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That bothered me, even keeping me up the night before.
Why was it my parents and their friends? How were they targeted? If they left and started a new life, how were they found? Did someone betray them? Had someone outside of their group found out and told the council?
I needed these answers. It wasn’t just simple curiosity. The more time I had to obsess over the few facts I knew, the more dread pooled in my stomach. There was more to this than my parents and Masie admitted.
My grandparents said they stayed away from me to not draw attention from anyone watching them.
Who would do that? They believed they were important in the supe society, but was that all? Were they involved? What if it was them that turned in my parents into the council? They didn’t approve of my mom being with my dad. I’m sure they weren’t thrilled about having a hybrid grandchild. Would they have done that?
It couldn't be possible. No one would do that to their own child. Well, no sane, loving, normal person. I didn’t know my grandparents well enough to know whether they checked those boxes.
And if it wasn’t them, then who? It had to have been someone close to my parents and their friends. Someone who knew they were all in Seattle. Someone who didn’t support the idea of different species being together.
I looked around at my group of new friends. Had my parents met them here? Did someone from Drexel betray them?
Chapter 23
The dining hall was mostly empty, and there were nearly two full cakes left, which Malik and Daniel quickly grabbed while Carter and Sai collected plates and forks for the table. Hannah didn’t go to where we normally ate, instead claiming the middle table at the end furthest from the doors.
“We’re celebrating, and I don’t want anyone complaining about us being too noisy,” she explained as I took the spot to her right.
Theo sat across from me, and the guys filled in around us. Sai sat on my free side, sliding the enormous cake in front of me. Only one slice was missing, and he made another cut and carefully laid it on its side on a plate before handing it to me.
“Congratulations, Saige. You proved how incredible you are and how much you belong here.” His words made my chest tighten.
Did I belong here? Every day felt like a struggle, but maybe now that I passed the assessment, things would settle down. I wouldn’t feel like all eyes were on me, watching and waiting for me to fail.
“Thanks.” I smiled at him, then looked around the table. Theo caught my gaze and winked. I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth. Had Sai seen that? Did it matter? He was too busy serving everyone. I doubted he noticed, but it still made me nervous. What would he think if he saw Theo flirting with me or vice versa? Would either of them get mad? Would they even care?
We were all just friends. I’d only been here for a week. I didn’t need to overthink it.
“You guys are amazing. I wouldn’t have stood a chance without each of you. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”
Hannah held up a forkful of cake. “To Saige and the excitement she brought to our dreary lives.”
The guys all laughed and held up their forks.
I held up mine. “To the best friends I could ever ask for.”
We all said cheers and took the first bite. I moaned as the decadent, moist cake hit my tongue.
“Told you it was good,” Sai whispered.
I grinned and took another bite.
“I think we should have a party to celebrate Saige,” Theo proclaimed as we ate.
Hannah swallowed. “Yes! That’s a great idea. We can invite the other fourth years so they can get to know her too.”
Theo and Sai both spoke at the same time. “No.”
I looked back and forth at each of them while Hannah leaned around me to do the same. “What’s wrong with you two?”
Yeah? Why didn’t they want me to meet more of our classmates?
Theo rubbed the back of his neck. “I just don’t want you to get overwhelmed.”
“Yeah, not everyone is as cool as us,” Sai added.
