Nightshade (5 page)

“Nothing. Never mind,” Shay murmured as his nervous gaze darted from me to Ren, whose hands now rested on my hips.

My instincts battled back and forth between the desire to tear Ren’s fingers off my body and relief from his closeness. I reveled in the strong, soft pressure of his hands, but I resented his attempt to possess me. I glanced up at him, filled with a nagging irritation. And then it hit me as my eyes returned to our uninvited guest.
This isn’t how I want Shay to see me.

Shay shook his head as though he’d been caught in a disorienting fog. The bell rang and he hurried away.

“Weird kid,” Ren murmured, dropping his hands from my hips. “He’s new, huh?”

“I guess. He was in homeroom with me and Bryn. Got stuck in the seat next to me, probably just wanted directions.” I tried to look bored. “He hasn’t figured out the rules yet. No mixing.”

Ren returned to putting away our lab materials. “Right,
that
rule.”

“Just ’cause you have boundary issues doesn’t mean everyone else does. The rest of us respect the Keepers’ wishes.” My voice dripped honey sweet.

He just shrugged.

“Look, I’m starved. You got that?” I gestured to the remaining beakers and bottles that needed to be reshelved in the classroom’s cabinets.

“No problem.”

“Thanks.” I grabbed my bag, walking swiftly from the room.

The Guardians always ate lunch on the far side of the cafeteria. While the two packs sat at different tables, we still hovered near each other. Across the room were the Keepers’ children, decked in Gucci and Prada, looking put out to be anywhere near the rest of us. The human students sat sandwiched between the wolves and our masters’ children. Sometimes I felt sorry for the mortals. In their own world they wielded immense power. But not here. At the Mountain School, the humans knew they were at the bottom of the food chain.

Ansel and Mason already occupied our usual table, and I pulled up a chair next to my brother.

“So what did Ren want?” Ansel’s eyes were bright with anticipation.

Mason leaned forward, interested, but he didn’t speak.

“Let’s wait until everyone is here.” I pulled the turkey sandwich out of my bag.

Ansel growled impatiently and I shot him a warning glare. Steel legs screeched against the tile floor as Bryn took a seat close to me. Fey dropped into the chair beside Mason.

My gaze swept over my now-circled packmates before flickering to the next table, where the Banes sat. Sabine drummed her long vamp-painted nails on the table and whispered in Cosette’s ear. The younger blond girl pursed her lips. Her skin was so pale it was like you could stare right through her, and her constant fidgeting made it appear that she wished everyone could.

Dax and Neville began an arm-wrestling match. Though Dax—clad in a Broncos jersey and baggy jeans—clearly outweighed the lean junior, beads of sweat began to appear on Dax’s forehead. Neville, head-to-toe in beatnik black, slowly began to push Dax’s arm toward the tabletop. Ren perched on the edge of the table, laughing at his friends’ antics, but his eyes darted frequently toward us.

I swallowed a mouthful of turkey and wheat bread. “Okay, listen up.”

In a single movement the Nightshades leaned forward. Except Mason, who tipped his chair away to balance on its back legs and crossed his arms behind his head. He glanced at the Banes and then winked at me. I laughed.

“Ren’s watching. Be cool. Be Mason.”

The rest of the pack mumbled embarrassed excuses, trying to assume more casual poses with varying levels of success.

“The Bane alpha made an interesting suggestion.” I chewed on my sandwich, ignoring my lurching stomach.

Bryn twirled her spaghetti around the tines of her fork. “And what was that?”

“He wants us to start hanging out.” I tried not to cringe as my pack struggled to hold their composure.

Ansel sent corn chips scattering across the table. Fey’s lips curled up in disgust and she threw an incredulous look at Bryn, who had drawn in a hissing breath. Only Mason remained unruffled. He stretched his arms languidly, looking pleased. My low growl made the pack settle.

Bryn spoke first, in a hushed voice. “Do you mean he wants to date you?” I winced at her incredulous tone.

“No,
us.
” I swept my hand around the circle of the table. “Our packs. He thinks the Banes and Nightshades should start to merge now. Before the union.”

“Oh, come on.” Fey was livid. “Why would we want to do that any sooner than we have to?” She shredded a napkin that had the misfortune of resting on her lunch tray.

Mason rocked back and forth in his chair. “Could be interesting.”

“Bryn?” I turned to face her.

“What’s his motivation?” Her eyes darted to the Bane table.

I followed her gaze. Dax looked crestfallen, while Neville pulled his tweed cap over his eyes, dropping his head back against his chair to nap. Ren had taken a seat near Sabine, who leaned into him, her lips moving rapidly as she spoke. Cosette’s head bobbed in affirmation as she listened.

“The same as mine,” I murmured. “Efron’s riding him. And Lumine’s doing the same with me. She had wraiths in my house last night.”

My pack bristled at the mention of the shadow guards.

“Ren thinks that if we show our compliance to the union early,” I continued, “you know—follow orders before they are orders—that the Keepers will give us a break.”

“What do
you
think?” Ansel had gathered the scattered Fritos back into a pile in front of him.

“I think we should try it. One step at a time,” I said. “If it sucks, we’ll separate and wait until the order is given in October.”

Mason dropped his chair back to the floor. “What do you mean one step at a time?”

“We’re invited to a party at Eden on Friday night.”

“Whoa.” Mason elbowed Ansel, who grinned.

“But . . .” All their eyes were on me. “I don’t want the Banes to call the shots. Eden is Efron’s turf. Their turf.”

Bryn leaned closer to me but looked at the other Nightshades, baring her teeth. “She’s right. Ren can’t control the merge.”

“He won’t,” I said. “I’m going to keep him guessing. He’s always been too sure of himself.”

My packmates laughed, nodding.

“I need you guys to follow my lead and play nice,” I said. “Even if what I do is somewhat . . . shocking.”

Mason drummed his fingers on the table. Ansel cocked his head. Bryn just nodded. I stared at Fey, who chomped at her apple before speaking.

“You’re the alpha, Cal,” she said, mouth full of fruit flesh. “But for the record, I hate Sabine. She’s a heinous bitch.”

“Maybe she’s nice when you get to know her,” Ansel said. He shrank away from Fey’s withering glare.

“So we’re agreed, then?” I straightened in my chair, waiting. They all nodded, Mason eagerly, Fey last.

“Okay, guys. Here comes the cannonball.” I turned to face the Banes.

“Hey, Ren!” I called.

He broke off his conversation with Sabine, whose face contorted with outrage. His eyebrows shot up, but he quickly composed his face into a picture of disinterested but respectful regard.

“Yeah?”

“Push our tables together?”

I heard Fey swear under her breath. My smile broadened when Ren couldn’t suppress the startled twitch of his limbs.

“Of course.” He shot a quick look at Dax and jerked his head toward us.

The bulky senior walked over and gripped our table with one hand. He pulled it along the ground, which caused a horrible screeching of metal on tile, until it bumped up against the Banes’ table. Heads all over the cafeteria lifted and turned toward the teeth-grating sound. The Keepers’ faces registered shock and murmurs of interest drifted toward us.

Mason was already on his feet; he dragged his chair over to Neville, who looked surprised but smiled and pushed his own seat back to make room. Mason waved Ansel over. My brother trotted happily to his friend’s side, and Neville extended a welcoming hand.

Huh.
I hadn’t expected such an easy melding of our packs.

Sabine scooted backward when Fey carried her chair to the united tables. Fey stared back at the Bane girl, positioning her own seat as far from Sabine as possible.

Maybe not
so
easy.

“Calla?” Bryn waited beside me.

“Fey needs some moral support. And maybe restraints. Sit with her.”

I kept my gaze on Ren. He leaned over to Dax. I saw his lips move though I couldn’t hear the words. Dax stiffened. Ren put a hand on his shoulder, which Dax shrugged off as he stood.

The broad-shouldered wolf sauntered past me, picked up the chair I had been sitting in, and carried it over to Bryn and Fey. I nodded and they adjusted their chairs with some reluctance to make room for the imposing Bane. Ren gestured to the chair next to him and raised his eyebrows at me.

I grabbed my lunch and moved to the empty seat. Sabine sulked. Cosette offered a nervous smile as I sat down.

“Hello, ladies,” I said.

Sabine grunted, tightening the lock of her arms around her body.

“Hi, Calla,” Cosette murmured, toying with the meatball atop her plate of spaghetti. Her glance darted uneasily from me to Sabine.

“Interesting move, Lily.” Ren took a swig from his bottled water.

I resumed chomping on my turkey sandwich and shrugged. “I thought it might save us from random acts of violence at Eden. I’m sure Efron wouldn’t enjoy pulling rival teen wolves off each other in the middle of his party.”

Ren laughed, tilting his chair on its back legs, but Sabine glared at me.

“So you’re coming?” Her nails dug into the flesh of her arms, leaving bright red welts.

“Of course. We can’t wait,” I said. My voice dripped saccharin.

“Whatever.” She pulled out an emery board and began filing her nails.

Ren brought his chair back to the floor with an abrupt clatter. “Knock it off, Sabine. Now.”

She dropped the emery board and cast a pleading glance at Cosette. The younger Bane girl bit her lip, scooped up the board, and handed it back to Sabine.

A trill of wicked laughter came from the other table. Fey grinned as her eyes followed Dax’s wildly gesticulating hands.

“Well, that is a strange sight,” I said. “Smiling ranks at the top of her seven deadly sins.”

Ren leaned toward me. “Dax is a funny guy. Great storyteller. Your pack will like him.”

“That seems to be the case.”

Mason, Neville, and Ansel remained so engrossed in their conversation—which from snatches I caught seemed to be about whether Montreal, Austin, or Minneapolis produced the best indie bands—they didn’t even glance at the rest of the wolves. I leaned back in my chair, feeling rather pleased with myself.

This
is
easy.

The mouthful of turkey sandwich I’d bitten off caught in my throat when Ren rested his hand on my leg, his fingers exploring the curve of my thigh. I coughed and snatched the bottle of water from his other hand, taking several desperate swallows before swatting his fingers from my leg.

“Are you trying to kill me?” I choked the words out. “Keep your hands to yourself.”

Ren opened his mouth as if to respond, but he suddenly jerked upright, looking behind me. I turned in my seat.

Shay stood in the middle of the cafeteria, staring at our two tables, a mixture of curiosity and fear playing over his face.

“I think you’re right, Lily,” Ren said. “That boy needs directions. He looks like he wants to come over here.”

Shay took a hesitant step toward us. His eyes fixed on me, mesmerized. I shuddered and shoved the remainder of my sandwich into the brown paper bag.

Sabine snickered. “My, my, that’s a love-struck gaze if I’ve ever seen one. It looks like the newbie has a crush on Calla. Isn’t that sweet? Poor little human.”

It was becoming too familiar, this mixture of fear and pleasure whenever I thought about the new boy and wondered what he might be thinking about me.

A low rumble stirred in Ren’s chest. “Maybe I need to have a chat with him about how things stand with us . . . and where his place is at this school.”

He started to rise. I couldn’t let him get to Shay.

“No, Ren. Please. He’s just a human. He doesn’t know any better.” I grabbed his arm, pulling him back into the chair. “Give it a day; he’s bound to figure it out. They always do.”

“Is that what you want?” His voice dropped low. “For me to leave him alone?”

“We’re not supposed to mix with the humans,” I said. “It will only draw attention if you confront him.”

He pulled my hand off his forearm, threading his fingers through my own.

I tensed but didn’t attempt to free my hand from his clasp.

Okay, we can hold hands. This is okay. This
will
be okay.

But my heart felt like I was trying to finish a marathon. I hated that I couldn’t control myself around him—and that I had to.

The rest of the pack, attuned to the sudden bristling of their two alphas, dropped their conversations and turned to the stranger. A rippling snarl emerged from their throats and my spine prickled. Their defensive reaction was the first unified act of the young Nightshades and Banes.

We
are
a pack.

With ten pairs of hostile Guardian eyes fixed upon him, Shay began to quiver. His glance shot around the cafeteria, settling on his lab partners from Organic Chemistry. He hurried over to their table with a quick, regretful glance back at me.

A dark laugh rolled out of Ren’s throat. “Guess you were right, Lily. There’s the learning curve in action.”

I smiled weakly and crumpled my lunch bag, too aware of the disappointment still pinching me from the moment Shay had walked away.