I jerked back from the door, tripping over the chair I’d been sitting in. I caught myself on the edge of the bed, eyes glued to the door.

By the time I found the courage to look again, there was nothing on the other side of the door or anyone on the balcony. I double-checked that the door was locked—a pointless precaution, but it made me feel better. I climbed into bed and lay down on my side, clutching the blankets to my chin. My eyes stayed on the balcony doors.

It was a long time before my heart would calm down enough so I could fall back asleep.

Chapter 9

I felt like a ghost.

Gabe, the blond guy who’d thrown me across the room telekinetically, left the room if I walked in. The twins, Phoebe and Parker, just flat out refused to acknowledge my existence. Never in my life had I felt more like a loser—and that was saying something. By the time Cromwell basically ordered me to the kitchen, I was grateful. At least someone wanted to talk to me.

Once there, I found myself sitting in the same spot I had two days ago, but this time Hayden was with us. He wasn’t talking much since he was busy shoving a foot-long sub in his mouth.

“I wanted to discuss the school situation. You’re already registered and set to go tomorrow,” Cromwell said.

I watched Hayden. He ate amazingly fast, and he was sloppier than Olivia. Pieces of tomato and turkey fell to the plate, along with globs of mayonnaise and mustard.

“At no time are you allowed to discuss any of our gifts with the outsiders.”

“Yeah, I think I already know what will happen if I do,” I snapped.

Cromwell sighed. “Ember, I’m sorry about what happened to your friend. However, you left me with no other option.”

“Adam didn’t know anything,” I said for the hundredth time.

Cromwell folded his arms on the table. “I will not continue to discuss this with you, Ember. But do understand—if I think you have told any outsider about us, I will do the same. Again.”

“Or you could just ship me off.”

He took a deep breath, visibly struggling for patience. “Yes, that is always an option. Do you understand, Ember?”

Hayden stopped eating long enough to hear my answer. “Yes. I understand.”

“Good,” Cromwell said. “I have some questions for you.” I stared at him until his smile strained.

“May I ask how many times Olivia has used her gift? Besides the time she used it with you.”

I thought about lying. “Only a few times since: a cat, a pigeon, and Squeaky. I’ve gotten her to understand not to do it, but I can’t promise you that she won’t if she sees a dead animal.” I glanced over at Hayden. The sub was gone. Now he stared at me. “Olivia has a soft spot for animals.”

“Squeaky? The hamster upstairs?” Cromwell asked.

I got a twisted amount of pleasure from seeing Cromwell’s eyes widen with surprise. “Yep. Squeaky died. I buried him. Olivia dug him up. I woke up the next day with the thing sitting on my chest.”