slipping through mine. It was a touch I was both grateful for and confused by.

But not today. Today I went it alone.

I got another gulp of coffee down, inhaled at the wrong time, and almost sprayed it all over the

floor. Being stared at will do that—make you clumsy.

“You okay?” Graves sounded worried.

“I got all my homework done.” My nose stung from coffee. I stared at my sneakers on the hardwood. One step, two steps, three steps. Leon cut traffic so I didn’t have to worry about running into

anyone. “I think . . .”

I really think he’s going to change back, I almost said, but shut my mouth. It wasn’t the sort of thing

to talk about in a hallway. Especially since anything I said would fall into a big rippling pond of

quiet.

Each night Ash struggled, bones cracking, to change. And each night I thought he might really do it.

Benjamin said he wouldn’t. Shanks shrugged. Graves said nothing, and Dibs wouldn’t even go near

the hall that housed Ash’s room. He turned an interesting shade of white every time it was even

mentioned.

I almost ran into Leon when he stopped. “Last stop, Grand Central, everyone out,” he said with one

of his crooked little smiles. Seen in sunlight, his mousy hair took on threads of gold, brown, and

ash-blond and was fine instead of lank. He had a sharply handsome face, and I was still trying to

figure out how he did the fade-into-the-background thing. It didn’t seem natural.

“I’ll see you at lunch.” Graves took another puff off his cancer-stick. “We’ll do Para Bio together.

It’ll be fun.”

I rolled my eyes. “You bet. Bye, guys. Thanks.”

“Ciao, Dru-girl. Don’t forget, Saturday we’re doing a run in the park. Graves’ll bring you.” Shanks

waved, slung an arm over Dibs’s shoulders. “C’mon, boyo. Race you to Red Wing.”

“I won’t forget.” It was the third time he’d reminded me. But he was already gone. Just like that,

heading for the wing where wulfen had their classes. The hall was emptying rapidly, no few of the

boys sneaking glances at me. I waited, expectant.

Graves gave me a once-over, green eyes glowing. Apparently satisfied, he leaned in and pressed his

lips to my cheek. A quick peck, then he straightened, turned on his heel, and walked off very quickly.

It was the same thing every day. As a public display of affection, it kind of left a little to be desired.

Maybe he was taking it slow because of everything going on, or maybe he just . . . I don’t know.

Leon made a short, suppressed sound. The door squeaked a little as he leaned back, pulling it open

and glancing inside. He waved a slim languid hand at me. “After you, Milady.”