are training for something big and there have been a few skirmishes. There was a pretty big security breach at the house as well.”
The last part got my attention the most. There was always danger lurking, but I couldn’t remember a time when something happened at our house, the place where The Council met.
“What happened, Flint?” I didn’t actually think he’d tell me, but it was worth a try. I wasn’t part of The Council or part of security. Breaches were usually need-to-know and it’d been made clear that I never needed to know.
“Everyone is fine,” he assured me and that was as much information as I was going to get out of him.
“Good,” I said, nodding absently. “I can’t go yet. Can I trust you to keep a secret?” He thought a few seconds, then gave a quick nod. “I don’t know how much my mother told you, but I found him. I found the Sorrels’ son. He’s alive. He made it out of the car the night of the crash. Someone got him out.” I swallowed hard. “But I haven’t told him yet. I will, soon. But I need just a little more time. Please.” I hated begging, but Jensen was worth it. “Is there anything you can do to give me just a little more time? I’ll head home as soon as I can.”
Flint took a deep breath, then blew it out of his nose slowly. It was a habit of his when he was thinking things over. I don’t even think he realized he was doing it.
“I’ll do what I can,” he said. I started to speak, but he put a hand up. “I’ll tell your mother I saw you and that you are fine. I’ll also tell her you’re on your way home soon, but I will leave everything else out because I’m not sure I understand what you’re trying to do here.” He shuffled slightly closer to me. “But Alyssum, I’m warning you, you don’t have much time before an entire security force shows up here for you. Your mother can’t keep Ash in the dark forever.”
“Okay.” I nodded. “Okay, I promise.”
I watched as Flint turned to leave and ran to the window so I could see him leave for myself. One thing I’d learned a long time ago was that Flint was a man of his word. If he said he wouldn’t tell anyone what I told him, he wouldn’t. But I also knew he wouldn’t give me much leeway. He’d put an end to what I was trying to do if I took too long.
Chapter Seven
My room felt even smaller after Flint left. I was wired. Sleep was out of the question. Instead of bothering to try to nod off, I called Aric, hoping he wasn’t busy. He answered on the second ring and sounded genuinely happy to hear from me. We talked for an hour before he asked me to dinner the next night. Even though I really, really liked Aric, even I had to admit it wasn’t my stomach that tingled when I talked to him. It was an entirely different part of my body. Our conversation was easier than any Gremalian would’ve thought it could be with a Gobel. Plus, it was kind of nice not to have to tweak any of my stories to sound normal. His stories would sound just as crazy to the humans as mine.
I felt better after talking to him. I was able to slip into my pajamas and lay down. I felt like I might actually get some rest. Then my cell rang and the ID flashed Jensen’s name. I didn’t know if I should answer it or ignore it. I wanted to because I need him for the whole ‘saving our people’ thing, but part of me wanted to make him sweat after seeing him out on a date. In the end, I answered because he didn’t do anything wrong to begin with. We weren’t dating exclusively, and I couldn’t let my more girly feelings get the better of me.
“What’d you do? Dump the poor girl off as soon as the movie was over?” Harassing him was the byproduct of me wanting to know how the date went.
“Something like that.” His voice sounded husky and fluid, like I could bathe in it.
“Did you at least stop the car or just slow down and push her out?” Though I was trying to sound playful,
The last part got my attention the most. There was always danger lurking, but I couldn’t remember a time when something happened at our house, the place where The Council met.
“What happened, Flint?” I didn’t actually think he’d tell me, but it was worth a try. I wasn’t part of The Council or part of security. Breaches were usually need-to-know and it’d been made clear that I never needed to know.
“Everyone is fine,” he assured me and that was as much information as I was going to get out of him.
“Good,” I said, nodding absently. “I can’t go yet. Can I trust you to keep a secret?” He thought a few seconds, then gave a quick nod. “I don’t know how much my mother told you, but I found him. I found the Sorrels’ son. He’s alive. He made it out of the car the night of the crash. Someone got him out.” I swallowed hard. “But I haven’t told him yet. I will, soon. But I need just a little more time. Please.” I hated begging, but Jensen was worth it. “Is there anything you can do to give me just a little more time? I’ll head home as soon as I can.”
Flint took a deep breath, then blew it out of his nose slowly. It was a habit of his when he was thinking things over. I don’t even think he realized he was doing it.
“I’ll do what I can,” he said. I started to speak, but he put a hand up. “I’ll tell your mother I saw you and that you are fine. I’ll also tell her you’re on your way home soon, but I will leave everything else out because I’m not sure I understand what you’re trying to do here.” He shuffled slightly closer to me. “But Alyssum, I’m warning you, you don’t have much time before an entire security force shows up here for you. Your mother can’t keep Ash in the dark forever.”
“Okay.” I nodded. “Okay, I promise.”
I watched as Flint turned to leave and ran to the window so I could see him leave for myself. One thing I’d learned a long time ago was that Flint was a man of his word. If he said he wouldn’t tell anyone what I told him, he wouldn’t. But I also knew he wouldn’t give me much leeway. He’d put an end to what I was trying to do if I took too long.
Chapter Seven
My room felt even smaller after Flint left. I was wired. Sleep was out of the question. Instead of bothering to try to nod off, I called Aric, hoping he wasn’t busy. He answered on the second ring and sounded genuinely happy to hear from me. We talked for an hour before he asked me to dinner the next night. Even though I really, really liked Aric, even I had to admit it wasn’t my stomach that tingled when I talked to him. It was an entirely different part of my body. Our conversation was easier than any Gremalian would’ve thought it could be with a Gobel. Plus, it was kind of nice not to have to tweak any of my stories to sound normal. His stories would sound just as crazy to the humans as mine.
I felt better after talking to him. I was able to slip into my pajamas and lay down. I felt like I might actually get some rest. Then my cell rang and the ID flashed Jensen’s name. I didn’t know if I should answer it or ignore it. I wanted to because I need him for the whole ‘saving our people’ thing, but part of me wanted to make him sweat after seeing him out on a date. In the end, I answered because he didn’t do anything wrong to begin with. We weren’t dating exclusively, and I couldn’t let my more girly feelings get the better of me.
“What’d you do? Dump the poor girl off as soon as the movie was over?” Harassing him was the byproduct of me wanting to know how the date went.
“Something like that.” His voice sounded husky and fluid, like I could bathe in it.
“Did you at least stop the car or just slow down and push her out?” Though I was trying to sound playful,
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