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"It was still an awesome day," I said, giving my otter a hug as I followed them out of the car. "We can just push the rest of it away for now. That's the healthy way to handle it," I joked as we walked back to the building. I spotted someone in the second floor foyer window staring at us, catching a hint of blonde hair before she backed away. Not wanting to freak out the others, I made myself think about something else, so they didn't pick up on it or hear it from Tristan. I didn’t want them to worry, and she couldn’t hurt me here.
At least I hope she can't.
May 1st
Morning
Lennox
Dhara had kept her distance so far, though being in the same classes made it difficult. She didn't try to approach me or anything, but that was probably because I hadn’t been alone since the attempted kidnapping. The guys updated their dean about it, sticking to their story about my powers not showing yet. Security floated around every time we went out now, but nothing had come to a head. It was like a huge storm was building, the clouds rolling in and rain starting to fall, and you're just waiting for everything to ramp up in intensity. That's how it felt around here, but everyone seemed content to ignore the tension.
"Eat," Aeson said softly, pushing my plate closer to me. I frowned down at the eggs and bacon on my plate, no longer hungry as my mind kept reminding me of all the impending changes.
"Do you want something else?" Van asked, looking down at my plate with a grimace. "They have french toast today."
"No, I'm not hungry. I just need a minute," I said, pushing it away and walking out of the cafeteria. Nobody followed me this time, apparently picking up on the fact that I wanted to be alone. Plus, Evander could hear me yell and run out at lightning speed if he needed to. Vampire senses are handy.
I stepped out onto the second floor balcony, needing to feel the morning breeze. The salty air tickled my nose as I inhaled, the spring warmth finally starting to come around. Yes! I am so sick of ice and snow. The Obsidian Sea stretched out below me, the islands in the distance so small, I could barely m
ake them out.
"Nice view," Dhara's voice called out as the door clicked behind her. "I've been trying to get a moment alone with you, but clearly they're possessive. Supernaturals, am I right?" I snorted at her cheeky humor, hating that I liked her despite knowing why she was here.
"What do you want?" I asked bluntly, not willing to play this whole small talk game with her.
"I just wanted you to know that you have options. I was sent here to find a supernatural, but it seems they found you first. Which is not surprising. I know this is their area, but I don't think you belong here. I can't tell what you are though, so maybe that's why they haven't taken you off to their school already," she said thoughtfully, half reasoning it out with herself.
"And what options are those? To go live in your oppressive territory that values purity?" I asked, raising my eyebrow as I turned to face her, bracing my back on the high railing.
"Is purity so bad? Sure, the council says that it's a genetic toss up if the species are mixed, but with purity there's no guessing game. The Knights can help you find out what you are," she said, and I could tell easily that she believed every word she said.
"And if I'm mixed?" I asked pointedly, realization finally dawning in her eyes.
"Then you'll still be welcome. Once they pinpoint what you are, they would suggest you find someone of the same species for a partner," she said, like that took care of that matter.
"And if I chose to love who I wanted?" I asked. Her eyes darkened for a moment as she fought with some kind of inner demon.
"Then you'd be punished or exiled," she said quietly, shuffling her feet on the ground. "Maybe you shouldn't go there. Fuck."
"I have my partners, and I don't intend to lose them anytime soon," I pointed out, relaxing now that she finally understood my hesitation.
"Touché. They're definitely hotties, too," she said with a wistful smile. "My parents chose a nice guy for me, but I've been throwing myself into my work to avoid it."
"So leave. You're eighteen, right?"
"I am, but it's not that easy. I can't just give up my family," she whispered, not even surprised by my comment. She’s probably thought about it on her own before. I know I would’ve, if I was her.
"Can I ask you something?" I finally had the courage to ask about the one thing that had been nagging at me since the guys explained the Citrine Island lifestyle.
"Sure," she said, relief taking over her face.
"If my parents chose to have me anyway, despite being mixed, and they were part of Citrine... where would they be now?"
Her eyebrows furrowed as she thought about my words, opening and closing her mouth several times as she tried to put it nicely. "Prison, most likely," she finally spit out, sighing in defeat. "Fuck, no wonder everyone hates Citrine."
"For life?" I hedged, hoping to see if there was a deadline to their sentence. It was far fetched, but it gave me hope.
"No, I think it's 25 years. They place any of the prisoners children with suitable families to help bring them back to the right way of thinking. Since most supes in Citrine marry at around 22, they’ll hold the biological parents long enough that they can’t influence their kids’ choices. By the time they get out, any kids they had are hopefully settled with a mate of the right species," she explained, sitting down with a huff.
