8. Maddison

Maddison

T he cafeteria is weirdly busy for this time of day. River and I draw attention, and even after a few days of this, it still makes me feel a bit twitchy. I end up putting a sandwich and fries on my tray while River gets a chicken sandwich and salad. Then we make our way to an empty table. River sits across from me and immediately takes a huge bite of his sandwich while I shove a handful of fries into my mouth. River is flowing with nervousness, his gaze sweeping across the people sitting at the tables. I’m not quite positive why, though.

“Dude, what’s your deal?” I ask as I rest my arms on the table. “You act like we’re about to get jumped or something.”

His gaze lands on mine. “I don’t think that. I just …” He slumps back in the chair with his arms crossed. “I feel so uneasy about this entire thing, like we’re not out of the clear yet. I’m curious to see how tonight’s meeting goes.”

“How are you feeling about that?” I ask as I dip a fry into a cup of fry sauce.

“I’m fine,” he says, but it’s clear he’s not fine.

I arch a brow. “You’re lying.”

He blows out a breath as he slants forward in the seat. “You’re right. I’m not completely fine. I’m worried about a lot of things; some of which have nothing to do with you, so don’t start blaming yourself.”

How in the heck did he know I was going to do that? “Want to talk about it?”

“Later, okay?” He presses me with a look, and I nod, getting his underlying meaning.

I give him a thumbs-up then shove half my sandwich into my mouth.

River’s brows raise toward his hairline.

“What? I want later to come sooner,” I inform him with a mouthful of food.

I can only imagine how unlady-like I probably seem to him, especially after what River and Finn have both told me about Lily’s upbringing and how she was forced to take manner lessons.

But he chuckles and shakes his head before collecting his own sandwich and stuffing almost all of it into his mouth.

See, look at us, being friends.

Everything is fine for a moment until the security alarm sirens off.

“Again?” I say as I cover my ears with my hands.

The sound is even worse in the cafeteria because the screeching noise is echoing off of the domed ceiling.

River pushes his chair back. “Come on; let’s get out of here!” he shouts over the noise.

I push away from the table, too, and leave my hands over my ears as we hurry away from our table and exit the cafeteria. The hallway is crowded with people filing out of classrooms. I try to remain close to River as I get bumped and jostled around, but I end up losing him in the chaos.

I try to keep a level head, but when a loud bang reverberates through the atmosphere and chaos ensues, my anxiety rises.

As everyone hurries to get out, I get smacked and elbowed from all angles. I shove people away, but it’s not enough, so I push my way to the safety of an alcove. I remain there with my back pressed against the wall, attempting not to think about what that bang could be. I’m worried, though, to the point where I’m struggling to breathe evenly.

I shut my eyes and focus on getting air into my lungs. A breath in and then out. Over and over again?—

Fingers brush mine, and when I open my eyes, River is in front of me. His eyes are wildly wide with panic, his hair is a mess, and he looks about ready to break the hell down.

“What’re you doing?” I ask, holding onto his hand. “You need to get out here. Your wound?—”

He places a hand against my lips. “There’s no way I was about to leave you in here.” He lowers his finger and places his hand beside my head, leaning toward me, as if he’s protecting me with his body. “I almost lost it when I turned around and couldn’t see you.” His lips are so close to my ear that when he speaks, his breath dusts my cheek.

I clutch onto the bottom of his shirt at the sound of another loud bang. “What is that?”

“I have no idea.” He breathes in and out before slanting back. He remains close as he leans over and peers into the hallway. “I don’t see anything … I think we should try to get out of here.” He offers me his hand. “Hold onto my hand, okay?”

Nodding, I thread my fingers through his. Then, ever so quietly, we step into the empty hallway. The alarm continues to screech as we rush toward the exit. It’s an eerie feeling, the emptiness mixed with the madness of the noise?—

Boom—

I startle at the sound of another loud bang, this one coming from behind me. As we jog toward the doors, I throw a glance over my shoulder and spot a hooded figure standing at the end of the hallway.

“River,” I say, but my voice gets swallowed up by the siren.

The figure drags their hand across their neck then charges at us.

River looks behind us then quickens his pace. We move fast, probably faster than we should, considering our injuries, but we eventually make it outside.

I’ve never felt more relieved in my life than to be in the fresh air and sunshine.

“What the hell was that?” I ask as I struggle to catch my breath.

River shakes his head as he tows us toward a cluster of trees. “I have no idea, but I’m guessing they’re the reason the siren is going off.” He slows to a stop near a bench and sinks onto it, pulling me down with him. He releases his hand then lowers his forehead, massaging his temples with his fingertips. “This is the last thing our bodies needed.”

“Agreed.” I yawn as I slant back, resting my hands on the cool stone of the bench. “I think fate has other ideas for us, though.” The pause I give is filled up with the screeching of the alarm and the chatter of people. “What do you think that person in the hoodie was doing in there? And what was that loud bang?”

“I’m worried it might be gunshots.”

“It’s not. I’ve heard those before. It sounded more like explosions.”

He lifts his gaze and assesses the academy building that’s lined with towering arched doors, massive columns, and stairways, all of which look intact. “It doesn’t look like an explosion happened,” River mutters with a frown.

“Unless it was contained inside,” I suggest. “Like in a big room … Like in the library.” Like where the secret society has a hidden entrance.

His gaze snaps to me. “You don’t think that this has to do with that, do you?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. It was just a random thought. But someone is running around in a hood and mask—that seems very secret-like.”

“Shit.” He stands up and fishes his phone out of his pocket. “I need to check on Finn, Lily, and Noah.”

I like that he included Noah in that. Maybe that means they’re working on their friendship, which I think Noah needs.

River wanders over to a nearby tree to call his family. I try to calm my heart rate.

“Maddy, are you okay?”

When I glance up, Lily is standing in front of me, her blonde hair looking nearly white against the bright sunlight. She looks like a mess; her clothes are wrinkled, and she has a scratch on her cheek.

“I’m okay.” I point at her cheek. “Are you?”

She delicately touches her cheek. “Yeah, I just got pushed into a column while I was trying to get out.”

I sit up straight. “That mob was crazy. I had to duck into an alcove. River found me hiding out, and we waited together.”

“You and River.” She muses over this. “Seems like you and him are together a lot.”

“Well, we are dating.” Fake dating, but she isn’t aware of that yet.

She plops down beside me. “How is that going?”

“Good.”

I loathe lying to her. She was the first person at the academy to be nice to me, and it makes me feel like crap. But if I want to keep myself safe, I have to. Plus, if she knew the truth, it could put her at risk.

“Just good?” she questions with an arch of her brow.

I sigh, picking at my chipped nail polish. “I like him, but the problem is, I can’t like him too much because of the betrothed thing.” As if sensing our conversation, Isla appears in front of us.

She has long blonde hair and rarely wears a lot of makeup. Today, she has on a silk skirt and sweater, along with heels. She’s staring out at the parking lot.

Curious about what she’s looking at, I twist around. Nothing appears out of the ordinary other than people are everywhere. Although, I do spot an older car that looks out of place amongst the other expensive and lavish vehicles.

Lily turns and tracks my gaze. “What’re you looking at?”

“Nothing really. Just that car.” I give a discreet nod at the car parked near the curb

She eyeballs the dinged-up car with faded blue paint. The windows are rolled up so the driver’s face isn’t visible, but I can tell it’s a guy. I’m not gonna lie, part of me worries that Drew is in the driver’s seat, that maybe he didn’t really mean that he’d lift the bounty on me.

But then the door opens and a taller guy, around my age, with dark hair, dressed in worn clothes and a beanie gets out. He glances around, and when his eyes land on Isla, he smiles.

When I peer over my shoulder at her, she’s jogging toward him, but she doesn’t appear happy. In fact, she looks panicked as she rubs by us and over to him. Once she reaches him, she says something that causes the guy’s smile to fizzle. Then he jumps back into his car and peels away, the tires squealing.

Everyone turns and stares at the scene.

Isla spins on her heels and rushes toward the side of the academy, disappearing as she rounds the building.

“What the hell was that about?” Lily wonders, glancing at me.

“I’m not sure.” I pause as an idea comes to mind. “Is she maybe dating someone from northside?”

Lily’s gaze darts to me. “Why would you think that?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. That guy just looked like he was from there.”

She considers this with a crease forming between her brows. “That’d be so weird if she was.”

“River’s dating me,” I remind her, unsure if I should be offended by her surprise or not.

“Sure, but you attend the academy. I know Isla well enough that I have no clue how she’d meet anyone from northside.” She scrunches her nose. “I need to ask Wren if she’s heard any rumors about this.”

“Well, she probably has now,” I say as I note the hushed whispering flittering through the air. “I feel bad for her.”

“Me, too. She’s nice.” Sighing, she rises to her feet. “I think I’m going to go check on her.” She waves and walks off in the direction Isla took off in.

About thirty seconds later, River plops down on the bench. “Was that Lily that I just saw walk off?”

I nod. “She went to check on Isla.”

At the mention of his betrothed’s name, he visibly squirms. “I don’t know why she didn’t answer my messages.”

“Isla?”

“What? No, Lily.”

“Oh.” I fall silent. This conversation is getting slightly uncomfortable. “She was probably distracted by the scene in the parking lot.”

He peers over his shoulder. “What scene?”

“The one where a guy pulled up in a car that looked straight up from northside, and Isla went over there and argued with him for a second,” I say, which only elicits more confusion on his part. “Dude, you were right over there when it happened.”

“I know. I was distracted.” He rubs his lips together, his gaze lowering to the ground.

“What did you find out?” I ask. “Because I can tell something has made you twitchy.”

His gaze sweeps the area. Then he stands up and offers me his hand. “Come with me for a second. I need to talk to you about something.”

I squint against the sunlight as I look up at him. His jaw is taut, and tension is raveled deeply into his muscles. I then take his hand, and he pulls me to my feet then starts toward the parking lot. I don’t ask where we’re going. I assume it’s to his car so we can talk in private. While the alarm has shut off, an announcement hasn’t been made that we can return to the school.

River’s car is parked in the far back corner. In his typical gentleman fashion, he holds the passenger door open for me. The moment I slide into the leather seat, the scent of his cologne wraps around me. It was the same way when he took me out the other night. I don’t know if this will make me sound crazy, but I find the smell of him calming.

“What’s that smile for?” he wonders as he notes my expression while climbing into the car.

What am I supposed to say to that? That I’m having a smell-gasm? Hard pass.

I wipe my expression clean and give a shrug. “I’m not sure what look you’re referring to.”

He looks at me skeptically while shutting the door.

Before he can ask questions, I hurriedly say, “So, what did you want to talk to me about?”

The skepticism from his expression fades. “So, there’s a rumor going around that a hacker has hacked into the system, and that’s why the alarm is going off.”

I rest my arms on the console. “That makes sense, I guess, but what about those loud bangs and that guy in the hoodie we saw in the hallway?”

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I think the school might be trying to cover something up, because, apparently, the administration is thinking about closing up for a few days until they can work out”—he makes air quotes—“‘the hacking issue.’”

“Does that not seem like something they’d do?”

“No, not at all. The academy has some of the most high-tech systems in the school, not to mention they have people monitoring it around the clock.”

“What could they be covering up?”

“I’m not sure, but I want to find out. Finn and I know a few people who could maybe give us some insight. Finn actually got this information from one of them.”

I nod, chewing on my lip. While it could be a coincidence that this happened around the same time the society decided to come after me, and I learned I may be from a bloodline that was once hunted, I feel like there’s a connection.

However, I have something else to worry about at the moment.

“If they’re closing down the school for a few days, does that mean everyone just goes home?” I attempt to keep a neutral expression, but I think I fail.

“You can come stay with me,” River promptly offers.

I immediately shake my head. “I’m good. I can go stay with my mom now that Drew is no longer looking for me.”

The edges of his lips dip downward. “I know you don’t like handouts—I get that—but Finn, Lily, and I are going to stay in that condo we went to that day we were hiding from Drew. My parents won’t be there, and there’s a ton of room. I promise it’s okay, and it doesn’t cost us anything extra for you to stay there.”

“River,” I start to protest, but he places a finger against my lips.

“Lily would love to have you there. I know she’s been wanting to spend more time with you, so just look at it as a sleepover.”

I snort a laugh. “I’ve never actually had one of those before.”

“See? This could be your first one.”

He makes a convincing argument, and even more so when he adds, “And we can also dig more into this Everford thing. The Royal City Library is one of the biggest in the world, so if we look in the right area and we’re careful, we might be able to find some useful information.”

I breathe in deeply, mostly to steady myself. “I still need to go to northside and talk to my mom. Plus, I might need to get some of my stuff … Are they going to let us go back in to get any of our belongings?”

“Probably not,” he replies. “It’s probably too much of a liability to allow students back in until they’ve had the place inspected and the security breach has been taken care of.”

“But what the heck am I supposed to do? I don’t even have any other clothes. This is crazy.” I bang my head against the headrest, not hard, but it still worries River.

“Hey, easy with your head.” He slips his hand between my head and the headrest.

I angle my head toward him. “You’re one to talk. You’ve been running around with a hurt side.”

“I know. And I really need to rest. So, how about we drive to my place, do that, and then we’ll take care of everything else when we feel up to it.”

“My life doesn’t really work that way, River.”

“It can for the day,” he assures me as he rotates forward in the car.

I straighten. “You want to go right now?”

He pushes the button that starts up the engine. “Yeah, why not? It’s not like we need to stick around when we already know what’s going to happen. Besides, getting a bit of a break from the academy might help us relax.”

He’s right, but I’m not even sure if I know how to relax. I guess I’m about to find out.

“All right, but as soon as we wake up, I need to go to northside and get some answers.” Because, at the end of the day, despite how many other problems I need to solve, if I don’t figure out what’s going on with me first, I might not be around to deal with the other issues.

I fall asleep on the way to River’s family’s condo. I tried not to, but the soft lull of the music playing from the stereo was so calming that the instant I started to relax, I fell asleep.

River wakes me up by brushing his fingers along my hairline in a gentle way that’s unfamiliar.

“We’re here,” he tells me as my eyelashes flutter open.

He’s staring at me while leaning over the console, his eyes filled with caution, his lips right there. I have this overwhelming compulsion to kiss him but manage to resist as I sit up and yawn.

“Holy crap, I passed out, didn’t I?” I yawn and stretch my hands above my head.

He watches me intently. “You did. But that’s good. The doctor said to rest.”

“I know, but I’m not used to sleeping this much.” I push the door open as he does the same.

We climb out and step into the mostly empty parking garage that’s sealed off from the outside world. We barely speak as we get onto the elevator. As it begins to rise upward, my stomach spins with anxiety at the view of our climb being visible out the window. I concentrate on my breathing, trying not to have a panic attack.

River suddenly wraps his arms around me and pulls me against him until my face is pressed against his chest. “Just breathe.” He skims his hand up and down my spine.

God, the fact that he remembers I have anxiety over heights makes me feel like I ate a bunch of cotton candy and am riding a sugar high. It makes me take a deep breath, mostly to breathe in his scent. I can play it off as regaining my breathing, but the reality is that I like the smell of him.

Ding.

The doors glide open, and I barrel off the elevator, relieved to be in the condo. River follows me out then places a hand on the small of my back.

“Are you good?”

I nod. “I’m fine. I just”—I gesture at the elevator—“well, you know.”

“I do. Sorry the condo’s so high. I wish we had one on the first floor.”

Did he seriously apologize for his parents not buying a lower-level condo to appease my acrophobia?

I shake my head, unable to stop a smile from pulling on my lips.

“What?” he questions with his brows furrowed.

I shrug. “It’s nothing. You’re just too nice for your own good.”

He absorbs my words with a wary expression. Before I can ask why, however, he urges me forward.

“Let’s pick you out a room so we can get some rest before it’s dinnertime.” He steers me through the doorway and into the wide hallway on the other side.

I can’t help chuckling. “Pick out a room? You make it sound like we’re going shopping for shoes.”

“In this house, it kind of is.” He smiles as he leads me through the living room and down the hallway where Lily’s bedroom is located. “I’m going to have you stay in the guest room that’s beside my bedroom.” He points at a shut door. “Which is right there.”

I drag my thumb along my bottom lip, considering. “Can I see it?”

“My room?” Surprise flashes in his eyes.

“Yeah, I’m curious what River Averson’s bedroom looks like.” I smile, but he doesn’t return it. In fact, he looks apprehensive. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” I quickly add.

“No, it’s fine.” He removes his hand from my back to scratch his forehead. “I just … Ignore me. I’m being weird.”

“You sure?”

“Absolutely.” He steps forward and opens the door. Then he moves aside for me to go in first.

I hesitate before stepping over the threshold. “Wow …” I say as I take in the high ceilings lined with beams, the ocean-blue walls that match the blankets and pillows on the bed, the framed artwork, and then, of course, the shelves covered in trophies, medals, and plaques.

I make my way over to those. “There’s so many.” I smile at a photo of a younger River running on a track. “Look, it’s a little River.”

I feel more than see him move up behind me. “Yeah, I was in like sixth grade, I think.”

“You have so many trophies and medals,” I remark. “I know you have some in your dorm room, but this is crazy. And impressive.” I flash him a smile from over my shoulder, only to find him gazing intently at me. “What?”

“It’s nothing.” He lifts a shoulder, his gaze never straying from me. “I’ve just … I never had anyone compliment me about something outside of my looks and wealth. It’s refreshing. You’re refreshing.”

You’re refreshing, too , I want to say but decide to keep that thought locked away for now.

“Hmm … I’ve never been told that before.” I face him while taping my finger against my lip. “Bossy, for sure. Annoying, yep. But never refreshing.” I dazzle him with a haughty grin.

But he remains utterly serious. “I mean it, Maddison. You’re wonderful.”

I smash my lips together for a second. “You can’t say that stuff to me.”

His confusion is genuine. “Why not?”

“Because … it makes me feel too fluttery.” I sigh. “And I need to feel still for now.”

“Sorry.” He doesn’t sound apologetic, though.

“You should show me where I’m sleeping so I can get some rest.” Not that I want to sleep. But I need a breather from his pretty eyes and fluttery words.

He eyes me suspiciously, as if sensing I’m avoiding. But in typical River politeness, he nods and leads me to a bedroom right next to his. The walls are a light shade of purple that matches the décor, the bed is massive, and the comforter is velvet. Like with the other bedrooms I’ve been in, it has its own private bathroom attached to it.

“If you need me, just knock on my bedroom door,” River tells me as I walk around, taking everything in. “When it’s actually time to go to bed, I can have Lily lend you some pajamas.”

“Is she coming here, too?” I ask, facing him.

He’s leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed. “I’m pretty certain she is. Finn, too.”

I rub my lips together. “What about Noah?”

Reluctance masks his expression. “I don’t know, Mads. He still hasn’t fully explained what happened … Why didn’t he tell us about the affair? Or why he’s been dealing drugs? He told me there’s a good reason but said he couldn’t explain why.”

I step toward him. “Maybe it’s dangerous for you to know. Trust me; I’ve had to keep a lot of things to myself over the years. Plus, he has my phone, and I’d really like to have that back.”

His lips thin as he presses them together. “Fine, I’ll invite him.” He pauses. “You’re really hard to say no to.”

“That is definitely the first time I’ve heard that,” I inform him. “I’ve been told no a lot.”

He remains silent before threading his fingers through mine. Then he brings my knuckles to his lips. “Get some rest, okay?”

And there’s that stupid fluttering sensation again.

I nod quickly, mostly so he’ll leave before I do something stupid.

Like kiss him.

He shuts the door as he exits, leaving me alone. I feel weirdly safe in this place. I’m not sure why.

Then, the moment I lay my head down on the pillow, I’m out again.

And I sleep better than I have in a really, really long time.