Page 24

Wow. Those are some shitty friends.

“Please don’t go! I love you,” the one Bree bespelled says a little more desperately. “I’ll do anything!”

“Not interested,” Bree says over her shoulder. “Maybe in the next lifetime?”

The girl immediately bursts into tears. People look from her to our group, confusion lining their faces, but the whispers have already started. By this time tomorrow, everyone will know how that chick swore she was in love with Bree, and there’s nothing more scandalous than a Foundation lowering their standards to date a Feral Blood.

I’m still chuckling to myself as we take a narrow stairwell down to the lower level. Warm, briny air brushes along my cheeks as we approach the baths. Heat settles over me like a wool blanket in the middle of summer. I’m going to regret coming in my workout pants, but I’d rather stay covered up than give people a reason to ask questions.

We emerge from the small hall and into a grand room. The floors and walls—even the baths—are all the same slate stone, and aside from the handful of lamps placed around the room, most of the dim golden light is coming from the center pool, where a Goddess-blessed crystal is embedded at the bottom.

I avert my gaze from the handful of naked students on the other end of the pool. Ever and Bree stop by a free bench and begin to strip. With a sigh, I reach down and roll up my pants.

“Are you shy?” Bree teases, shimmying her shoulders as she strides down the stone steps and into the water.

Most paranormals are perfectly comfortable with nudity—hence, the large co-ed baths—but there’s no way I’m getting undressed with all these people around.

“Something like that.” I set my towel at the edge of the pool and sit on it, slowly sticking my feet in the hot water. Oh Goddess. I’ll have to come back when everyone is sleeping.

Bree and Ever don’t give me shit; they simply respect my decision, which I appreciate more than either of them will ever know. Bree grabs the mage liquor and uncorks it, taking a swig before passing it to Ever, who hands it to me once she’s done. I take a smaller drink, not sure exactly how strong it’ll be, and set the bottle to the side as warmth blooms in my gut.

Ever and Bree rest their backs on either side of my legs, sighing contentedly. A comforting quiet settles around us. It almost feels as though we’ve been doing this for years. I fiddle with my necklace, wishing Addy were here. I’ve pictured us hanging out like this before, just chilling and wasting time, and I’d give anything to be with her.

“How was tutoring?” Ever asks.

I drop my necklace and grip the stone edge of the bath. “Annoying.”

She rolls her neck to look at me. “Oh?”

“Carver kicked my ass, and then those assholes were there.”

“Which ones?” Bree asks. “There are so many, I’m having a hard time keeping them all straight.”

Isn’t that the truth?

I watch the rippling water as I move my feet in circles and answer. “Bellamy, Drake, and Rowan.”

“All of the vinculum in one place? Shit, how do I sign up for tutoring?” Bree mumbles.

What is it about those four that everyone seems to like them? I mean, aside from the fact that they're one of four vinculums at Diremount right now, they’re only a bunch of entitled Foundations. I don’t get why everyone wants to kiss their asses.

Ever gives me a look. “Seriously, though, you should be careful with those four. They’re the top vinculum at Diremount.”

Meaning together, even without a tether, they’re more powerful than the other vinculums. “Do they know who their tether is?”

“No, but everyone suspects Melody will be theirs. Some gaggy sentiment about how it’s written in the stars,” Ever mutters. “Though, apparently, despite going on dates, the bond hasn’t snapped into place. So maybe it’s not her.”

Fate determines when and how a tether will bond with her vinculum, but it’s said to be triggered faster if there’s danger. “Melody will be especially insufferable if she does become their tether,” I mutter.

“You’re telling me.” Bree waves to someone on the other end of the bath.

A guy separates from one of the groups and heads toward us. I take in familiar features with a slight tip of my head. How do I know him?

He stops a respectable distance away, which already wins him points in my book. “Hey, Bree.” He nods at Ever and glances at me, holding up his hands. “Whoa, whoa. Don’t knock me over.”

Ohhhhh. Right. The guy I crashed into that first day. “You’re safe for now.” I flick water at him. “But I can’t make any promises outside of these walls.”

“Oh good, you’ve met. This is Eli. We went to the same elementary school and we’re best friends.”