Chapter 66

We spend a long time under that tree as Jackson tells me the long story about how he stayed up for three weeks in a row, only giving in because he was so incredibly bored by the end of it. About how he just wandered around at night all alone, doing chores and going for runs just to have something to do. About how he missed dreaming, and missed rest, because while he wasn’t precisely tired, in a bodily sort of way, he was exhausted mentally.

“We need sleep, I think, to turn off our minds,” he says at the end of it, thoughtful. “Life’s hard enough as it is we need time away from it all, I guess.”

“Yes, that makes sense,” I murmur passively, all my words blurring together as I sit with my chin still propped in my hand, just staring at him, mesmerized.

Because god, he’s gorgeous. Jackson – he’s so brutal at first sight, all harsh lines and scars and darkness. But the more time you spend with him and the more he opens up the more you see the grace in him. It’s almost, somehow, like he…tucks it away, hiding it. But when he lets it out?

His face just….lights up, like a flaming beacon in the night. And god, is he breathtaking.

“I mean, it makes sense, right?”

I startle out of my reverie and curse myself for letting myself get lost in “Hmm?” I say, straightening up.

my mate’s

gaze.

He laughs at me. “Sorry,” he says, running a hand through his messy hair, “I’ve been boring.”

“Jackson,” I say, my voice low with the understatement, “you’ve been the opposite of boring. I got… completely lost in what you were saying.”

He grins, desperately pleased at the compliment, and his mouth to say more –

opens

But I gasp, suddenly looking around. “Shit, what time is it!?”

my god,” he says, dropping my hand suddenly and springing to his feet. “Shit, Clark,

“Oh

we’re late

I squeak in protest, pushing myself to my own feet as Jackson grabs my book satchel off the floor, thrusting it against my chest when I finally stand up straight. “We’ve got to go,” he says, looking desperately back to the castle.

“Well then you carry this!” I shout, pushing the satchel back to him. “Run!”

We do run then, and Jackson beats me, obviously, even carrying both of our books. He grabs my hand and basically drags me through the halls once we’re inside, towards my Chemistry classroom.

“How do you even know where this is!?” I gasp as we get close.

Jackson just glares over my shoulder at me, like I’m stupid for not knowing that of course. he would know where the Chemistry classroom is.

Inwardly. I’m pleased by this, though there’s no time to dwell on it, especially as I consider that Jackson fulfilled his promise to Rafe that he’d see me to my next class even though it means he’ll be even later for his.

But…instinctually, I know that he’s not doing it for Rafe’s sake.

He’s doing it for me.

I’m panting by the time I get to the door. Jackson, predictably, is not.

“You good?” He asks, unstrapping my satchel from his shoulder and handing it to me.

I nod, glancing towards the door, anxious to get inside.

“I’ll see you,” Jackson murmurs, turning away.

“Come over!” I call after him, knowing that it’s costing me even more time but unable to stop myself. Jackson turns, staring at me. I shake my head, speaking all in a hurry. “Come to our room,” I beg, “come spend time with us. We want you there.”

Jackson just raises an ironic eyebrow, which makes me laugh.

“I want you there,” I say as I grin and grab the door handle. “Which is all that matters.”

He smirks for a second and then nods once before turning away, heading down the hall.

And I grin, and twist the handle, pressing into the room.

Dr. Neumann looks over at me, clearly annoyed. “And what emergency has kept you away today, Cadet Clark?”

“Apologies, sir,” I say, hurrying to my seat. “No emergencies. Just…lost track of time…. studying.”

“Your tardiness will make itself known by a reduced grade on your next quiz, Clark” Neumann says, turning back to the board as I sit down. “Don’t let it happen again.”

And I nod, agreeing to the terms, even as I realize that…

Well. If there was another chance to spend the morning with Jackson under an oak tree, holding his hand and sharing secrets?

I’d do it again in a heartbeat, damn the price.

That evening, Jesse and Rafe come into the room late so late that I’m already bathed, changed into a fresh uniform, and sitting on the couch with my arms crossed, glaring at the door.

“Where have you been!?” I snap the moment the door opens and they come breezing in.

Both boys stop dead in their tracks.

“What?” Jesse says, staring at me, standing stock still. “What’d we do!?”

“You let me sit here all alone!” I shout as Rafe closes the door and I get to my feet, grabbing the note I got at breakfast off the coffee table and waving at them. “And I have plans! Which you almost made me miss!”

“What plans,” Rafe asks, frowning at me as he crosses the room and snatches the note from my hand. I don’t answer, planting my hands on my hips and frowning at him, letting him. figure it out for himself.

1

“Who….who the hell is Daphne?” Rafe murmurs.

“Daphne?” Jesse asks, perking up and coming over.

Rafe raises his eyes to mine, predictably frowning.

“She’s the seamstress, Rafe,” I sigh, snatching the note from his hands. His eyebrows lift with clarity – Jesse and I told him about that, of course. “I want to go! And she asked me to come now, and you forbid me to walk through the castle alone so let’s go!”

“Is this invitation for one?” Jesse murmurs, grabbing the note from me and peering over it. “Or does she mention…any dukes…”

I just roll my eyes at him and continue glaring at Rafe.

“I don’t think this is a good idea, Ariel,” Rafe says, making me groan at how predictable and stubborn he’s being.

“Rafe, she’s my friend, and I already sent her word that I would –”

“Well, why did you do that when

“When I hadn’t asked you first? Rafe,” I sigh, looking down at my shoes, trying to figure out how to phrase this. “We are walking a very fine line here, my brother, between you protecting me and you being my jailer. Can you….can you please go a little easier on me, here? Daphne – I trust her, we trust her. And she’s my friend.”

There’s a long moment of silence, but I look up when Rafe sighs. noveldrama

“Okay,” he says, running a hand through his hair. “You’re right, Ari – and if you and Jesse trust this girl, then I guess it’s time for me to meet her to.”

“No need,” Jesse says, buttoning the top button on his shirt so that he can look all sharp. “I’ll take Ariel down to Daphne’s room –”

“Oh fat chance of that,” I groan, shoving him away.

“What!?” he laughs, stumbling back a step. “She’s a nice girl! I just want to say hi and –”

“And hit on her relentlessly?”

“Yes,” Jesse says, grinning at me like a fox. “Yes, and hit on her relentlessly. God, please let me go –”

“Jesse!” I snap, smacking him again. “Don’t hit on my friends! It’s my only rule!”

He laughs blatantly in my face and Rafe joins in.