Page 122 of A Dusk Of Stars

Right now, I feel like I can only bring toxicity into other people’s lives and the two of them sure as hell don’t deserve any of it.

I settle in, get my books out of my tote and take a deep breath.

It’s at the very next moment that something nudges me to look up and I see the two of them enter the Junkyard.

Dammit.

“Morning,” I say as I watch them approach, contemplating excusing myself and going somewhere else.

But I see there’s something off even before Alaric throws himself on the bench next to me, saying, “Morning. Did you see the Main Hall, Anna? Doesn’t the castle feel festive?”

There’s this tension in his voice that makes me frown. I throw a glance at Raven, but she just settles in right across from me.

I turn to Alaric. “It does, yeah.” I don’t try to hide the confusion in my voice.

“It should,” he replies, glancing at Raven with an uncharacteristic frown. “After all, it’s not just any night, the Grand Ball tomorrow. Right?”

Frowning, I tip my chin at him to ask what’s going on. He dismisses the question and proceeds to glance around the Junkyard. Not knowing what to do, I just go back to staring at the materials in front of me.

We keep sitting there in tense silence, until I hear Raven ask, “Are you okay, Anna?”

I throw her a glance. I’m feeling guilty for having been so detached and pissy lately, but there seems to be nothing I can do about it. So I just say, “I’m fine, Raven.” And I go back to staring at the materials.

“Maybe there’s something I could help you with.”

I press my lips tight. I look up at her again. “Do you have a way to figure out what Lorcan’s up to?” Ever since I found out about him blackmailing Bane, he hasn’t been setting up any meetings.

“No,” Raven says.

“There you have it.”

“What about your training sessions with Professor Naehorn?”

I let out a scoff, thinking about the way Serra’s been using them to drone on about stuff I really don’t find helpful. “It’s a waste of time.”

“Maybe you could ask Seamus,” she suggests, referring to the guy she’s going to the Ball with. “His father is one of the top shifters in the area and he taught him everything he knows.”

“Yeah, right,” Alaric cuts in. “I saw his pitiful little snake. It couldn’t strangle a mouse. He’s only saying that because he’s trying to… You know.”

Raven just blinks at him. “Help?”

Alaric throws his arms up. “You know, Raven, it’s one thing to be innocent. It’s a whole other to be naive.”

It finally hits me. Yesterday, Raven got asked to the Ball by some third-year shifter, and she said yes. I thought Alaric would just talk to her about it, but his plan seems to be throwing passive-aggressive hints to someone who’s obviously not getting them. I have to fight not to let out a sigh.

Love makes people so stupid.

“Alaric,” I enunciate as I pin him in place with my stare.

“Anna,” he copies me mockingly.

My face softens and I motion for him to get the hell out of here.

He seems to understand what I’m going for here, because there’s a spark in his eyes before he gets up, saying, “I guess I’ll leave you girls alone.”

Then he stops, hesitates a little and then comes to place a stick on the table in front of Raven. She looks and blinks at him as ifshe has no idea what's going on. He awkwardly clears his throat, runs his hand through his hair and darts out.

As soon as he leaves the Junkyard, I turn to my obtuse little friend. “Raven?”

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