Page 12 of Angel Lost

“No?”

“This is Naeve’s room, Naeve’s bed.”

Val stares at me, then slowly stands, staring down at the empty bed. “That’s creepy.”

“I know. I just…can’t.”

Val bumps my shoulder. “Okay, why don’t you move into my room instead? You can’t live in a Naeve shrine the next two years.”

“I don’t want to forget her.”

Val flings the wardrobe open, gesturing at the folded sweaters and scarves, and bins of color-coordinated wool. “You have enough knitwear for your lifetime, for many lifetimes. You’re not going to forget her. Plus, her memory isn’t in things or this room, Lorelei.”

Leaning into the wardrobe, I run my fingers over the lambswool scarf Naeve gave me. The last thing she ever knitted. “You’re right. But—”

“Look, if Farrell can be moved out of his penthouse suite, you can move too.”

“He’s being what?” My hand flies to my mouth. Oh, he will hate that.

Val rubs her hands together, a grin splitting her face. “It’s all the gossip. The Angel King’s precious family takes precedence over a jailed governor’s son.”

“Kai? Kai is the fae prince first, second the Angel King’s step…nephew. Or something. He doesn’t even like the king.”

She rolls her guitar pick in her fingers for a few long moments. “Whatever. Stop avoiding this.”

I lean away from her. Somehow, in this moment she looks far more fae than harpy, a hard set to her jaw, a cunning look in her eye.

“C’mon, Lorelei,” she wheedles. “Just say yes.”

I narrow my eyes. “Who are you avoiding?”

Her gaze slides from mine. “Don’t know what you mean.”

“Who did the academy pair you with, Val?”

“Camille!” She throws her hands in the air. “You have to save me, Lorelei! I’m too young for jail, and I will kill that bitch if you make me share with her.”

I snort a laugh, then my eyes travel over the empty half of the room. My memories of Naeve aren’t in the walls, in the bed. Not really.

“Fine, but you have to square it with Camille.”

Val drums her victory on the desk. “I checked. She’ll get a bed in a triple dorm when she arrives. Her fault for being fashionably late.” Val whirls around my room like a dervish, stuffing my belongings into the only bags I have.

It still feels final, shutting the door on what was our room for two years. My breath catches in my throat as I turn, following Val down the corridor. Away.

Goodbye, Naeve.

Chapter Five: Lorelei

My arms ache. The corridors are endless and full of asshole students pushing their way to their own rooms. Why was I so determined to do this in one trip? I knew Val was on the other side of the building. I hitch my only rucksack higher on my shoulder and flex my fingers around the plastic bag digging into my hand. Val’s voice chatters in the background. I gave up listening to her grousing a few corridors ago. Instead, my attention is captured by the posse of professors striding toward us. That’s the third group we’ve passed.

“Val?”

She pauses, dropping the bags she’s carrying.

“What’s with all the supervision?” I jerk my chin at the profs. They stop to interfere in an argument between an angel and a harpy. As quickly as it started, it ends, the harpy storming away. She throws a window open and launches herself out. Dramatic, much? We’re only on the first floor. She’ll be lucky if her wings open before she hits the ground. The professors fuss over the other student like she’s minor royalty.

“Yeah, lots of new staff,” Val mutters. She toes the plastic bags, glaring at the professors. “They’re all angels.He’sgot a lot to answer for.”

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