Page 112 of Hidden

“Then what’s the problem?”

“I don’t know what I want to do with the rest of my life.” I didn’t even know what wasexpectedof me for the rest of my life. The others… did they even choose their own path, or was it decided for them?

And, as much as it shamed me to admit, being a research scientist didn’t seem so enticing anymore. I’d never be able to relax. Not with Damen dodging bullets every day and walking into haunted crime scenes with no one except Kasai for company.

Who would protect him? I couldn’t leave Damen’s life in Norman’s hands. I might as well send Damen off to his death. Then I’d die too.

So really, this was all about self-preservation.

“Poppycock!” Mr. Weaver was still in the corner, but strangely invested in our conversation. He was no longer paying attention to the books at all. “How can you not know what you want to do? You’re almost sixteen already.”

“I’m nineteen.” I frowned at him.

“Ignore whatever Caleb is saying.Mostpeople don’t know what they want to do at your age.” Ms. Protean finished a row and turned her work to begin the next, the shimmery white yarn pulled my attention as her words sunk into me.

“Did you?” Her admission emboldened me, and my racing heart calmed. Did she also go through this?

She nodded, pausing her actions briefly as she held my gaze, and my hopes quashed as my heart sank. “I knew what I wanted to do by the time I was five. But I’m not normal. Do you want to wait out the semester, or take a break and regain your bearings?”

“There’s a lot going on in my personal life…” I bit my lip. “And I heard the school is strict with dropouts. What if they won’t let me come back?”

Ms. Protean let out a low breath and set down her project on her desk. “First of all, I’m not a moron. I know exactly what you are to the Abernathy family—”

Caleb perked up. “Really? What’s that?”

“—and should you decide to take a break, you would still be allowed to re-enroll next semester.” She nodded. “Dean Abernathy would be a fool to pass on the opportunity to haveallof the Xing graduate from his school.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Bianca

Drown

The room grew colder, and I almost forgot to breathe under the weight of her heavy stare. “What?”

This was bad. How did she know about me? Literally the whole point of being married to Bryce was to prevent this from happening.

“Pay attention. Don’t let him leave,” Ms. Protean said suddenly, her eyes flickering toward her bookshelves.

“But how—” I asked, glancing at Mr. Weaver. His skin had grown even paler—even for a ghost—and he’d frozen, mid-hover, and his wide-eyes were trained on me. But as our gazes locked, his appearance began to fade.

“Just tell him he needs to stay,” Ms. Protean instructed.

My heart was thundering in my chest as panic raced through me, and it was quite possible I might faint. So instead of questioning her, I just reacted to her words. “Mr. Weaver, stay here.”

Why did she want him to stay? This would be much easier if I didn’t have to act as a mediator.

With that thought, he rematerialized. His shadowy form was more solid than before. And now there was no question Ms. Protean could see him as she glowered in his direction. “Just where did you think you were going?” Her tone was accusing.

“I cannot believe Gregory hasn’t told me!” He pointed at her, disbelief still thick on his wrinkled face. His eyes flashed dangerously. “And stop telling her what to do. I didn’t tell you these things for you to use them against me.”

“Don’t assume anything just yet.” She looked toward me, resting her chin on her folded hands. “Tell him he can’t talk to Gregory about this without your permission.”

“Um…” I wasn’t certain that was a good idea. Mr. Weaver was shaking with anger.

“Or does Gregory already know?” she asked, unconcerned by the man’s fury.

I shrugged, my thoughts still muddled and hysteria still knotted in the base of my throat. As far as I knew, he didn’t know anything about me. But then again, the boys never told me much of their interactions with Dr. Stephens.