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She could barely meet his eyes before she had to look away again, and she was thankful for the unending dialogue from the girls that kept her from being able to say anything. Instead, she mustered the most genuine smile she could offer, hoping it didn’t look as skittish as she felt, and quietly excused herself.

She only just managed to make it up the stairs without looking over her shoulder, and she determinedly ignored the heated stare she felt branding her with every step.

“What do youmean, you almost kissed Kaiden?” D.C. all but shrieked later that night after Alex had showered off the jungle grime, checked in with Niyx to let him know she was safe and hear his promises that he was too, and donned her comfiest pyjamas.

“I didn’t almost kiss him,” Alex corrected, sitting cross-legged on D.C.’s bed and facing her roommate. “He almost kissed me.”

“Semantics.” D.C. gave an impatient wave of her hand. “Yousowould have kissed him back. Jordan told me you’ve liked him for ages.”

“Jordan has a big mouth,” Alex grumbled.

“Aha! You admit it!”

“It’s not like it’s a secret, Dix,” Alex said. However, until now she’d never spoken with her closest girlfriend about Kaiden, whichwaskind of telling. “But it’s also not exactly at the top of my priorities right now.”

“It should be,” D.C. said, passing a bottle of nail polish to Alex. “You deserve to have something nice happen in your life for a change. Something exciting.”

Alex frowned. “I have lots of nice things in my life. And way more excitement than I need.”

“You know what I mean,” was D.C.’s dismissive reply.

“Well, anyway, it’s not going to happen again,” Alex said, starting on her nails. They were using her favourite polish—one that went on clear but changed colour depending on the wearer’s mood.

“What? Why not?”

“Because, it can’t,” Alex answered. “For so many reasons.”

If they’d been standing, Alex was certain D.C. would have stomped her foot.

“Like?”

“Time, for one,” Alex said. “I don’t have room for more relationships in my life right now, let alone a boyfriend.”

“So youdowant a relationship with him? I knew it!”

Alex glanced up briefly. “Dix, please, at least try to stay focused.”

With a sheepish smile, D.C. said, “Sorry. But can you blame me? We’re talking aboutKaiden Jameshere. The guy is the stuff of fantasies. If I wasn’t so into Jordan, I’d be swooning right along with you.”

“I am notswooning,” Alex spluttered.

“You should be,” D.C. said, with a soft sigh. “He’s so dreamy.”

Choosing not to respond to that for the sake of her sanity, Alex only said, “It also can’t happen because if Aven finds out, he could make Kaiden a target.”And learn about his gift in the process, Alex added mentally, her breath hitching at the thought. Atboththoughts.

“We’realltargets, Alex,” D.C. reminded her, if gently. “Being close to you is worth the risk, as I’m sure Kaiden would agree.”

Alex didn’t concede the point. Instead, she said, “I also have to spend a lot of class time with him.” A lot more than D.C. knew about come Monday and their joint lessons with Athora—which was another reason for her caution. “I don’t want things to become… awkward between us.”

“More awkward than an almost-kiss hanging over both your heads? ’Cause I can see how that’s not going to be uncomfortableat all.”

D.C.’s sarcasm, while unwelcome, was nevertheless valid.

“It just can’t happen,” Alex finished lamely. “Not right now.”

“But youlikehim,” D.C. said, sounding more miserable than Alex felt.

Alex didn’t say anything. Confirmation or contradiction—there wasn’t any point. One would be a lie. The other would only make things harder.