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Lily dropped her eyes and stared at her carrots. She’d gotten used to the Tristan in Rowan’s world—the one who didn’t know all of her faults and call her on them.
The day lurched on for Lily, in the most torturous way imaginable until last period when Lily felt Rowan’s mind brushing against hers as she and Tristan walked to their last class.
Make sure they come home with you after school. They need to train.
I told them you were leaving. They think you’re doing the right thing.
What about you?
I know you’re doing the right thing. I don’t have to like it, though.
“Lily!” someone called out urgently. Lily turned around and saw Scot making his way toward her through the crowd. She stopped and waited, surprised.
Who’s that? Rowan asked in mindspeak.
A friend of Tristan’s who put something in my drink and tried to jump me at a party the night before I disappeared.
He did what?
Easy. I can handle him.
Careful. He’s got the potential to be a mechanic.
Huh. You’re right.
He’ll chase you.
I can handle him.
Lily shoved Rowan out of her mind before he could get too worked up.
“I told you to stay away from her,” Tristan said angrily. Scot recoiled slightly, but gathered his courage. Lily noticed a red scar on Scot’s cheek that hadn’t been there before she disappeared.
Lily put her hand on Tristan’s arm. “It’s okay, Tristan. I have a feeling he just wants to apologize.” She turned to Scot and met his eyes. “Don’t you, Scot?”
“Yeah,” Scot said, swallowing hard. “I didn’t know a little vodka would do that to you. I just wanted to—” He broke off suddenly, looking at Lily desperately.
“You wanted to get me drunk and take advantage of me,” Lily said plainly. He grimaced like he was in pain, shifting from foot to foot. “Here’s the thing, Scot. We’re not going to be friends. We’re not going to hang out. And if I ever hear even a whisper that you’ve tried that crap on some other girl, I’m going to come after you. Get it?”
Scot nodded slowly, his face frozen.
“Good.” Lily turned and continued on to her class.
“I think you made him pee a little,” Tristan said.
“He’s lucky I didn’t—” Lily stopped herself. Didn’t what? Have him thrown in a dungeon? Hanged? Lily’s insides chilled at how easily her thoughts had turned draconian. She remembered when she first met Alaric—how he’d made her meet his gaze and how he’d known without a doubt that she wasn’t Lillian. He’d said there was no death in her eyes. Lily wondered what he would find inside them now. She looked at Tristan, laughed nervously, and pretended to brush it off. “I should have kicked Scot in the ding-ding.”
Tristan smiled, relaxing a little, but the tense set of his mouth told her that he hadn’t totally let it go, either.
“That’s quite a scar he’s got,” Lily said quietly as they settled into their lab table.
“I hit him harder than I meant to,” Tristan replied, his tone heavy with regret. “I was so angry, and not just because of what he did to you, but because you were right. I left you with him at that party so I could cheat on you. I wanted to blame him for what I did.”
“Sorry I got you arrested.” Lily smiled at him, thinking how much he’d grown up since she’d left.
“No, that’s on me, not you.” Tristan sighed. “His parents were right to press charges. I sent him to the hospital.”
“So you’ve forgiven me?” she whispered as Mr. Carnello swept into the room to start class.
