Grey had nodded again, trying to grasp what was being said. The curse… the curse had caused Mother to die. Already, he could feel a tiny hardening in his heart, like it was growing a protective shell. He wouldn’t cry. He didn’t need to cry.

Letting go of Grey, Father had gotten up abruptly and walked to the door. His hand on the knob, he’d said without turning around, “You can come home at the holidays.” And then he’d left. Grey was never invited home for the holidays.

And now the Rao sisters were here. But… so what? St. R’s was a popular school with international students of checkered backgrounds. If anything, their sudden appearance should be a reason for curiosity and interest, not alarm. The universe didn’t revolve around Grey.

Vaguely, he responded.

Well, you can meet them at breakfast Thursday, Leo typed. But do you want to meet for dinner tonight? Just us guys and DE?

No, Grey typed, and put away his phone. Leo would no doubt be hurt, but no doubt he’d forgive Grey. Why, Grey wasn’t sure. It wasn’t like he gave him or Rahul or DE anything to hang on to. Maybe they thought of him as charity. Grey ground his teeth, his jaw set. Let them think of him whatever they wanted to. They were immaterial. They had to be.

He sat back against the boulder behind him and closed his eyes. The time had almost come for him to step out from his hideaway, as it did every year.

CHAPTER 3

Jaya

Dr. Waverly, Isha, and Jaya approached another set of stairs at the north end of the building. These were wide, with carved mahogany balustrades, and covered in a rich red-and-tan carpeting. A large skylight overhead let in sunlight that fell in dappled squares on each step. Jaya trod on the patches of light, feeling the warmth beaming through her shirt and seeping through her shoes.

Two very young-looking students passed them, going down. They smiled politely at Dr. Waverly, darting curious glances Isha and Jaya’s way.

“Hello, girls,” Dr. Waverly said. To the sisters, she continued, “This environment can take some getting used to, but I want you to know the faculty and staff at St. Rosetta’s are committed to your success. We’re always here to meet any of your needs. The front office is staffed twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, during the school year to cater to our international students and families. We have students from a hundred countries around the world, you’ll be interested to know.” Jaya bit her lip to keep from smiling; Dr. Waverly sounded exactly like the official school brochure. “We’re very flattered to have people of your caliber choose us, Prin—Jaya.”