Adrian’s phone buzzed with a text. He scanned the message, sipped his coffee, and then fixed his gaze on me. “Kristen’s at the knucklebones game. Shall we go save her?”

“She doesn’t need saving.” I finished my mango juice. “She loves this kind of stuff.”

“Don’t you know how thirsty Awakeneds can be during the Gathering?”

“What?”

“This could be their last chance of hooking up with anyone without their other half knowing about it. Makes for thirstiness. And desperation.” Adrian shrugged. “Then there are those social climbers who figure they might as well take the opportunity to chase Royals while they have the chance. Knock them up so they can still have a connection with them. Dirty tricks like that, you know. And we both know Kristen is a target thanks to her royal blood and her looks.”

“Geez, Zeus! Some people are just gross. I had no idea. Let’s go. You should be the guide since I have no clue how to get there, and either this map is useless, or I suck at reading maps.”

“Damn, ending our date so soon? Maybe I shouldn’t have brought it up,” Adrian said as we stood and walked out of the dining hall.

“This was a date? I didn’t realize I was your type,” I joked.

Surprisingly he didn’t laugh but grabbed my hand instead. “You’re a beautiful girl, Montgomery.”

“Adrian . . .”

“Don’t worry, Montgomery. I won’t start something that I can’t finish. Let’s go find Kristen.”

I found myself momentarily stunned and stared down at my hand, still warm from his touch. What was happening to me? I’d heard that being Awakened meant heightened emotions and desires, but this was getting a little too intense.

As I crossed the lobby of the Hyped, trying to catch up to Adrian, I saw the three stern-looking ladies watching me like hawks. I shivered, and distractedly walked right into Adrian’s back. “Cheesy fusilli! Why did you stop?” I rubbed my forehead and groaned.

Adrian’s face had hardened. His eyes glistened with pain as he stared at the entranceway to the Hyped.

“Adrian? Are you okay?” I grabbed his upper arm and gave him a hard squeeze. He didn’t react to my voice or my touch.

“Avery?” said a silky female voice.

Standing in front of us was the stunning Marsela Costas, her thick dark-brown hair falling over her shoulders in loose waves, framing her heart-shaped face.

“Mars! It’s so good to see you!” I embraced her in a warm hug.

“Geez, you’re all grown up!” She pulled away to look at me and shook her head in awe. “And what a beauty!”

Besides possessing an allure that could match Aphrodite’s, Marsela also had the kindest heart. Just like Kris, she never saw ill in anyone. I said, “You should see Kris. She looks like a legit model.”