I had fought Sir Norath, faced a room filled with people scared of me, and stood up for the ignored members of our society. There was absolutely nothing people my age could throw my way to make me nervous.

I looped my arm around my father's. "I'm fine."

He patted my hand. "That's my girl."

The foyer was beautiful-pillars etched with the scenes of the Princ.i.p.alities pa.s.sing their vast knowledge to humans, an ornate staircase that wound to the second- and third-floor balconies packed with students staring down at us. The stares didn't bother me. I'd faced all kinds-hateful, fearful, curious, adoring, even murderous. I made eye contact and nodded, recognizing faces from the beach or the shops. None were Katia or Lottius. I waved to Ravan and Skylar.

The entire teaching staff lined up to welcome us, and I couldn't help but wonder how many of them had fought the Archangels and how many knew the truth about me. I tried to keep up with who was who-the cla.s.sroom teachers and the power instructors. I was surprised to see Master Kenta. He was in charge of martial arts training.

Princ.i.p.al Kessler personally handed me the crystal with my cla.s.s schedule and school map. The cla.s.ses offered included our history, math, English, human studies, and technology. The computer lab had every gadget imaginable.

The tour of the school seemed to go forever. There were about five hundred students, two hundred of them seniors, Princ.i.p.al Kessler explained. Most of them were boarders. He pointed out the double doors leading to the dorms and the cafeteria. Most of the hallways were wide and had quotations from the Princ.i.p.alities, Queen Coronis, even my father, about feeding our minds, our powers and superiority, and of course, the school motto. Like the castle, most of the school was embedded in the mountain for security purposes.

"Where are the younger students?" I asked at the end of the tour. We were outside the cla.s.sroom of my first cla.s.s, math.

"At Mount Hermon Elementary Academy in the city. When they turn sixteen, we bring them here," the princ.i.p.al explained.

I hadn't seen Katia or Lottius, but I wasn't worried. I could sense their energies, so I knew they were around. I was more worried about my father. Ignoring his guards, Ruby and Callum, and the princ.i.p.al, I turned and faced him.

"Okay. I'm definitely ready now." And nervous.

"I know." I wasn't sure whether his "I know" meant he'd heard my thoughts or he believed I was actually ready. He put his arm around my shoulder and pressed a kiss on my temple. The open display of affection was a breach of protocol, if Lady Nemea was to be believed. "Be good."

"Do I have to?" I teased.

He chuckled. "No. Just make me proud."

I hugged him back, aware of students watching us through the open doorway. The teacher wasn't in cla.s.s yet. Be careful out there.

I will.

Don't forget what I asked.

To wake you up when I come home. How could I forget? You've reminded me a hundred times.

Grinning, I reached up and kissed his cheek, then waited until he left with his guards. I stared at where he'd last stood and felt a little, I don't know, alone and vulnerable. He was the only person I knew I could trust.

"The cla.s.s is about to begin, Princess," Ruby whispered.

I nodded, gave her and Callum a wobbly smile, and entered the room. Guys jumped to their feet and offered me seats. I guess seating was random. One dark-haired guy introduced himself as Tannin, the cla.s.s prefect and captain of the junior varsity Earth team.

"We look forward to having you join us in the fourth period," he said.

He had a beautiful smile, but he was no Green Eyes. I mean, no Bran. "I warn you, though. My powers can be off sometimes."

"We like off," a blond said, grinning.

"Especially when we crush the varsity," another added.

"Down, boys," a girl said, coming to my side. She was about my height, with smooth olive complexion, short pitch-black hair, and flawless makeup. She was built like someone who could kick some serious a.s.s. "Come sit with us, Princess Lilith."

"Lilith," I corrected her. I recognized her from the ice-cream shop. She'd invited me to a party just before Katia and I went to Rocky Beach weeks ago.

"And I'm Daeva. Captain of the JV Psi team. Our cla.s.s is second period, so sit with us. I mean, you can sit with us if you like."

She stuck out her tongue at one of the guys and led me to a desk next to hers just as the math teacher walked in.

Math wasn't bad. I was actually ahead of the cla.s.s, so I spent the time studying the psi energies of the students. There were a few with strong psi, and unlike the older people, their energies weren't red with dark spots. They were bright and without blemishes.

Second period was in a non-regular cla.s.sroom, a gym with floor mats and gla.s.s walls. Soccer b.a.l.l.s of different colors lined the walls, and the student seating area was outside the wall. Daeva was explaining what they did in the cla.s.s when Skylar joined us. It was nice to see a friend. The b.a.l.l.s were made of different materials and had different weights.

The point of the cla.s.s was to channel psi energy to lift and control your own ball while knocking other ones out of the air.

We started with the lighter b.a.l.l.s and slowly progressed to heavier ones. Most of the students had moderate psi energies. A few were powerful. Daeva was one of them. She was c.o.c.ky, though. I wondered if she could wield several swords with her mind like me.

One timid guy stayed in the back of the group and always went last. His psi energy was powerful, yet for the entire period he was in a state of panic. I didn't understand why. Lifting heavier objects didn't seem to be a problem for him, yet he allowed people to knock his away with little effort.

I checked his energy just before the cla.s.s ended and saw why. His energy was fluctuating. He was pulsing just like me when I was angry or scared.

"Who is that?" I asked Skylar.

"Locke. He's a loner-keeps to himself, even in the dorms."

"That's because he's an orphan, living with people he hasn't even known for a year yet," Daeva said, coming to stand beside us. "Lost his parents on the island. They were Specials, but he didn't get their powers."

Or he didn't want people to know his energy was unstable and end up in Block C. Fear flashed in his eyes when he saw me watching him. He looked down. Part of me wanted to rea.s.sure him, but the other part knew he had reasons to be wary. I was the daughter of our supreme ruler, and Block C might be Father's brainchild.

After psi gym, I was trying to find my next cla.s.s when a familiar voice yelled, "Lilith."

I turned to see Katia hurrying toward me.

"Where have you been?" I asked.

"We were told to keep our distance while they were showing you around. And you're in a different math cla.s.s. What's your next cla.s.s?"

"Tech."

"Me, too. The labs are this way." She took my arm and steered me down a hallway. Students stared. Others smiled. We turned a corner. "I'll help you set up before the cla.s.s begins."

"Why do we need to understand technology? We don't need modern machines."

"To understand humans, we must keep up with their technology," she explained. "Most of us are learning how each machine works. Computers, tablets, telephones, MP3 players... A few Earth Primes can recreate them, too."

"That's impressive."

"Wait until human studies. We use social networks to study the human psyche. Every student has accounts on popular websites." She grinned. "I have about three thousand followers on each of them."

The rest of the morning went smoothly. In each cla.s.s, the teachers treated me like any other student, despite Ruby and Callum's presence outside the cla.s.srooms.

I liked the metaphysical cla.s.ses better. Earth cla.s.s had more guys than girls, and most of them had some serious powers. Five minutes with Tannin and his friends and I knew I had found the students to work on Rocky Beach.

I also learned something about my energy powers-I created lightning bolts differently than they did. Ravan and the others used their fingers to channel the bolts, but I did it with my mind.

Two sisters in the cla.s.s could create omni b.a.l.l.s. Even though the cla.s.s was taught in the main gym, which was huge and had walls covered with heat-resistant materials, the instructor didn't allow them to use their powers.

"Tomorrow, we'll go to the training fields," Master Yaza said. "We don't encourage creation of omni b.a.l.l.s within the building." The girls, I noticed, had fluctuating psi energies like Locke's.

The last cla.s.s before lunch was history. The teacher, Master Otego, encouraged students to voice their opinions, which were many and varied. I just sat there and listened. It wasn't bad for a history cla.s.s. I might even say I enjoyed it.

Lottius, Skylar, and Ravan were waiting for me and Katia after cla.s.s. Together, we walked to the cafeteria, pa.s.sing through the double doors the princ.i.p.al had pointed out earlier and entering a broad hallway. There were more portraits of the Princ.i.p.alities, Coronis, and my father.

The cafeteria looked more like a fancy restaurant. It was huge, filled with cloth-covered tables set with artfully folded napkins and gleaming utensils. There were three buffet carousels. The first one was for salad, cold cuts, and soups. The second one had hot foods. The last carousel was all desserts, from ice cream to pies. Drinks and cups were on rectangular carts around the room. If I were starving, I'd be in food heaven. We lined up with our trays.

"Are you sure you should be carrying your tray, Princess?" Tannin teased as he and his friends walked past.

"Why? Want to carry it for me?" I shot back.

"If you agree to sit at our table," he said, and his friends nodded.

Katia and Skylar laughed. Lottius rolled her eyes.

"Sorry, boys," I said. "I'm going to stick with my girls."

"How about a date? You know, take pity on a son of a lowly lord," he added with a mock-sad face.

I laughed. He was cute. "I'll think about it."

The frown disappeared from his face. "Seriously?"

The girls laughed. Shaking my head, I faced forward and my eyes collided with familiar green ones. My heart dropped. Bran? Here?

He grinned, dimples winking on his cheeks. Hey.

My mouth went dry and I couldn't think of a single thing to say. He was okay. And as usual, he was doing something menial. But even in a cafeteria server's white shirt and ap.r.o.n, he looked gorgeous.

I heard you were looking for me, he said.

I nodded. At least, I think I did. This man loved me and was putting his life in danger to be with me. Except he wasn't really with me. He was just hanging around, making sure I didn't get hurt. How could Father not approve of him? He was amazing.

Move, sweetheart, Bran added. A line is forming and people can see you staring.

I didn't care.

I do, he said, reading my thoughts. I don't want to lose my job. Not now that they're paying us per hour. We'll talk as soon as I can arrange it. He indicated that I should keep walking.

I don't remember serving myself various foods and following my friends to a table. Daeva and her friend Eisheth joined us. They were all talking at once while I was still processing. Bran was back. The telepathic conversation between Katia and Lottius caught my attention.

It's the same guy, Katia said.

Lottius shrugged. So?

Katia made a face. So, I think he has a crush on Lil or something. He appears everywhere we go. Look at him. He can't take his eyes off her.

Sure enough, Bran's eyes were on me when I glanced at the carousel. Now who's staring?

He chuckled. You look beautiful. Love the uniform.

Warmth flooded my cheeks. Thanks.

So, do you think I have a crush on you?

You shouldn't be listening to other people's conversations. So, how come Lottius never seems to remember you?

I pick and choose who sees me. About that crush...

I heard from a reliable source that you're crazy about me.

He sighed. What else did my s.h.i.t-for-brains brother tell you?

He wants you to go home because your sister is threatening to come to the island.

Bran chuckled. Celeste is okay now. She said hi.

I smiled. Then I remembered something and stopped smiling. Are you putting your life in danger by being here? Lord Gavyn said you were and that I should convince you to leave.

Bran frowned. I'm going to beat the c.r.a.p out of him next time I see him. And please, don't call him a lord. He's Gavyn or...

s.h.i.t-for-brains? I asked. He grinned.

Bran and Gavyn were about the same height, but Bran looked like he could kick some serious a.s.s. Gavyn had that pampered, rich-boy look most of the kids in this school had. Are you in danger?

Nothing I can't handle. My brother had no business talking to you about me or asking for your help. I'm sorry he worried you.

I frowned. So, I wasn't supposed to know about you?

It's more like I made a deal not to interfere with your journey, and he swooped in and messed things up.

There was that journey again. A deal with who?

Women too powerful to con. I've already bent and broken enough rules, so don't ask me who they are. Just know that, without their help, I wouldn't have lasted an hour on this island.

He'd given me hints about us and my powers. Surely, that wasn't wrong. Someone b.u.mped me and I glanced to my right.

You're staring at the server, Katia telepathed.

Heat rushed to my cheeks. No, I'm not.

It's okay. He's gorgeous and he's always everywhere we go. I think he likes you.