Page 112 of First Ritual
“You have to tell me what’s going on.” Rooke burst into my room. We’d only managed to speak briefly after the mission announcement. Just long enough for me to thank her for the divination journey she’d feel terrible about.
“Yeah, you’ll need to speak with Sven at some point,” I answered, packing my freshly washed quipu into my duffel in preparation for moving to my esteemed quarters.
“I have. We’re dating. He said we had to or you’d die.”
I snorted. “My life is just fine. If you don’t want to date him, then absolutely don’t feel pressured to.”
Rooke blew out a breath. “My head didn’t have a logical excuse against a trial relationship with Sven. My libido won out.”
“No way. That’s a first when it comes to the quad, right?”
“It is. Unexplored ground. I figure this is the perfect way to test things out.”
Probably was.
Rooke flopped on my bed. “Is your life really in danger, though? Please tell me the truth. I didn’t mind you keeping things to yourself, but now I’m aware of everything…”
I settled the last braid into the bag, the demon braid, then joined her on the bed. “The guys seem to think so. Wild’s parents want him to have a perfect match.”
“The Astars?”
“Sure. You know of them?”
“The Astars are who everyone wants to be. They can’t want to kill you, especially not after seeing how frantic Wild was when you escaped through that sulfur portal and he couldn’t follow. They’re, like, charitable and stuff. You must have them mixed up with someone else.”
Humans had the same hang-up—the thing where they believed everything they saw online about a person they’d never met. “They’re not all they appear to be, cuz. They’ve voiced their displeasure after certain events.”
“The orgy?” Rooke asked. Her tone was off.
“That’s the one. Hey, the rumors are flying everywhere at the moment. Are you okay with what’s being said?”
A beat went by. “I wish I could brush them off like you do. It’s one thing I love about you. Being the center of gossip just reminds me of when the whole coven was shunning me over the drug thing. I get this weird pressure on my chest and overthink everything.”
I found her hand and held it tight. “You were helping me at the lake. You have good intentions, a level head, and you can handle Sven like no one else. You rock at divination, have the coolest magic quirks, and in an environment where everyone wears the same thing, you still managed to find your way to purple hair and tie-dye. You’re incredible, Rooke, and if you know what you did and why you did it, whether or not you’d do it again, then focus on that to silence others’ opinions. Their opinions mean fuck all, and the gossip will only last a week. And in all honesty, if you want to have an orgy by the lake, then you’re a fucking adult and can do it.”
“Thank you. I’ll use that to recenter.”
“I wouldn’t mind a recentering session if you’re game? After you help me move to my new room?”
She grinned. “Sure. And you aren’t in a room anymore. You’re in quarters.”
I grimaced. “Yeah, I wish they would’ve put me in proven rooms.”
“Why?” My cousin stopped midway to picking up my single bag and blanched. “I just realized you’re super powerful all over again.” She straightened. “Everyone was so shocked. I mean, not that we all didn’t notice you picked up Corentin’s sneak attack. And you know your shit in apothecary. But Bronte, shit. You’re in esteemed quarters at twenty-one.”
“I had no idea my battle affinity was strongest.” I lifted a shoulder. “I was surprised too.”
“I overheard Riva telling Blade that the testing vial exploded. Is that true?”
I nodded. “Yeah, not sure what happened there.”
She leaned closer. “You don’t think it’s to do with the thing with Wild or your block?”
That hadn’t occurred to me. A lot hadn’t occurred to me today.
Knock, knock.
We both glanced at Bedwyr lingering in the doorway.