“I’ve never seen you hide an emotion in your life.” He sets his hands back into the folds of his robes and sighs. “Clearly, you already have feelings for Lincoln.”

I tilt my head to one side, considering. The Prince is funny, handsome, smart and kicks serious demon ass. Why shouldn’t I like him? “Maybe I do.” I stick out my tongue at Walker. Nyah.

“Oh, my.” Walker works hard to hide his smile, but I can tell that secretly, he’s totally digging this. “The two of you together are going to be trouble.”

My face breaks out into a wide grin. “I certainly hope so.”

Tank stands on the muddy back lawn of High, motioning students closer with his beefy hands. “Everyone, gather around. Class is about to begin.”

I glance at my watch. Once this class is over, I can go to the Ryder mansion for my mystery whatever-it-is with Lincoln. Anxiety burns through my chest.

The Old Timer lurks by our gym teacher’s elbow. His fingers tremble as he twiddles his half-a-moustache. Cissy and Zeke chat nearby.

The Old Timer smoothes his palms over his receding gray hair, guiding the frizzy strands into a tiny pony tail. “We have special guests today.” He gives his moustache-half an extra-long twirl. “Angel warriors. They’ll arrive any minute.”

My mind empties of all thought except pure joy. I jump up and down. “Yes! Yes! Yes!” I’ve never seen angels fight. The entire class turns in my direction, their eyes large and mouths small. Tails stop wagging.

Cissy slides up beside me and whispers in my ear. “You might want to cool it. The other kids are scared of angels. Everyone else is–”

I raise my pointer finger. “I’m not like everyone else and I don’t want to be like everyone else.”

Cissy chuckles. “I noticed. Okay, jump up and down. Knock yourself out.”

The Old Timer starts blabbing about how to act in front of angels. The other students stand google-eyed and twitchy, hanging on his every word.

I elbow Cissy, trying my best to look super calm and cool. “So, any luck with that research project?”

“You mean finding out what Prince Lincoln wants with you at the Ryder mansion today?”

“That’s the one.”

“Nope. I think Zeke’s parents know, but they won’t say a word.” She glances at her watch. “Class ends in forty minutes. You’ll find out soon enough.”

Two angels appear on a nearby patch of muddy lawn. A man and woman, they’re tall and trim with white-blond hair that hangs straight and loose down their backs. They have milky skin, pale blue eyes, and large white wings. Their silver armor is delicately carved with runes of protection. The students gasp as the pair steps up to Tank and the Old Timer. I don’t think anyone breathes, let alone talks.