Ror

I woke up wasn't the pounding i

al. Too

chatting about homework, Tyler flinging paper balls across the room. Like nothing had occurred

e still echo

cause I'm the only one

y in the driveway, crooked as usual, like he didn't care if it blocked half the st

re he noticed me, but the second I opened

his

ang

d strange here, too sharp against the sagging couch and beer-stained carpet. My stepfather, wh

twisted into a tight bun, turned as if she had been

y Ha

se. "Who

said effortlessly. "We're here

. "Obsidi

nstitution for the gifted. And

e before I could stop it. "

t certain. He didn't look at me, only rubbed the back of

him. "You

ce, he looked... scared. "Rory, they

ed. "What are yo

floor. "We don't have time for hesitation. You've already been

od wen

freezing classroom. K

n. "You don't know wha

ck eyes, eventually spoke. His voice was low, powerful. "Your kind doesn't

backing away. "

her's voice st

ve to g

my chest. "You want me to leave wi

ckered in his eyes. "I know enough. Your

t me harder

clenched. "What does sh

man. Not entirely. She intended to inform you when you were

ide me. "So you're saying s

quieter, "I thought I could protect

silk. "Rory, you need to come with us. Obsidian Academy is the o

he word sc

ad. Don't trust anyone. Especial

o never cared about anything

myself, whispering

ghtened. "Then you won

aced down

mid-twenties, with dark blond hair and disconcerting blue eyes that di

the Mar

froze. My st

loudly it blotted

anded, but no

stern glance, but the words were alr

arked

o notion wh

in, her stepfather requesting she leave, and

the Mar