Hidden (House of Night #10)(25)

"Usually, I'd say, wherever you go, I go, handsome," Aphrodite said. "But I need a little Z time, so I'm gonna go with her to talk to Thanatos. How 'bout I meet you at the pyre afterward?"

Her words surprised me, and I thought about the fact that, except for Shaylin earlier that day, I hadn't really talked to anyone since the reveal ritual. The bus ride back with Dragon's body had been silent and difficult. Then there had been the fire, the dead cats, and-thankfully-sleep, though not enough of it. All of that meant no one had backed me into a corner about Aurox. Was Aphrodite getting ready to? I glanced at her. She'd tiptoed and was giving Darius a kiss. She looked like she always did-crazy about her Warrior and kinda bitchy about everything else.

"I'm gonna go with Z, too," Stevie Rae's voice broke into my neurotic study of Aphrodite. "When we get done talkin' to Thanatos I'll be out by the funeral pyre. You're gonna be needin' some serious grounding there, and earth is the right element for that." She gave Rephaim a quick kiss. "Will you meet me out there?"

"I will." He kissed her back, touching her cheek gently. Then he glanced at me. "If no one has an objection, I would like to patrol around the wall of the school, especially the eastern wall. If Neferet's threads of Darkness are slithering around we need to know about it."

"That sounds like a good idea. You guys okay with that?" I asked, looking to Stark and Darius for input. The two Warriors nodded. "Okay, great." Then I turned my attention to Stevie Rae. "I think invoking your element is a really good idea, too, Stevie Rae. Damien, Shaunee, and Erin-you guys keep your elements close. If they can help strengthen or support, call on them. Just don't be totally obvious and..." My words trailed off as I fully realized what I was saying. "No. That's wrong. If you need to use your element do be obvious."

"I get your point, Z," Damien said. "It's about time the House of Night is aware that there are prodigious forces of good working on our side against all that Darkness."

"Prodigious means real big," Stevie Rae translated.

"We know what it means," Kramisha said.

"I didn't," Shaunee said.

"Me, neither," Erin said.

I wanted to grin at the Twins and say it was nice to have them making twin-like comments, but as soon as Erin had spoken she'd blushed bright pink and turned away from Shaunee, who was looking super uncomfortable, so I gave up-temporarily-and made a mental note to light a red and blue candle for the two of them and ask Nyx to give them some extra help. If I could find the time. Hell, if Nyx could find the time.

I stifled a sigh and kept talking. "Okay, good. So, separate into groups. Go do normal things-like get some study books and go to the library."

"That's not my normal," I heard Johnny B mutter, and a bunch of the kids around him laughed.

I liked the sound of their laughter. It was normal.

"Then go grab a basketball or something boy-like in the field house," I said, not able to not grin at them.

"I'm goin' to the cafeteria. The kitchen at the tunnels looks like locusts been through it. Z, we need to make a run to the grocery before we head back there," Kramisha said.

"Yeah, well, that's normal. Go ahead. Anyone who didn't get to eat before we left go with her. And, guys, spread out. Don't just eat in clumps. Talk to the other kids," I said.

The fledglings made noises of agreement and organized themselves, breaking into little groups around Darius, the Twins, Damien, and Kramisha. Rephaim headed off by himself. I watched his back for a little while, wondering if he'd ever really fit in, and if he didn't what that would do to his relationship with Stevie Rae. I glanced at her. She was gazing after Rephaim, too, with a look of total adoration. I chewed my lip and continued to worry.

"You okay, Z?" Stark's voice was pitched low, and he put his arm around my shoulders.

"Yeah," I said, leaning into him for a moment. "I'm just obsessively worrying, as per usual."

He squeezed me. "That's cool, as long as you don't start bawling. The whole snot cry thing you do is seriously unattractive."

I punched him playfully. "I never cry."

"Oh, yeah, that's right, and you never snot, either," he said, smiling his cocky, cute grin at me.

"I know! Amazing, right?" I teased.

"Riiiight." He drew the word out and kissed me on the top of my head.

"Hey," I said, still nestled safely in his arms. "Would you go to the stables and give Lenobia a hand? I'm going to meet with Thanatos, then I'll come to the stables and find you."

He hesitated for just a moment and I felt his arms tighten around me. Stark didn't like to separate from me, especially when crazy stuff was going on, but he nodded, said a quick, "I'll be there, watching for you." Then he kissed my forehead, let me go, and started off toward the stables. I shivered, chilled after the warmth of his touch. The other kids began to drift away in their groups, with Stevie Rae and Aphrodite hanging back with me.

"I'm going with you two, but wait a sec. First I'm gonna give my mom a call. She needs to know Neferet isn't just full of bullshit, but full of danger."

"Do you think she'll listen to you?" I asked.

"Absolutely not," she said without hesitation. "But I'm gonna try anyway."