Zodiac Academy 3: The Reckoning

I LEFT CARDINAL MAGIC feeling even more anxious about this Hell Week stuff than I’d been before it. Professor Orion’s teaching method left a lot to be desired. In our last high school back in Chicago I’d had this over-interested guidance counsellor called Mrs McGravy who had tried to smother me with warm and fuzzy feels. I remembered wishing for her to be an asshole instead. Now I was beginning to think I’d been wrong to want that. Mrs McGravy would have given me constructive advice about how to make it through Hell Week and bolstered my confidence in my own ability for good measure.

Orion publicly humiliated me, made me feel worthless and called me names before telling me straight to my face he fully expected me to fail. And I got the impression he actually wanted me to fail too. Not like the other students who he wanted to push into succeeding. With me and Darcy it came down to his allegiance to Darius and the other Heirs and at the end of the day he didn’t want us on the throne.

The freshmen all stuck together as we headed towards The Orb for lunch and it was kind of amusing to find that all of the cliques, House divides and social circles melted away into nothing as we were faced with a greater threat.

Every older student I saw was wearing one of those long, black robes and I guessed it was to make sure the freshmen stood out as easy targets in our uniforms.

I kept a shield of air magic raised around me as well as making sure I was protecting myself from Coercion too. It took a fair bit of concentration and we stayed silent as we walked. It was probably the least excited I’d ever been about food in my entire life.

“Your Majesties!” Geraldine called loudly the moment we entered The Orb and I turned to find her waving both of her arms above her head as she stood on a chair. In all honesty, she was one of the tallest girls I knew and it was completely unnecessary for her to raise herself up any higher to be seen over the crowd, but she seemed to like doing it.

I sagged in relief as we moved to join the A.S.S. to the left of the room with Diego and Sofia keeping close as we went.

“I saved your table for you,” Geraldine gushed as we approached. “It’s the darndest thing, but after all of your help with the Nymph attack, we’ve had over a hundred new members join the Almighty Sovereign Society!”

“Oh wow,” Darcy said, summoning some enthusiasm from somewhere even though I knew this fan group still made her as uncomfortable as it made me. 

They wanted us to rise up and take back our throne and despite the fact that I was becoming more and more tempted to challenge the asshole Heirs, I still didn’t have any intention to place a crown upon my head. So their faith in us was more than a little unwarranted. Still, in this particular situation, I’d gladly accept any help going and if the Ass Club could protect us while we ate our lunch then so be it.

Geraldine was wearing a black robe just like all of the older students and her friend Angelica smiled warmly as we came to sit at the table beside them.

Geraldine had already brought over a selection of sandwiches and bowls of french fries for us and I dropped into my seat with a groan of longing after missing breakfast.

I fell upon my food while listening with one ear to Geraldine rattling off the names of the newest members and occasionally offering out my hand to shake when one of them moved forward excitedly to meet us. I doubted I was really what any of them expected from a princess on my best day and I internally apologised to them for the fact that I wasn’t going to be distracted from filling my face while these introductions continued.

When I finally finished my fourth sandwich, I leaned back in my chair and started picking at an overflowing bowl of french fries. Diego was stewing over his missing hat, coming up with more and more pathetic ways to get it back while looking like he might start crying over it.

“Why don’t you just buy a new hat, dude?” I asked eventually.

Darcy kicked me beneath the table and I raised my eyebrow questioningly but apparently her warning had come too late. Diego dropped his head into his hands and started murmuring about his abuela knitting it before descending entirely into Spanish. Sofia tried to comfort him, offering me a look that said it was my fault and I rolled my eyes dramatically as I took a sip of my drink.

I quickly placed the coke back down on the table and glanced at the others. “Did someone want diet coke?” I asked, wondering whose drink I’d ended up with by accident. As much as I argued against Geraldine getting our food and drinks all the time, she insisted on doing it and never forgot our preferences so I doubted she would have made that mistake.

Before anyone could respond, Geraldine and Angelica burst into a fit of hysterical laughter, drawing our attention away from Diego’s display of self pity.

“I g-g-got you diet!” she cried, barely able to force the words out between her laughter.

“What?” I asked in confusion.

“The mayo in your sandwich was half fat too!” Angelica added, clinging to Geraldine as she wiped tears from beneath her eyes.

“Why?” I asked in confusion.

“H- h -hell week!” Geraldine spluttered through her laughter, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

My lips parted and I threw an extra dose of false outrage into my expression in response to the ridiculous prank, placing a hand over my heart. “How could you, Geraldine?” I gasped. “I thought we were friends!”

Her laughter turned to howling and it was actually kinda addictive, forcing a laugh from me as I exchanged an amused look with Darcy.

I almost didn’t notice a figure winding their way between the A.S.S. tables and I looked up at the guy from Terra House as he smiled down at me like we were best friends.

“Can I help you?” I asked with a frown, wondering why he was interrupting our conversation.

“I have a message for you,” he said brightly. I eyed his black robe suspiciously, reinforcing my shield as best I could.

“Okay…”

“Caleb says two minutes.”

“What?” I asked, glancing beyond him to the red couch where Caleb was perched on the arm of it beside the other Heirs who must have all appeared in The Orb while we ate.

The boy walked away having delivered his message and I was left locking eyes with Caleb across the room.

He smirked at me knowingly and a little wave of heat built in my core. He lifted his Atlas from his pocket and typed something on it. A moment later my own Atlas buzzed and I pulled it from my satchel.

Caleb:

Tick tock.

I glanced down at my half eaten french fries before catching Darcy’s eye.

“What?” she asked, reading my expression.

I offered her my Atlas to see the message and she frowned. I’d told her all about the lead up to Caleb and I hooking up in Acrux Manor and she clearly understood what he meant by his message.

“He’s not seriously expecting you to play that crazy game now is he?” she asked.

“What game?” Sofia asked curiously and even Diego peered between his fingers.

Darcy raised an eyebrow at me, asking my permission before she told them and I only hesitated a moment before nodding. There wasn’t much point in hiding it from them if it was something that might become a regular occurrence.

“She got Caleb to hunt her while we were at that party at the Acrux Manor. If he didn’t catch her within fifteen minutes then he couldn’t bite her,” Darcy explained.

“And you thought it was a good idea to do that with a Vampire?” Diego asked in disgust.

“Hey, less judgment dude,” I snapped. “I’m not the one sobbing over knitted goods.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that,” he muttered. It had seemed like he meant it like that to me though.

Caleb was still looking at me across the room and as I caught his eye, he tapped the watch on his wrist, reminding me that I was running out of time for my headstart.

I pushed my chair back and got to my feet suddenly.

“You’re going to play?” Darcy asked in surprise.

“Orion said I shouldn’t just accept getting bitten any more. If Caleb can’t catch me, he can’t bite me,” I reasoned as my heart rate picked up a notch.

“I don’t think this was what he had in mind…” Sofia frowned.

“Whatever. Caleb is the most powerful Vampire in Solaria. This is the best chance I’ve got to avoid a bite. And my headstart is going to run out if I don’t go now.”

“Class starts in ten minutes,” Darcy said half heartedly.

“Cover for me. I’ll be there!” I promised before turning and running for the exit.

I glanced back at the red couch in the centre of the room just before I ducked outside and found all four Heirs looking my way.

Caleb was saying something to the others with a smile playing around his lips. Max and Seth seemed mildly interested but Darius looked pretty damn pissed. As his heated gaze met with mine, my heart leapt a little at the anger I found there. I hadn’t spoken to him properly since we’d fought together against the Nymphs and I really wasn’t sure what I’d have to say anyway. In the moment, we’d been weirdly united. I’d saved his life and he’d saved mine. I’d even cried while he lay dying in my arms. But then Orion had appeared and healed him and the momentary insanity which had come over me, making me think I cared about him had gone in an instant. I only had to remember the way he’d tossed me into that pit to know all I needed to about him and who he was. And he was my enemy. The look he was giving me right then said he felt exactly the same.

I ducked out of The Orb and looked around quickly, wondering where the best place to hide would be. I didn’t have many options and I didn’t really have a good headstart either so I crossed the path and headed straight into Venus Library.

The librarian wasn’t at her desk as I entered and I hurriedly shot down the closest aisle, racing between texts on Fae biology before swinging left at the end.

I leapt onto one of the spiralling metal staircases which led to the upper levels, running up and up until I reached the fourth floor.

I darted along a narrow balcony which looked down over the rest of the library and glanced over the railing just as the doors opened and Caleb stepped inside.

My footsteps were ringing along the wrought iron walkway and he looked up instantly, his eyes locking with mine.

A devastating smile pulled at his lips as he spotted his prey and I couldn’t help but laugh as I kept running. I doubted I’d escape now but he still had to make it up to me without the aid of his Vampire gifts.

As he disappeared between the stacks, I found a ladder leading down a level and quickly descended.

Caleb’s footsteps rang out as he started running up the staircase I’d used to get to the top floor and I looked around, trying to find another way down. I tiptoed along the walkway, keeping my movements as quick as I could while trying to remain quiet and I found another staircase hidden between two shelves in the far corner.

I scrambled down to the bottom floor and sprinted between the shelves, aiming for the door again.

Before I made it half way, Caleb dropped down from above and landed in front of me, releasing his hold on the vines he’d magicked into existence to assist him in dropping four floors to catch me.

I skidded to a halt and he smiled widely as he stepped closer to me.

“Got ya.”

Before I could respond, Caleb shot forward, lifting me into his arms and propelling me through the library with his Vampire speed until we ended up inside one of the private study rooms at the back of the building.

I gasped in surprise as he kicked the door shut behind us and pushed me back against the wall before sinking his teeth into my neck.

His grip on my waist tightened to the point of discomfort and I tried to push him back a step but he held on tight, releasing a growl.

“Ow,” I protested irritably and he finally released me with a sheepish grin.

“Sorry, I’ve been running on empty since the fight with the Nymphs and I don’t wanna bite anyone else.”

“Orion thinks I should be putting more effort into fighting you off,” I said, touching the tender skin where his teeth had pierced my skin. “I’m thinking he has a point.”

Caleb stepped forward slowly, reaching out for me and I let him. His fingers brushed against my neck and his magic slid through the wound as he healed it.

He stayed there, his hand on my skin as he held my eye.

“Don’t look at me like that,” I muttered, trying to shake him off but he didn’t budge.

“Like what?”

“Like you didn’t take part in that whole shoving me in a pit bullshit right before the Nymph attack. Like we aren’t on two different sides of some fight I never asked to be in,” I spat, surprising myself with how angry I felt at him.

“We are on two different sides of it though,” he said and there was no apology in his voice, just acceptance. “But shit, Tory you don’t understand how freaking much I like playing this game with you. Ever since we got back from that party I’ve hardly been able to think about anything else. The feeling of you in my arms, the taste of your blood on my lips, the rush I get when you run from me…”

My pulse spiked in response to his words despite myself and as he drew a little closer to me, I didn’t push him back.

“You’re not even sorry, are you?” I breathed.

“Can’t be sorry for it. I’ve got responsibilities. To the other Heirs, my family, Solaria… I have to think of what’s best for all of them and if you take the throne then the Nymphs might just get the leg up they need to win this war. You have to know I can’t let that happen.” He hadn’t released me and I found I didn’t really want him to.

“I have a bit of a weakness for assholes,” I admitted slowly. “But I’m used to them lying about what they are. At least you own it.”

“I do,” Caleb said with a smirk, his hand travelling up my neck ever so slowly. “I’m an honest to god asshole. Do you want to keep playing with me, Tory?”

“Maybe,” I breathed because in that moment I didn’t even know anymore.

I should have been trying to keep away from him and his psycho friends but one way or another our lives all seemed to be destined to tangle up with each other’s. And at least Caleb wasn’t lying to me. He wasn’t offering me the world, but he was offering me freedom, at least in this. So maybe I could try keeping the two things separate, when we were alone we could forget about being an Heir and a lost princess. And outside of that, we could stay on opposite sides of this stupid feud. It seemed kinda like a recipe for disaster but maybe I wanted a little rebellion.

“I’ll take maybe.” Caleb leaned forward to kiss me and I didn’t make any move to stop him.

His mouth was hot and demanding against mine and the passion that burned between us sprang to life instantly, urging me on.

My heart thumped harder and his fingers twisted into my hair, tugging just enough to elicit a moan from my lips.

Before he could push me any further, I pressed him back. “I have to get to class,” I protested. “I can’t afford to miss lessons before my Elemental Trials.”

“No, we wouldn’t want you to fail The Reckoning, would we?” Caleb teased, moving his mouth across my jaw and working really damn hard to keep me here.

“I mean it,” I said on a laugh, pushing him back more firmly.

Caleb pouted at me, refusing to step back while he kept me caged in with his body.

“Come to Terra House tonight then,” he asked, his navy eyes sparkling with promises.

“I won’t be going anywhere tonight, there’s a curfew, remember?”

“Those rules don’t apply to me. Besides, I’ll keep you safe if you’re with me. You’ll just have to stay the whole night.”

I rolled my eyes at him. “I can keep myself safe, thanks. But now I’m going to be late-”

“If I run you to class will you come tonight?” he asked, his mouth slipping to my neck and sending shivers right through my spine.

“If you get me there on time, I’ll consider it,” I replied.

Caleb glanced at his watch then cursed, sweeping me into his arms before speeding back out of the tiny room.

I managed not to shriek like a nine year old on a roller coaster, but I did cling onto his blazer like my life depended on it as the world shot past us in a blur so intense I couldn’t concentrate on a single thing.

Caleb skidded to a halt right outside the Fire Arena locker rooms and placed me back on my feet before leaning close to speak in my ear.

“One minute to spare. I’ll expect you tonight, sweetheart.” He pressed his mouth to mine and my heart leapt a little at the fact that he’d done so in plain sight. I had no intention of being marked as his in front of the whole school and I pulled back quickly, looking around to make sure no one had seen us. Luckily, we were already so close to being late that everyone else had already headed inside so I was spared the drama.

“Don’t go getting ahead of yourself,” I warned as I headed into the girls’ locker room. “I only said I’d consider it.”

The door swung closed between us and I bit down on a smile as I headed in to get changed. I almost considered refusing to wear the flame resistant outfit required for the class, but I decided that today wasn’t the day for me to have that argument with Professor Pyro. I’d just have to accept the fact that I wouldn’t have the same level of control over my fire magic as I would without it. But I’d keep practicing without the outfit until I was confident enough to prove her wrong.

In the meantime I had to get through this class and hope she would just be pleased that I’d finally managed to get in a training session with Darius.

The thought of the Dragon Shifter set me on edge. But I’d known I’d have to face him some time. Hopefully there would be enough going on in class to ensure that that time wouldn’t have to be now. 

I jogged into the locker room and found Darcy and Sofia waiting for me, already dressed for the lesson. 

“Did he catch you?” Sofia asked with wide eyes.

“Yeah,” I sighed, though the memory of him kissing me took the sting out of the bite. Maybe Orion had a point about me starting to like it. I’d have to consider going for the throat punch next time.

“Well maybe it’s not worth playing his games if he’s just going to catch you anyway?” Darcy suggested as I started stripping out of my uniform.

“It gives me a shot at escaping,” I replied. “Besides… it’s pretty hot.”

“There it is,” Darcy said, rolling her eyes as Sofia laughed.

I smirked as I quickly changed into the fire proof outfit required for the class and we hurried outside. I plucked at the material irritably as we went. I was sure it was affecting my ability to shape my fire magic but Pyro just wouldn’t listen to me.

I tied my hair into a high ponytail and headed out into the Fire Arena keeping my focus on my sister and Sofia, not sparing a glance for the two Heirs who were lurking at the back of the assembled students.

We moved to join the other freshmen and Pyro tasked us with creating a ring of fire then shooting fireballs through it.

Sofia moved away to work with the lower powered members of the class while Darcy and I made sure we had a good amount of space around us before we started so that we didn’t end up accidentally hurting anyone.

We began to practice and my magic instantly started to go haywire, not listening to what I wanted from it and alternating between blazing out of control and sputtering away into wisps of smoke.

Darcy was in a similar position beside me and I sighed irritably as I tried to decide how best to overcome these issues without removing the fireproof outfit.

Professor Pyro approached us with a frown on her face and I prepared myself for another lecture on how we were failing to grasp the essence of the flames.

“Roxy managed a lot better than that in our session together, Professor,” Darius called before Pyro reached us and I glanced over at him in surprise.

After the quote he’d given for that article in The Celestial Times I’d presumed we were back to hating each other. But then everything else Gus Vulpecula had written was a load of shit so maybe I shouldn’t have paid much attention to the quote either.

My gaze skimmed over Darius as I tried to gauge his mood. He was in the process of coating his fists and arms in gloves made of fire and I couldn’t help but stare at the impressive display of magic.

“Well perhaps you’d like to assist her again for this class?” Pyro suggested.

I opened my mouth to protest but what could I really say?

“Of course, Professor,” he said, offering her a wide smile like he couldn’t think of anything better.

“And perhaps Mr Altair would help Darcy?” Pyro added, waving Caleb closer too.

He was looking my way but I ignored him, walking to meet Darius instead. There was no point in me trying to argue my way out of it and I wasn’t going to let him see that his company made me uncomfortable.

“Let’s see if your theory about that outfit has any merit to it then,” Darius said as I closed in on him. His gaze swept over my skin tight shirt and trousers and I resisted the urge to fold my arms over my chest. Something about the clingy material made me feel more exposed than I would have in something more revealing.

“At least if you agree with me, Pyro will have to listen,” I muttered.

“That’s where you’re going wrong, Roxy. You keep asking her to let you wear something else but Fae don’t ask permission to do what we want. Especially when we’re more powerful than the person saying no.”

“So you think I should just tell the teacher I don’t agree with her and do whatever the hell I want?” I asked, raising an eyebrow at him. No doubt he was hoping I would so that I’d get into trouble for it.

“I’m just telling you what I’d do,” he said with a shrug.

Before I could reply, he snatched my hand and his power slammed into my body like a tidal wave. I gasped as my own magic fought back instinctively, shoving him out so that his power could only dance around the edges of mine.

Darius grunted irritably. “You let me in last time,” he reminded me in a low voice. “Why did you trust me then and not now?”

I cleared my throat uncomfortably. “I didn’t trust you then either. I just had to push past my natural inclination to protect myself from sociopaths. You’ll have to give me a moment before I can easily do so again.”

The pressure of Darius’s power increased against mine and he tugged me a step closer to him. “Let me in, Roxy,” he breathed and for a moment it seemed like he was talking about more than our magic.

Why did we have to hold hands for this? My palm was tingling and it had nothing to do with magic and everything to do with the insanely attractive asshole in front of me. He shifted his thumb over the back of my hand, making heat dance beneath my skin and I was sure it was intentional. But I wasn’t going to let him throw me off my game. 

I looked up into his dark eyes and released a long breath as I removed the shields around my power.

His magic tumbled into mine with a shudder of ecstatic energy which filled me from the soles of my feet right through to my core. My back arched involuntarily and I shifted a little closer to him despite myself. Darius caught my other hand too, his gaze holding me captive as I adjusted to the feeling of his magic in me.

“Push back,” he commanded, his voice rough.

I was about to ask what he meant but his magic was so entangled with mine that I could feel what he wanted. Our power slid out of me like the pull of the tide and passed back into him through the point where our hands connected.

There wasn’t a moment of resistance as my magic tumbled into him but as I held his eye, I watched his pupils dilate with the rush of taking in my power.

I bit my lip as his grip on my hands tightened and he tugged me closer again, our chests almost brushing as I looked up at him.

“Stop power fucking her and start working on what Pyro wants,” Caleb called and I flinched, yanking my magic back again as I looked around at him and Darcy.

“Are you afraid I’m going to steal her attention from you, Cal?” Darius asked Caleb with the hint of a smile playing around his lips.

“Not likely,” Caleb replied dismissively but his eyes narrowed.

“I’m still here,” I reminded them irritably. “And neither of you are interesting enough to keep my attention for long so there’s no point in you getting your panties in a twist over it. Maybe we should just get on with this class?”

Darius smirked at Caleb tauntingly and I rolled my eyes at him.

“Well I’m happy enough to practice without help if you wanna leave me to it?” Darcy suggested, not-so-subtly trying to tug her hand out of Caleb’s grip.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart, I promise to be gentle with you,” he said, ignoring her attempts to break free.

My sister obviously had reservations about this activity and I couldn’t really blame her. She shot me a look which basically said she’d rather be pretty much anywhere else than holding Caleb’s hand and I glanced at Darius before raising an eyebrow at her as if to say ‘who’s got it worse?’. Darcy snorted a laugh and the two Heirs looked between us like they were trying to figure out what we’d just communicated to each other.

“Come on, Roxy, let’s see what you’ve got,” Darius said, releasing one of my hands so that I could cast with it.

He drew me away from Darcy and Caleb and I threw an apologetic look back at my sister as we walked across the sandy arena.

Darius was slowly pushing more and more of his magic into me as we walked and heat was building in my chest with the force of it.

I pulled on my hand, forcing him to stop walking when it seemed like he was going to drag me all the way across the arena to the shadows on the far side of it. I had no intention of being alone with him and this spot right in the centre of the arena had plenty of space for us to work in.

Darius smirked at me as he gave in and came to a stop. It was either that or release my hand which he didn’t seem to have any intention of doing.

“Okay, Roxy. Why don’t you make a motorbike for me again?” he asked. 

“Well I don’t think you really know anything about them so how could you correct me if I shape something wrong?” I asked dismissively. 

I didn’t really like that he’d discovered my love of bikes. It felt like I’d given him ammo to use against me and I had no intention of letting him find out anything else or even letting him see how much that passion meant to me.

“I know plenty about them,” he assured me. “Like how to ride them faster than anyone else I know.”

“Those are very big words for someone who doesn’t know a gasket from a gas tank.” I shrugged.

“Well how about, if you manage to make one with your fire magic, I’ll let you back up your talk with a race?” he suggested.

I hesitated. This was not a good idea. But… I really wanted to get back out on the road. I’d been missing the purr of an engine something chronic in the last few weeks and Darius’s collection of top of the range speed machines were oh so tempting.

“If I win, I get to keep the bike,” I said.

“You won’t win,” he replied dismissively.

“Then you won’t be afraid to agree to my terms.”

“Fine. What do I get when I win?” he asked.

I looked up at him, my mind whirling with anything at all I might be able to offer him. But what does an asshole who lives in a palace filled with gold even need?

“I’ll work on one of your bikes. Give it the mods you don’t think it needs and prove you wrong for a second time,” I offered.

“But if I’m right and it doesn’t need your so called modifications then I’m not ending up with much of a prize, am I?” he mused.

I rolled my eyes. “You’re not right but getting you to admit that is probably an impossible task so what do you want instead?”

Darius pushed his tongue into his cheek as he considered it, his gaze trailing over me in a way that made me shift my weight onto the other foot.

“I’ll think of something,” he assured me.

“Sure. Whatever you want. I’ll be winning anyway, so it doesn’t really matter,” I said with a shrug.

I turned away from him and pulled on his magic as I worked to create a bike out of fire.

As expected, my magic was going haywire with the stupid suit on and even with Darius’s help I really struggled to wrangle it under control. He even had to admit that the damn thing was causing me issues after fifteen minutes of struggling against it.

“You could just take it off,” he suggested as I managed to turn my latest attempt at a bike into a fireball which almost took out Marguerite’s eyebrows as she scowled our way.

“Not going to happen,” I replied dismissively. 

Pyro was looking rather unimpressed with my efforts and I had to bite my tongue against my irritation so I rolled my sleeves back and folded the hem of the shirt up to reveal my waist.

“I’m going to use both hands,” I said to Darius without looking him in the eye.

He didn’t need any further encouragement and stepped forward to grip my waist like he had before. This time I didn’t press my body to his though and instead focused on harnessing my magic in the way I wanted.

My frustration meant I threw more power at the task than I’d intended and I yanked on Darius’s magic too.

A full sized motorbike materialised in the flames before me and with a surge of triumph, I sent it tearing across the arena.

Pyro stopped what she was doing and actually applauded me and I grinned to myself as more than a few of my classmates joined in.

I started making the bike weave between the students as it did a circuit of the arena and Darius leaned close to my ear as he maintained his grip on me.

“Congratulations, Roxy. Looks like we’ve got a date Wednesday night then.”

I ignored the flutter in my chest as he called it a date because it absolutely didn’t take place. “Maybe I’ve already got plans Wednesday,” I said. 

“Yeah, you do. With me.”

He released his grip on my waist and my control over the magic faltered as the bike burst apart into a thousand flaming tendrils which burnt out quickly without anything to maintain them.

I turned to give Darius a response to that comment but he was already half way across the arena on his way to the locker rooms. The rest of the class were disbanding too and I rolled my shirt down again as I turned to look for Darcy.

She was walking towards me and I had to fight to school my expression before she arrived. From the few glances I’d cast her and Caleb’s way during the lesson, it didn’t look like they’d managed to power share at all.

My plans for Wednesday night had definitely not included spending any more time with Darius Acrux. But if I backed out now I’d be letting him win. And I really couldn’t live with doing that.