Page 86 of Stealing Embers
“You too, man.” Cutting a glance at Steel, I notice he’s retracted his legs and is sitting straighter.
Interesting. This is someone Steel either respects or wants to impress.
Deacon crosses his arms over his chest, making his biceps grow to the size of tree trunks. It’s impossible not to notice.
One look at Sable proves I’m not the only one who’s taken note. There’s a slight flush to her cheeks. Blinking rapidly, she clears her throat and takes her seat once again.
I suppress a snicker.
“The students just arrived, so I haven’t updated them yet.”
“Does Steel really need to be here? This truly doesn’t have much to do with him.” I slouch in my seat like a petulant child. When did I turn into this person?
“I would have thought considering your relationship, you’d want him here.”
“Excuse me?”
Oh no, this rumor better not have spread to the faculty as well.
“Now that you two are an item, I mean.”
“Steel,” I shriek before launching myself at him. I’m going to scratch his eyeballs out with my blunt nails and watch rivers of blood stream down his face.
But I never get close enough to claw at him. I’m barely on my feet before I’m lifted off them and carried across the room. I’m deposited on the ground next to Deacon, his giant body a wall of flesh between me and my prey.
“What’s going on?” Sable is on her feet. The question is directed at Steel.
He shrugs. “Hormones?”
“You’re dead!”
Deacon holds one tree trunk arm out in front of me, thwarting my attack yet again.
Scanning the room, I spot a purple geode sitting on Sable’s desk. It’s on top of a stack of papers and roughly the size of a softball.
Snatching it up, I chuck it at Steel’s head. He palms it out of the air right before it connects with his nose.
Pity. He could use a facial flaw to deflate that giant ego of his.
“Emberly!” Sable’s gasp jolts me back into reality. “What has gotten into you?”
Deacon turns his head and lifts a dark eyebrow. “Nice arm.”
I point an accusatory finger at Steel. “The entire academy thinks we’re dating.”
“And you’re not?” Sable asks.
I throw my arms in the air, my body vibrating in fury. “Why would people believe that? What about Nova?”
“Nova?” Steel perks up. “What does this have to do with her?” He looks genuinely perplexed.
“Because you’re withher, not me.”
Steel purses his lips like he just sucked on a lemon. “Nova and I aren’t dating. She’s just a friend.”
My body freezes as I wrack my brain, trying to remember if anyone ever explicitly told me they were together. I never sought clarification. Had I assumed the nature of Steel and Nova’s relationship this whole time? I shake my head. I couldn’t have invented it all. I’d bet my golden wings that Nova’s feelings for Steel go deeper than friendship. Steel doesn’t strike me as clueless. I must be missing some pieces of the story.
Deacon steps in front of me again. His large body blocks my view of Steel and snaps me out of it.