Page 121 of A Dusk Of Stars

I breathe a sigh of relief.

When the bell rings and I walk out the gym, I find him pushing himself off the wall he was leaned against, waiting with a scowl on his face.

“What the hell is going on?” he demands, making the students rushing past throw us these funny looks.

I glance around, more so that I can collect myself. “What is it exactly that’s confusing you?” I say in the lightest voice I can muster. I shrug. “It’s been months and I still haven’t even had my first shift. It’s time to move on.”

I move to walk away.

“None of that explains the way you’re treating me,” he says as he comes to block my way.

For a second, we just look at each other.

Then I take a deep breath. “Alright,” I say. “I guess I just see this as a good opportunity to move on in general.”

Surprise flashes through his eyes. Then he collects himself. “Really?” he drawls with suspicion in his voice.

“Yes.”

“And why’s that?”

I shrug. “Taking what you want in the moment, that’s what you said is part of being a shifter. Sometimes it just means letting go of things youdon’twant anymore.” And I keep looking at him, fighting not to show how upset this is all making me.

He takes a step closer and I take a step back, making his eyes narrow even more. “Come on, what’s really going on?” he asks, his gaze dragging down my body. “Everything about you seems off today.”

I fold my arms. “I just told you.”

“No,” he says with a forceful shake of his head. “I’ve had it with the hiding, Anna.” And he moves to take me by the arm, already leaning to take a whiff of me.

“No, don’t touch me,” I fail to stop myself from spitting out as I take a step back.

He freezes in place, his eyes rounding in more than surprise as he slowly lowers his hand. “No?” he echoes softly, looking at me as if in a haze.

“No,” I repeat firmly, taking another step back.

I watch his face flush and his chest start to heave. “You out to make a fool out of me, huh?” he demands a little breathlessly as he takes another step closer, though he doesn’t try to touch me. “Make me open up to you one day and discard me the next?”

“Fool?” I echo with a shake of my head. “That’sonething you’re not.”

For some reason, that makes his features twist into an expression of pained anger. “Onething, huh? That’s right, I’m not,” he grits out, “because I couldn’t care less, whether I see you ever again.”

“Good,” I say with a nod. “Then we’re on the same page.”

And I turn on my heel and start walking away.

Keep walking, I tell myself, but I just can’t. Knowing I might not see him ever again, it’s just making it impossible for me not to at least say goodbye.

I stop and look over my shoulder, finding him standing there, just as he was. “Goodbye, Bane,” I say. “Have a good life.”

Chapter 34

Tomorrow is the last day of school, and although it’s not even eight o’clock in the morning, the entire Academy seems to be buzzing with students getting ready for the last of their finals. I keep walking across the Entrance Hall, barely registering my surroundings. I’ve barely slept this week, and these days, my mind is almost always on the matter of the ritual, which I haven’t managed to crack yet.

The only thing I do seem to notice is the way people seem to be steering clear of me, even those I’m sure I’ve never seen in my entire life.

That all stops as soon as I enter the Junkyard. I breathe a sigh of relief when I see there’s only one group of people hanging out here. I need some alone time, but I’m so sick of my room, and these days, even the Library is packed with students cramming for the exams.

What makes the Junkyard an even better option, I think as I take my seat in our little alcove, is the fact that it’s still so early in the morning, so I should even be able to avoid Raven and Alaric.

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