Page 92 of Stormbreaker

“Morning,” he says, doing that thing he does, running a hand through his hair. I’m staring for a second too long, and he arches a brow before I tear my gaze away.

“Just how many people joined Aria yesterday?” I ask, and Stevie huffs out a laugh.

“There’s a handful of you,” she answers. “But you two are definitely the most interesting.” She pushes herself off the pillar. “Come along, little pledglings.”

We head up the staircase curving around the other end of the hall, and I shake off the sensation that I’m crossing a threshold into hell.

This is just another set of dorm rooms; get a grip.

Having Rook trailing behind me with his sure, confident steps actually makes me feel a little better.

Halfway up, Stevie pauses and looks back at me, searching my face. I’d say she looked concerned if I didn’t know any better. She opens her mouth and then closes it before turning and continuing up the steps.

The Aria wing contrasts directly with Fiama’s, doing nothing to dispel the notion that I’ve entered enemy territory. Instead of creams and golds, Aria is adorned with black silk walls in ornate brocade and embellished with iron and silver. The effect is just as elegant but darker and more sinister.

It’s louder, too. Thumping music pounds behind doorways even at this early hour, and the air is charged with something electric.

Stevie leads us down a hall and throws open a door. My new room is just like my previous one, except for the color scheme and the presence of two of my new roommates lounging on their beds.

“Silla and Cece, meet Poet,” Stevie says.

I think she’s trying to welcome me in her own aloof way, but as she cautioned, I can join House Aria but she can’t make any of them accept me. Silla and Cece are obviously less than delighted to meet me.

“Hi,” I say weakly, clinging to the strap of my backpack, but neither of them replies.

“That’s your bed,” Stevie says. “Another new pledge took that one a few days ago.”

A moment later, a familiar face appears from the bathroom.

“Domino!” I exclaim, suddenly intensely grateful to see her.

“Hey,” she says with a grin. Silla and Cece ignore her.

“You two know each other?” Stevie asks, flicking a finger between us.

“Kind of,” I answer, and she nods like that satisfies her.

“Then stick together, because you’ll need it. Good luck.”

She nods at Silla and Cece, who give her a deferential bow of their heads. “I’ll see you all around. Try not to kill each other.”

With that declaration, she gestures for Rook to follow.

He pushes off the doorway as our eyes meet for a brief second. He scans me up and down, and I think he wants to say something but then changes his mind before turning to follow Stevie.

I face Silla and Cece, who are busy on their phones. That’s fine. This is hardly any different from my old roommates.

I actually have far more pressing things to worry about.

Trinity to start. Her desire to join E-squad.

And my father.

He must know by now.

“Everything okay?” Domino asks, and I turn around.

“Yeah, you?”