“Look at what you did to my neck,” Nix said, pointing to the red blotched skin just above her collarbone.

  “You can’t prove I did that.”

  Nix punched me in the shoulder and zipped up her black hoodie. I smiled as memories of our many make-out sessions this past weekend played in my mind. I hoped having Nix under the same roof as me would be fun, and she didn’t let me down. There’s something thrilling about sneaking between rooms hoping not to get caught. Now it was Monday morning, and we had to leave our peaceful little bubble and return to the real world.

  “I’ll see you downstairs, okay?” Nix said and slid her arms around my shoulders.

  I pulled her tighter to me and pressed our mouths together fiercely. I kissed her like I was starving. She pushed me away when I started kissing down her face.

  “Stop, we don’t have time.”

  Her voice was breathy and lust-filled. I grinned at her and nodded in resignation. She vanished before either of us could reconsider. I grabbed my bookbag and raced down the stairs, wishing I could simply vanish the way she did. She met me on the porch.

  “Are you ready to start our last week of high school?”

  I gave her my biggest, fakest smile and a thumbs up before we walked to school. When I got to my locker, Eddie, Kris and Mike saw me and approached. I looked down at Typhon’s Coil. Would the mind wipers even be able to fix a wound you inflicted?

  “Death is permanent,” Typhon said in response to my thought.

  I chuckled to myself and pretended I didn’t know the three of them had surrounded me. When my locker door closed abruptly, I turned around and acknowledged them.

  “Bro, look Snakeface got himself some ink,” Eddie said, pointing out Typhon’s Coil to the others.

  Mike, who was standing to my right, reached out to touch my arm. I yanked my hand away.

  “Calm down, Snakeface. I just wanted a better look at the thing.”

  I folded my arms across my chest.

  “Thanks for the feedback, guys. I’ll consult you before getting the next one.”

  I started to walk forward, but Mike stuck out his massive paw to stop me. I stared down at his hand, considering how many ways I could snap it.

  “Move your hand,” I said, offering him the only olive branch he was going to get.

  From my left, Kris gripped my shirt.

  “Or what, exactly?”

  Well, I tried. I had already shown them more patience than they deserved. I thought as I gave in to the sudden churn in my stomach. I reached down and grabbed both of their arms. The second I touched their skin, I felt someone’s divine presence.

  “Boys, I hope everything is okay over here,” a sweet feminine voice called from behind us.

  I let go of their arms, and they backed away. When they finally gave me some breathing room, I saw the source of the oppressive feeling weighing down on me. She was the short girl with the red and orange hair. This time, instead of a cheerleading uniform, she had on a white pantsuit.

  “Oh yeah, Delores, everything is good. We were just telling our friend how much fun it’s been getting to know him,” Eddie lied.

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  The girl, Delores, clapped her hands together excitedly.

  “There’s nothing more heartwarming than a sweet goodbye. Don’t be late for the assembly, though I’m giving a speech,” she said.

  Her smile reminded me of a character on an old TV show. She just exuded wholesomeness.

  “Yeah, we were heading there right now,” Eddie said before the three of them scurried away from us.

  She stared at their backs, smiling warmly. I took that as my cue to move along as well. I took a step forward, and her eyes turned to me. The smile had faded.

  “You know, people always react to grand spectacles. Things like hurricanes or wildfires.”

  She stepped close to me and started straightening my wrinkled polo shirt. I didn’t know how to react. Part of me wanted to shove her away and call her crazy. But the chill crawling down my spine made me think standing still was the best course of action. Something about her soft hands on my shirt made me feel helpless and small. It reminded me of the way I felt when Zeus stood over my hospital bed.

  “I pay attention to the little things, though. The storm on the horizon or the subtle scent of smoke in the air.”

  She straightened my collar with those words. I had to be imagining it, but I could actually smell a faint smell of smoke. She let go of my collar and smiled.

  “Sometimes those little warnings are all you get before it’s too late.”

  With that, she walked away from me. I stood frozen in place. My body buzzed like a live wire. I didn’t move until she turned the corner. I ran to the auditorium and searched for Nix. Luckily, she was sitting in the last row near the entrance. I slid into the seat beside her.

  “What took so long? I was about to come get you.”

  I wiped my hands on my pant legs. Before I could get my mouth to form words, the principal walked up to the microphone that sat in the center of the stage.

  “Welcome seniors, first off, let’s give our lovely cheerleaders a congratulation on winning the national championship.” The principal motioned to where they sat.

  The auditorium erupted in applause and cheerful whistles. Once it quieted down, he spoke again.

  “And lastly, it brings me great happiness to announce the team captain, Miss Delores Fairburn, as this year’s valedictorian!” As soon as the words left his mouth, the cheers started again. Delores walked up to the microphone. Her face beamed as the applause continued for her.

  “Oh, so that’s her name,” Nix said and leaned back in her seat.

  Seeing her standing on the stage made my blood boil. She stood there smiling like an innocent rose when she was really the most dangerous person in this entire building.

  “We met in the hall,” I said.

  Nix raised an eyebrow at me.

  “Is she as nice and sweet as she pretends to be?”

  I shook my head from side to side.

  “I think she threatened me.”

  Nix laughed.

  “That must’ve been adorable.”

  She hadn’t felt what I felt. The pressure reminiscent of Zeus himself.

  Delores started speaking, grabbing everyone in the room’s full attention. She thanked the principal for welcoming her and the audience for their warm welcome. Her speech felt pretty generic until she started talking about the cheerleading competition.

  “The reason we won wasn’t that we had the best routines. We won because we understood something the other teams didn’t.”

  Nix rolled her eyes and put her foot up on her seat.

  “The wise woman is going to share her tips for success now. Strap in. It’s gonna be a long one.”

  Delores locked her eyes on mine and continued speaking.

  “This school is our home, and we were fighting to defend its honor. There is nothing more important than protecting the home. Even when the storms rage and the monsters beckon. Home is sacred, and securing it is our utmost responsibility.”

  Nix looked at me with a furrowed brow.

  “Am I crazy, or is she talking to you?”

  I didn’t respond to Nix. My mind was working overtime trying to understand what she was saying to me. Why was she so focused on me? What were all the hints about? Did she know about my being stormblooded?

  “I promise you that as long as I am defending our home, there is nothing and no one that can defeat me, thank you.”

  She broke the gaze and handed the microphone back to the principal. Nix pulled on my collar.

  “What the hell is this?”

  I looked down at my collar. There was a black smudge on it right where Delores had held it. Nix leaned in close and inspected it.

  “Stormie, this is a burn, and it kinda looks like a campfire. What exactly happened between you and her?”

  My entire body went rigid as the dream of the fireplace attacking me played in my head.