I approached the Recreation Room and slowed. I saw my reflection in the clear glass of the Rec Room window and, through it, I saw my peers. They sat in a close-knit circle. No doubt, I would have to fight for a place among them. It would not be easy. On the other hand, if Covington was right, if there was even a sliver of a chance—I wanted to try. Shifting my school pack to the opposite shoulder, I pushed open the door and stepped inside.

* * *

East Keep was the first to notice my approach. The half-smile on her lips died. She nudged Covington and nodded in my direction. The urge to turn on my heel doubled. If not for Covington’s gaze, warning me of ruination, I would have fled at that moment.

As it was, I pressed on, keeping my pace steady and my expression neutral. The West Keep twins wore stern expressions, but both were fidgeting. Hannibal’s arms were folded, like the others’, but her hands were open, not fisted. I knew, instinctively, her heart was not in the fight against me.

The one to placate was East Keep. On that first day of school, she’d been doodling so intently I had already mounted the nearest desk by the time she looked up from her parchment. She looked at me and, finding nothing of interest, turned back to her page. I caught a glimpse of it as I fell. It was dotted with nonsense—droopy-eyed puppies and loops of garland. She hadn’t looked up again, even when my flailing foot dislodged the container of ink on her desk. Her eyes had followed it down instead of me.

I forced a smile as I stopped. “Hi, East Keep.”

She tossed her braid.

I glanced at Covington who nodded, urging me to continue.

I tried for humility. “Look, East Keep, I’m sorry about what happened in the meeting.”

Her lips twisted petulantly.

“You were right, I didn’t want the position.” I glanced at Covington. “You were also right about other things. I’ve always focused on my studies and maybe… perhaps I could have been more sociable.”

After a long while, she gave a small shrug. “Since you’re here, I assume you received my invitation.”

“Yes, I did. I thought it was… pretty.” Lie. In truth, one drawer of my desk was permanently scented, stuffed with a decade of perfumed and bedazzled invitations I hadn’t bothered to read.

Her mouth softened. “I tried something new with that last batch. The twins gave me a stationery kit for my birth month. It came with twenty-four colors of ink.”

“They must have gone to a lot of trouble.”

One twin interrupted. “Not really. Covington’s boyfriend is a merchant from Point Landing. He gets us whatever we want from the—ouch!” She broke off as her sister jabbed her in the side.