The Forever Blaze [3]

C H A P T E R - 1 3

Tiergan spent the rest of their session explaining his new "Guide Safety Procedures." The two primary rules were, "make eye contact every few minutes" and "don't do anything without warning." He also insisted that they "communicate in code," so that if Fintan's mind became conscious at any point, he wouldn't know what they were doing.

Their homework was to create their code words, and have them memorized by their telepathy session on Thursday. It took them all of study hall to create their list—though that was mostly because their friends kept interrupting. Dex kept grumbling about Telepaths. Biana kept begging to use her ability to sneak into the healing. And Keefe kept interrupting with unhelpful suggestions like, "snickerdoodle" and "hippity hop" and "Keefe is the awesome Lord of Everything." Only Jensi and Marella left them alone, though Sophie could tell they felt left out. But she wasn't dragging any more of her friends into all her drama.

The commands they finally picked were:

"Alden": No reason to worry

"Mallowmelt": I found something good

"Dame Alina": I'm in trouble

"Verminion": Get out as fast as you can

"Everblaze": I'm going to use a brain push

Fitz hadn't understood why Sophie wanted a code word about brain pushes. But she'd used the rare method of channeling during Fintan's memory break, and it happened right before everything went wrong. Part of her kept wondering if the two elements were connected. Meredith agreed with her though. it was always better to be prepared.

Hopefully she wouldn't need to take such an extreme measure this time, but in case she did, she wanted Fitz and Meredith to be warned and ready.

She was going to protect them every way she could.

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"Hey," Sophie said as she caught up with Marella in the Level Three atrium.

The locker-lined quad was humongous, decorated with glittering crystal trees and a giant mastodon statue in the center. But it felt strangely small when Marella didn't smile back at her.

"You okay?" Sophie asked. "I couldn't find you at orientation."

Marella said nothing as she licked the sensor to open her locker, waiting until she'd grabbed all her books before she mumbled, "I'm surprised you noticed I was gone."

"Why wouldn't I?"

"No reason."

Marella tossed the tiny braids she'd woven into her hair as she turned to face Sophie. She looked more like her old self again—except for the scowl on her lips.

"Is this about Biana?" Sophie asked.

"Why would I care about her?"

"I don't know. You've been a little different since she manifested."

"Oh, so you think I'm jealous?"

"I never said that." Sophie kept her voice low, wishing they could have this conversation somewhere without so many staring prodigies.

Marella slammed her locker much harder than she needed to. "Good. And I don't care that she's suddenly in on all your secret stuff, either—in case that's what you're thinking."

"I wasn't," Sophie promised.

"Good," Marella repeated. "Because I wouldn't get sucked into your drama even if you wanted me too. It's way too dangerous."