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As for me, I liked his deferential treatment each morning. Sol was sexy. That Venezuelan blood gave him a sultry, dark aspect, yet he never seemed to sweat. It felt nice having those smoldering eyes meet mine, even if the look was fully platonic.
This morning was a bit different. Sol was still in the room when I came out of the shower holding a towel across most of my pink, freshly soaped flesh.
“Oh, hi,” I muttered, quickly covering myself fully.
He was seated at his desk, reading a copy of The Guardian’s sports section. He didn’t even look at me, maybe out of disinterest or maybe out of loyalty to Zephyr.
“I’m sorry to bother you, Biba,” he said, “but one of my freshmen dropped by. We’ve been working on making your stay here a bit more comfortable. It looks like we should have a private room for you by week’s end.”
“Really?” That was huge news. The supply closet was my last vestige of pariahdom. The possibility of having a real room—and a private one at that—was too exciting to believe.
“I wanted to tell you as soon as possible,” Sol added, glancing at me finally, though keeping his eyes carefully above my towel. “You might want to start packing your things.”
“I will, Sol. That’s wonderful!”
He nodded. “We’re happy to help. Though I will admit, I’ll miss our interactions each morning.”
Who would have imagined that one of the Kings could say something … sweet?
“Well,” he said quickly, lest his kindness linger, “I’ll give you some privacy.”
I smiled with appreciation as he left. Already, things were looking better than I’d imagined possible.
As usual, a spotty freshman boy was waiting to take my books when I left Sol’s room. By the time I reached the refectory, another Kings’ toadie had my breakfast and tea ready at my own private table. If Zephyr and I crossed paths at mealtime, we sat together. Otherwise, I read and studied in blessed solitude. I never lifted a tray or handled my leftovers.
My books preceded me to first period, where I had a comfortable seat saved near the back, far away from my stocky, overbearing Economics and Foreign Currency professor. My courtiers also ensured that Theo Brant was nowhere close by.
I wanted to feel fine with discarding Theo. He’d treated me like garbage after I had saved his life. Who cared if he felt bad about it now? I wasn’t buying the idea that he was somehow a better guy than Zephyr. Both were assholes in their way. At least Zephyr’s asshole-ishness was on the surface.
At least he could help me.
Still, those puppy-dog stares from Theo unsettled something within me. Annoying pangs of conscience or affection or something tore at me.
I had a little time after economics, so I made a beeline to the remotest path outside of Stormcloud Academy’s perimeter. I had planned this days ago. This was my first meeting with Gail since classes started.
Zephyr wasn’t joking about his distaste for her and her family. He plain straight hated the Monforts but refused to say exactly why.
I found Gail standing on a promontory overlooking the steep cliffside and the ranges beyond. She looked tired.
“Hey,” I called when I was a few paces away.
“Hi,” she answered, not looking back.
“I’m sorry it’s been so long. Things have gotten … complicated.”
I tried to hug Gail. But she sloughed me off, stepping back from the edge and sitting on a resilient patch of grass on the other side of the path. “You’re with Zephyr now,” she murmured.
“I am. It’s the only move I have, Gail. Either I keep him close and on my side, or he’ll—”
“It doesn’t matter,” she interrupted, “that his family might have had your father killed? And mine?”
“He’s going to let me into the Kings’ secrets. Miss Amelia just made me her assistant! Think about it. If we got such good information from a few minutes sneaking around the archives, how much could we discover with full access.”
She shook her head. “You’re saying we a lot. I don’t see any we here. You’re with Zephyr now, which seems to mean you can’t be my friend. I stuck by you when those Holland girls were trying to destroy you. Are you going to repay the favor?”
I didn't know how to answer. There was more at stake than our friendship. We were investigating something really dangerous, and I had infiltrated the most connected people at Stormcloud.
“It’s not that simple, Gail,” I tried to explain. “Zephyr … he—”
“Means more to you than I do. That’s obvious.”
“That’s not true.”
“It is, Biba. Even if you don’t want to admit it.”
Then, Gail stood and walked back to campus. I wanted to follow her, but I stayed put. I needed to arrive at the school a little bit after her so people wouldn’t know we’d been talking.
