Page 94 of Stormbreaker

“Why would they talk to you?” Edward asks, his tone sharp. “You’re Aria now. Just like her. Did you plan this together? Did she do this for you?”

I try not to flinch at the harshness in his words. “It’s complicated.”

“What about your father?” Edward asks. “Could he help her? Get her back into Fiama?”

Edward isn’t thinking straight. He’s lobbing suggestions that have no basis in reality.

“I don’t think I can. As you just reminded me . . .”

His eyes darken. “Right.”

“Yeah,” I say, again swimming in the foggy repercussions of my reckless decision. Would my father have listened to me anyway?

“Well, that’s just great,” Edward adds. “What the fuck, Poet? I hope you understand what you’ve done.”

It’s an unfair statement, but he’s hurting, so I let it slide. He pushes himself up and gives me a dark look before turning and stalking off with his shoulders hunched.

I stare after him in surprise. Edward’s always been so kind and mellow. I’ll give him some time and then try to talk to him again.

I message Trinity, telling her what’s just happened, but she doesn’t respond.

My stomach rumbles, reminding me it’s been a while since I’ve eaten. Not since lunch yesterday.

I check the time. The cafeteria will be full by now. Do I skip meals forever?

But I’ll have to confront everyone at some point.

I’m a pariah. An outcast.

Technically, I’m still Society, but I don’t think that will matter much to anyone in that room.

Time to get this over with.

34

It’s almost laughable the way everyone stops talking when I walk into the crowded cafeteria a minute later.

Silence fills the room with the barest clink of cutlery against plates and bowls. I clear my throat and lift my chin. I will not be shamed or cowed.

A set of heavy footsteps fills the silence, and I feel a presence behind me.

I don’t even need to look to know who it is.

I recognize his scent.

It’s earthy and grounding. Reminds me of sunshine on a rare clear day.

The thought is disconcerting.

I shouldn’t know his smell. Be able to parse out the notes and subtle qualities. But I don’t examine it further; I’m just grateful I’m not standing here alone anymore. I shift my weight and look up to find Rook standing beside me, staring at everyone staring at us.

“So, do you ever get used to this?” I whisper, and he snorts. The sound is so incongruous that I almost laugh. We must both look like we’re losing our minds.

“Eat your breakfast,” he practically growls to the room. “Don’t you all have better things to do than worry about us?”

He brushes past me and heads over to the food line, ignoring everyone’s scrutiny with an indifference I can’t help but admire. I take his cue and follow, causing the room to break out of stasis as the chatter resumes.

We both move along the counter, separated by a few bodies. When I’ve collected my plate, I look up to find him sitting at a table near the wall on the Aria side of the cafeteria.