The ferry back to campus felt different from the one that brought us here. Maybe it was the bags of expensive clothes Aurora insisted on buying for . Maybe it was the way Addison sat across from us looking like she’d actually enjoyed herself despite spending most of breakfast threatening my life.
I leaned against the railing on the upper deck, watching the island grow larger on the horizon. Salt spray misted my face and the ocean stretched out in every direction, blue and endless.
Aurora stood beside , her orange hair whipping in the wind. She’d changed into jeans and a green tank top that made her eyes look even brighter. One of her hands rested on my lower back, casual and possessive at the sa ti.
"You’re quiet," she said.
"Just thinking."
"About?"
"How three weeks ago I woke up ready to die in a few days. Now I’m riding a ferry back from shopping with two hot girls who know I’m a milk vampire and don’t care."
She laughed, the sound getting caught in the wind. "When you put it like that it sounds insane."
"It is insane."
"Yeah but it’s fun." She squeezed my hip. "You had fun, right?"
I turned to look at her properly. The sun caught in her hair and turned it into actual fire. Her green eyes held mine with that playful edge that ant she already knew the answer but wanted to hear say it anyway.
"Yeah. I had fun."
"Good." She rose on her toes and kissed quick. "Because I’m keeping you."
Addison appeared beside us, leaning over the railing with a fresh lollipop stuck in her mouth. Cherry flavor this ti. "You two are disgusting. It’s like watching a romance movie but worse because it’s real."
"Jealous," Aurora said.
"Of your milk vampire? Please." She bit down on the lollipop with a crack that made wince. "I’ve got standards."
"Your standards include collecting knives and reading manga about serial killers."
"And your standards include dating lottery kids who drink supernatural breast milk. We all have our flaws."
I snorted. Couldn’t help it.
Addison’s violet eyes slid to . "Sothing funny?"
"You."
"Elaborate."
"You act like you’re this terrifying goth princess who doesn’t need anybody, but you’ve been checking on Aurora every twenty minutes since we left the hotel."
Her jaw worked. "So?"
"So it’s cute."
"I’m not cute. I’m violent and intimidating."
"You’re both."
Aurora nodded. "He’s right. You are cute when you’re worried about ."
"I hate you both." Addison chewed through another lollipop. "I’m going downstairs to get more candy before I say sothing I regret."
She left. I watched her go, black hair swaying with her stride, boots heavy on the tal deck.
Aurora turned back to the ocean. "She likes you."
"She threatened to murder three tis at breakfast."
"That’s her love language." She squeezed my hand. "But seriously. Addison doesn’t trust people. Like, ever. She’s letting you in because I vouched for you. Don’t make look stupid."
"Wouldn’t dream of it."
"Good." She pulled out her phone and started typing. "Because she will absolutely follow through on the scythe thing. She’s killed people before. In gates. Legally. But still."
My phone buzzed. Belle: Where are you?
On the ferry. Back in like twenty minutes.
Good. I need you at four. Non-negotiable.
Yeah I figured.
Don’t be late.
I pocketed my phone and Aurora glanced at with raised eyebrows. "Belle?"
"Yep."
"You’re handling her today?"
"Promised I would. Bailed yesterday so I owe her."
Aurora’s expression shifted, sothing complicated moving behind her eyes. "You know she’s catching feelings, right?"
"I know."
"And Naomi’s already there."
"Also know."
"And now I’m in the mix."
I looked at her. Really looked at her. Orange hair in the wind, green eyes studying my face, mouth curved in that way that ant she was figuring out in real ti.
"What are you asking?"
"I’m not asking anything." She turned back to the ocean. "Just making sure you know what you’re building here. Because it’s gonna get ssy."
"It’s already ssy."
"Fair." She leaned her head on my shoulder. "But you’re handling it better than I expected."
The island lood closer now. I could see the harbor, the academy buildings rising behind it, the simulation do catching sunlight.
Going back ant training. Gates. Blair’s inevitable retaliation. Misato’s brutal circuits. Jordan’s complaining. Naomi’s hurt eyes when I left without telling her. Belle’s anger about being ditched.
But it also ant progress. Stats climbing. Abilities upgrading. Points banking.
The ferry docked with a gentle thump against rubber bumpers. Students filed off in clusters, academy IDs ready for the security checkpoint.
Aurora grabbed her shopping bags and I grabbed mine. Addison reappeared with a bag full of candy and a fresh lollipop already in her mouth.
"Ready?"
"Ready."
Security waved us through after scanning our IDs. The walk back across campus took fifteen minutes, uphill the entire way. My new clothes moved with properly instead of fighting against every step. Felt good. Felt right.
We reached Building C and Aurora stopped at the entrance, setting down her bags.
"I had fun," she said.
" too."
"Yeah?" Her smile went soft. "Good. Because we’re doing it again. Next weekend. Sowhere nicer."
"How much nicer can it get than a nine thousand credit shopping spree?"
"You’d be surprised what I can do with unlimited resources and motivation."
Addison cleared her throat. "I’m standing right here."
"We know." Aurora turned to her. "Thanks for not being a bitch about Jace."
"I’m always a bitch. I was just a bitch on my best behavior."
"That’s what I ant."
They hugged.
When they pulled apart, Addison looked at . "You. Black hair. Think about it."
"Why?"
"Because I said so and I’m always right about aesthetic choices." She adjusted her leather jacket.
"I’ll think about it."
"Think fast. I’m dragging you to get it done before winter break." Addison started walking toward her own building, calling back over her shoulder. "See you around, milk vampire."
Aurora picked up her bags again. "Walk up?"
"You don’t live here."
"I know. But you do and I want to see your room again."
We took the elevator. A first-year couple got off on the third floor, whispering about Aurora being with . I caught the word "lottery" and sothing about "second-years slumming."
Aurora’s hand tightened on mine. "Ignore them."
"Already forgotten."
Her smile ca back. "Liar."
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