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The morning passed too quickly, and then it was time for her to go.

She stood in the entrance hall, unable to take her eyes off Darien as he fastened the strap on her watch.

Well, technically it wasn’t her watch. But he’d insisted she borrow it.

“Where did you get this?” she asked. The watch was discreet. The silicone band was blush-pink, the face decorated with flower designs.

“It’s one of Ivy’s. Turn the face clockwise, and you’ll be able to talk to me.” With the strap now fastened, his fingers circled her wrist, thumb pressing lightly on the pulse on the inside of it.

When he bent to kiss her, she got greedy. She fisted his hair, pulling him down further, closer. He spread her lips with his tongue, the hand that was still gripping her wrist moving to the small of her back. He tugged her close, his stomach bumping hers.

“We’re going to be late,” she managed to say.

“How about you skip class?” he mumbled against her mouth.

“How about you stop being a bad influence?” She had a lot of studying to catch up on after all those distractions from the imperator.

Darien chuckled. “You’re the bad influence.” With reluctance, he let go of her and bopped her on the nose with a finger. “The others will be taking shifts watching the school. You’ll be safe, I promise. And if anything happens…” He held up her wrist. “You contact me. Okay?”

She nodded. “Okay.”

The rubber chicken howled again. Bandit had it by the neck in the kitchen. He was whipping it back and forth, rubber feet flapping.

Darien tipped his head back and rolled his eyes. “Bandit!” he bellowed.

The yowls immediately tapered off. Bandit looked at him in question, chicken still trapped in his teeth.

“Cluckles is getting a time-out,” Darien said, pointing an accusing finger. “No more rubber chicken for the day.”

Loren listened for a reply, but if the Familiar responded, she didn’t hear it. His words were only for Darien.

And then Bandit trotted off, disappearing to the couches, by the looks of it, dropping the chicken on the way in a puddle of drool.

“What did he say?” Loren whispered.

“He said he’s glad to have you home.”

Loren tsked. “Yeah right.”

Darien tugged her away from the door and opened it. “I might’ve fudged his words a little in the past, but that was all him, I swear.”

She backed away from the door, nearly tripping over her feet. Her wide eyes flicked about the yard, quiet save a jasmine-scented breeze and the tinkling of windchimes. “Shouldn’t we be using Arthur’s car?”

“I’m not hiding anymore,” Darien said. “He wants you, he’ll have to get through me. I’m not standing by while he uses you like a puppet.”

Despite the surety of his words, her stomach dipped, her throat tightening with nerves. “He’s the imperator.” The most powerful person in Terra. “He could kill you.”

“Not if I kill him first.”

“Darien—”

“Stop worrying. I will protect you. Hiding from him won’t do anything.” He spanked her ass. “Now get in the car.”

She swallowed her fears and stepped out into the crisp morning air, skirt fluttering. “Love you, Bandit,” she called over her shoulder.

Darien followed. “He says he loves you too.” He shut the door.

“That one was so totally a lie,” Loren accused, clomping down the front steps.