Page 4

“How did this even happen in the first place?” Joe shook his head at Nadael.

I cringed, wanting to sink into the chair and disappear.

I didn’t like the current attention I had on me inside Nadael’s office.

It reminded me too much of the times Joe had to pick me up from the head teacher’s office in primary school because I was either bullied or Miss.

Pollin was worried over my fascination with demons and angels.

“I assure you, I did not mean to—” Eden said but silenced herself when Joe looked her way, and she reddened.

Something thickened the air between them as Joe never dropped his gaze, leaving Nadael to clear her throat and gain his attention back to her.

“The dorms at Celestia typically accommodate two or four individuals per room within their designated ranking sector,” she stated, resembling every headteacher I had encountered in my life, except for her midnight blue robe cinched at her waist and a gold belt.

Her silver-white hair was slicked back into a low bun, and her office matched the color scheme of her clothes.

Blue, white and minimalistic. “Room 104 was listed as not having a fourth roommate, which—” She glanced in Eden’s direction.

“Eden should have known it was occupied by three other boys .”

Eden bowed her head in shame, and I instantly felt sorry for her.

I had made such a bother of it as soon as I left the dorm that she didn’t have the chance to sort it out herself.

Instead, I rushed to call Joe. Like I always did for everything.

I sought him out to fix any inconvenience I ever had.

It was wrong because I was so heavily dependent on him.

And it only took Joe minutes, if that, to come back.

Just as he said he would. He didn’t even need to use that old car of his anymore.

The angels and Angelic Council had their own ways of transport.

Wings, yes, but secret passageways through paintings were their preference.

More... discreet. And now that Joe was working with the Council, he didn’t need to act normal for my sake.

“Is there any other room she can stay in?” That was Joe.

Nadael pursed her pale pink lips in thought. “There should be a few spare rooms in the south wing of Celestia where Guardians stay. We can sort it out straight away for her, so she doesn’t have to wait around.”

Joe’s sigh sounded relieved. When I turned to look at him, his smile was full of encouragement, and for some reason, it didn’t settle right with me. It was the same smile he had given me for years, where, deep down, he didn’t know what to do with me half the time.

Mr. Martin, I don’t know what to tell you. She is scaring half the other children with her conversations about... demonic beings?

I know, I know. I’m so sorry; she is just a little misguided—

Misguided or not, that is hardly an appropriate conversation for a grownup to give to a six-year-old. I would hate to have to take matters into my own hands, Mr. Martin.

I blinked out of that memory, trying to forget the expression Joe had on his face. He was still struggling to adapt to a world involving a human kid, and despite how amazing he was at playing the doting single father, I still made things difficult for him.

“If you’d like, I can take both of you to see the new dorm—”

“No,” I cut Nadael off. The entire room went quiet.

Nadael opened her mouth, and silver brows raised while Joe’s startled gaze burnt into the side of my face.

“I mean that—” I licked my lips, straightened myself against the chair and offered her a polite smile.

“Moving won’t be necessary. I can stay in room 104. ”

“What?” Both Joe and Nadael said at once.

“Grace,” Nadael choked out a surprised laugh.

“The reason you are here in my office is to change rooms. The Angelic Council would not be on board if they heard you were sharing the same room with three other men. It’s—it’s—” She seemed at a loss now, her tanned skin darkening into a deep shade of red.

I shrugged. “We all have separate bedrooms. And who is to say it wouldn’t be the same if I shared with girls instead?”

Nadael’s eyes widened.

“Grace,” Joe said as a warning.

“Grace,” Nadael sighed. “You should know that regardless of whether one is an Ascendant or not, their emotions can get the better of them.”

I was aware. An Ascendant Healer could have the ability to heal someone with their own touch, but that didn’t mean they didn’t breathe, dream, and think the same as any other indecent human. Hell, they were still susceptible to becoming corrupted souls.

“I’m sure my new roommates are good people.

” I lied. I could do without having to live with the guy I kicked between the legs, but I didn’t want to say that.

I was taught from a young age to give someone the benefit of the doubt, and besides, I wanted to prove something to Joe, no matter how stupid it might be.

Nadael opened her mouth to speak, but Eden got there before her.

“They are,” she said; the smile she had given me when we first met flickered across her lips once again. “Hunter Cain is an excellent Warrior, ranking at the top of the class alongside Silas Dunn.”

Hunter Cain.

That is what Brandon and Silas were saying. Cain.

I’m assaulted by the image of grey eyes staring down at me, then. Eyes that sparked something restless inside of me and a wave of unease.

“True,” Nadael murmured, once again in thought, but my mind was now elsewhere, specifically on Hunter.

Ugh!

“Wait, wait, wait.” Joe shook his head before facing me. He said in a quieter voice, “Grace, less than two hours ago, you called me in hysterics, wanting to change rooms. What’s changed now?”

The fact that you look at me like I am still this naive little girl who needs you.

But you do still need him , my mind whispered.

“I was just thrown off balance.” I grabbed his hand and squeezed it gently. “You know what I’m like in new situations.” I chuckled, hating how the lie sounded on my tongue. “I’m sorry I created such a fuss out of nothing.”

Joe glanced down at our hands and frowned. Sighing, he shook his head and ran a hand through his short hair. “I don’t think I’ve ever worried over someone like I do with you.”

I know. “ I’ll be fine this time. I promise no more panicked calls from me.”

He smiled, but the worry was still evident in his eyes. I wanted to erase that from him, but all I seemed to do was cause more of it.

“Well then, if that is settled,” Nadael blew out a breath and smiled tightly. “You can stay with Eden for the night, and tomorrow evening, you can unpack at your new... dorm .”

I frowned. “Why can’t I move in today?”

Nadael blinked her crystal blue eyes at me as if the question surprised her.

She looked sideways at Eden before saying, “I think it is best you settle somewhere else for the night after the surprise you and the boys received. Besides, tonight happens to be one of the days when the older Ascendants go out into the forests of Celestia and relax with one another, marking the end of summer. It’s an excellent way to make friends and treat yourself to some snacks.

I highly encourage you to attend it yourself. ”

A party. That’s what she meant. One where I would feel like the odd one out of the bunch because, at the end of that day, that’s what I was in an Ascendant’s eye.

I faked a smile. Something I had mastered for years and excelled at. “Sure. I’ll think about it.”