Jaya sometimes failed to understand about a third of what Daphne Elizabeth said, but she got the gist of this. Twirling her pen thoughtfully, she said, “That’s what I’m hoping.”

A few days later, Jaya stood on the outdoor archery range with Grey, her hair blowing slightly in the light breeze. Using the hair elastic around her wrist, she tied it back in a sporty ponytail and turned to him, shrugging. “This is so hard.” She giggled, even though just saying the words was anathema to her very soul. “I just cannot remember what Ms. Bayer said, and I don’t want her shooting me with an arrow.”

“Hmm,” Grey said. His target was about seventy-five yards south of them. “Let me see you do it.”

Jaya irritably pulled the arrow up to her mouth, smiling a slightly rictus smile. “Like this?”

“No,” he said brusquely. “Pull it under your chin. Remember?”

He wasn’t being condescending in the least. Still, she’d easily been the best archer at her last few schools. And now, to pretend like she had no clue what she was doing? It really, really stuck in her craw. If she were being completely honest, Grey’s square stance wasn’t even that good. She should be teaching him.

“No,” Jaya said now, doing her best damsel-in-distress move. She tried to laugh helplessly, but there was an edge to it that she hurriedly tried to round out. “Could you show me? Please?”

Grey stepped behind her (he was positively looming. God, was there any reason for anyone to be that tall and broad?) and guided her arms. “Like… this,” he said, positioning her the right way.

She relaxed against him and smiled. “Thanks, Grey.”

He said nothing.

Grey

Jaya was resting her body lightly against his, and it… it felt strange. Good strange, but still strange. It was like she was just finding reasons to touch him. The thought wasn’t completely unpleasant. But it also didn’t make sense. Sure, they’d built up an acquaintanceship over the last week and a half. It was kind of impossible not to—she was in all of his classes, she sat with his group of friends for all of their meals. Her story and emotions about her sister’s scandal had seemed real enough. But she was a Rao. Her pendant was still a big question mark hanging around her neck. If he knew what was good for him, he’d stay away from her. Completely away. And yet…

“Time to wrap up!” Ms. Bayer called from down the line of students. “Put your gear away!”

Grey stepped back from her quickly, muscling past the slight but alarming reluctance he felt.