .” She shakes her head. “Well, it doesn’t matter what I think. No one will stop you if you want to pledge to House Aria.”

“But you should be the one to tell your father,” Devon says.

Right. Of course.

“What about Trinity?” I ask. “She just told me she’s also pledging to Aria.”

Stevie sighs. “Yeah. Another thing I’ll need to deal with.” She shakes her head. “Tonight has definitely shaken things up. Is that why you did this? Because of your friend?”

I shrug. “Partly.”

Stevie appraises me with another look. “Then she’s lucky to have you.”

“Will everyone hate me?” I ask Devon.

He arches a brow. “What else would you expect?”

I sigh. “This is all so stupid and arbitrary.”

I feel them both go still.

“I’d keep that thought to yourself,” Devon says with an edge to his voice.

“Yeah. Sorry.” I rub my face.

“You’ll need to switch dorms,” Stevie says. “We can do it tomorrow.”

“That’s it, then?” I ask.

“That’s it,” Stevie says. “The pledge ceremony is in a few weeks, and then you’ll be one of us.”

She grimaces, and I almost have to laugh.

“I’m not so bad once you get to know me,” I say hopefully, and she gives me a searching look.

“I think you’re about to become a giant pain in my ass,” she says, and this time I do laugh.

Possibly.