Page 85 of Stealing Embers
“What?” I squeak.
“Personally, I think it’s that sparkly vampire dude’s fault. That relationship was messed up. But for some reason chicks got it in their heads that codependency was hot.”
Oh no. No no no no! That is the last thing I want circulating this academy.
“Real smooth, Sterling.” Greyson appears next to his brother. The look he lobs Sterling is full of warning. “Stop trying to regale her with yourTwilightepiphanies. Nobody wants to hear them.”
I halt in the middle of the busy hallway. My friends pause a few steps ahead and turn back when they realize I’m not keeping pace with them.
“I am not dating Steel Durand!” I shout.
A blanket of silence presses down on the hallway. Heat blisters my cheeks.
Ash, Greyson, and Sterling regard me with identical grimaces.
That was stupid. They know I’m not dating Steel. My mini-tantrum will likely create even more buzz among my classmates.
“Let’s go. We have a date,” a voice rumbles from behind.
“Excuse me?”
Steel rounds me and then plants himself in my path. One eyebrow is arched and there is the smallest hint of a smirk dancing across his lips.
There’s no way he didn’t hear my outburst. And he finds it . . . funny?
This is so far from funny.
“In Sable’s office. Did you forget?”
Shoot, I had forgotten. Sable caught up with me yesterday and said we’d be meeting with her and Deacon this morning. I didn’t realize Steel would be there though.
“Shall we?” Steel motions me forward. I feel the gazes of my classmates as they scurry past us.
Straightening my spine, I power-walk all the way to Sable’s office, leaving Ash and the twins in the hallway and not bothering to check if Steel is following—I already know he is.
When I reach her office door, Steel’s hand shoots out and grasps the knob, turning and opening it before I have a chance to do it for myself. I stop myself from thanking him and stomp right on by, flopping into the first of the two chairs in front of her desk.
Steel shuts the door and calmly takes the seat to my right. Sable looks up, her eyes volleying between the two of us for several seconds before she speaks.
“Good, you’re both here.” There’s an open book in front of her that she closes and sets to the side.
“Why is he here?” I hitch a thumb in Steel’s direction. He quirks a half-smile and settles into his seat, legs stretched out to the side of Sable’s desk, arms on the rests on either side of him. One would think he’s a spoiled prince lounging on a throne instead of seated in a cracked leather side chair. Smug pleasure practically radiates off him.
Sable cocks her head and folds her hands in front of her before leaning back. “There are several reasons he is part of this meeting. A very important one being he was the only witness we have to the incident a few nights ago.”
The door clicks open to reveal a giant of a man, clad in dark jeans and a black biker jacket. He’s wearing aviator glasses and moves like a predator—all stealth and strength. He must be somewhere around six-seven, which is tall even by Nephilim standards.
His hair is shorn on the sides and a few inches longer on top. The cut reminds me of a more conservative version of Steel’s.
I’ve seen this man before. At Anita’s, the day the Nephilim found me.
Sable rises from her seat and crosses the office and extends her hand to the giant. “Deacon, thanks for joining us.”
Ah, right. Deacon.
After returning her greeting, Deacon removes his glasses and turns toward me. Light blue eyes consider me before his icy gaze narrows. Something about his inspection chills me.
“I remember this one. She was a runner.” Refocusing his attention on Steel, he notches his chin in a standard guy greeting. “Steel, nice to see you again.”