Page 64 of Rebellious Royals

But when we were released from math, he hopped over to Aspen's shoulder again to make sure she was safe. I both loved and hated that, yet I wasn't ready for them to go either. Too much was happening too fast, and I'd gotten a little too used to not having to be alone anymore.

"Asp..." I said, making her pause.

She turned back with a smile. "Hm?"

I had to remind myself I couldn't just kiss her. I wanted to, though. So badly. Or even to hold her hand! Having to wait a year before we could be open about our relationship felt like a whole-ass eternity, but squeezing her arm would have to do.

"Take care of my bird," I said lamely.

Her eyes scanned my face, but she nodded. And for a moment, neither of us moved. We'd shared something, and while it wasn't anything most could call "big," it felt like it should be. Like itmeantmore than anything I'd done before. Then she lifted her hand in a wave. I did the same. Wehadto go.

Turning away made the smile finally fall from my face. The memories of our very long and very amazing shower kept cycling through my mind, but I wanted more with her. More time, more conversation, more kisses, and more of anything else she'd give me. For some reason, walking away from her felt harder than usual, even though I knew I'd see her again at lunch.

"Things that bad?" A guy moved beside me, making me jump.

I looked over to find Pascal and let out a sigh of relief. I'd been so distracted, some asshole could've jumped me and I would've been caught off guard. I needed to get my head on straight!

"Sorry, I was distracted," I admitted.

"And look like you want to rip someone's head off," he said, but his smile made it clear that was supposed to be a joke. "But no, seriously..." And he leaned closer to lower his voice. "Is Hawke ok?"

"What? Yeah!" Then I realized what he really meant. "You mean because you saw him?"

"Yeah," he mumbled. "And because you look like you're dealing with some shit."

Which made me laugh once. "Pascal, you made a promise. You weren't forced to make it, and he knows that. Is he worried about it? I'm sure, but no one has told me anything else. I don't see him until next period."

Pascal nodded his head as if thinking. "Ok, so what's bothering you?"

I glanced over, offering him a little smile. "If I said 'none of your business,' would you take it wrong?"

"Nope," he assured me, popping the P to make the point.

"Good, because it's none of your business."

That made him grin. "Does it have something to do with Jack not being on your shoulder?"

Slowly, I nodded. "Yeah, he's with Aspen because - "

The sound of a girl's scream cut me off. Both mine and Pascal's heads whipped over in the direction of the sound, but it cut off too fast. Still, a swell of worried murmurs washed over the student body, flowing towards us like a wave. It all but confirmed which direction that had come from.

"What was..." Pascal tried.

But Poppy Hawthorne's voice pierced the halls. "Get your hands off her!"

Immediately, the pair of us were running. Not that we moved fast with the bodies packed together, but we both wove through them the best we could. I twisted, he shouldered people out of the way, and we were making progress, but the girl screamed again. This time, hers wasn't the only one. A man's voice roared, sounding pissed.

I rounded the corner and ducked into a hall I didn't normally use. Pascal was right on my heels. Up ahead, I saw a guy slam a dark-haired girl against the wall. She hit hard enough to make people back up, which was what allowed me to see. A split-second later, Poppy rushed in to grab the guy. No one else was helping!

The man whipped his hand back, pushing magic at Poppy, and all hell broke loose. I threw shadows that way, hoping to stop whatever conjuration he'd just thrown. Poppy didn't wait to be saved, though. She put both hands together like some anime action hero, and shoved back.

Green light flared as the magics collided. My shadows turned into a bear and moved to block the girl being attacked. Oh shit, that was Nevaeh! Pascal rushed in, grabbing the guy and slinging him around, but this guy wasn't going to go down easily. He swung, clearly intending to punch Pascal in the face.

So I punched him first. My hand caught him right at the temple, ringing his bell. The asshole stumbled, falling onto his hand and knees - then thrust magic at me. It was pale, but green, and when it washed over me, it felt warm. That was Summer magic, but this idiot had clearly forgotten seasonal magicfueledme. It didn't hurt me.

"Stop!" I commanded, flipping a glob of shadows at him with the hope I could prevent him from casting anything else. Er, conjuring. Whatever!

The blackness streaked over to slam down on his hands. Like heavy mittens, they encased everything up to his wrists. Pascal saw, and definitely avoided my shadow magic, but he refused to let the guy go.