House of Darken (Secret Keepers #1)

I should have guessed these were the enemies. They certainly had an “enemy” attitude going on.

The white-blond girl stepped forward then. “We’ve heard whispers that the council is looking into the Darken House.” She popped her lip out in a fake pout. I was pretty sure that was supposed to be a sad face, but done by someone who was unsure how that emotion worked. I was instantly reminded of The Princess Bride, “I do not think it means what you think it means.” Classic movie, I needed to get another copy one day. I would eventually replace my collec—

My thoughts dried up as the Imperial chick locked eyes on me. I hurried to school my face back into a neutral expression. I didn’t have to bother though, because in the same instant Marsil and Jero both shifted their bulk to block me. All I could see were the tense lines of their backs.

“Don’t be worrying about our business,” I heard Jero say. “You have more than enough trouble in your own house.”

There were a few more words, but so low that I missed most of them. By the time I pushed my way through the barrier of Darkens, the Imperials had disappeared. I reached out and grabbed onto both of the guys’ forearms, yanking them closer to me. “I think you all need to explain to me exactly what is going on here. How many of you elites are in this school?”

If I was to navigate this new world I found myself in, I needed to know what I was dealing with. There was a lot going on here. A lot of history. So much I didn’t know, and nothing I was going to be able to infer from terse exchanges.

Marsil leaned in close to me. “We will tell you what we can, but the council has final say on what information we are allowed to release to a human.”

“Sometimes ignorance is the best, especially when you’re trying to stay under the radar,” Jero added.

“Like … the council might kill me if I know too much?” I said slowly.

They both shrugged, but neither disagreed. I shut my mouth, swallowing roughly to try to clear the ball of nerves in my throat.

“What happened?” Lexen’s voice had us all spinning around; he was standing there with Star at his side, staring above my head at his brothers, but it felt like some of his attention was also on me. A few times his eyes flicked to mine.

“The Imperials. Laous’ side of the family,” Jero told him.

Lexen’s expression morphed from concern into something I couldn’t read. Maybe annoyance. Possibly anger. Definitely a sliver of worry.

“So they saw Emma?”

All of us nodded, and his jaw clenched. “Nothing has changed,” he finally said. “They’re no match for us. We continue to do our job and protect Emma. The council will tell us what step to take next.”

Star, who was quiet and somber for once, stepped to my side and wrapped her arms around me. I patted her back a few times, not hating the close contact as much as I used to.

She pulled back. “What happens if the council tells us to forget about Emma?” she asked her brothers. “The Imperials have seen her now. They’re going to try and find out why she’s with us. They might hurt her.”

Well, none of that sounded good.

Lexen stopped his sister’s half hysterical rant by grabbing her hand. “It’s going to be okay, Star. I won’t let your first Earthside friend be murdered by our enemies, even if the council washes their hands of her.”

Excellent news. Best news I had heard all day. Wait a minute … I soooo wasn’t ready to hear them admit they weren’t from Earth – I was definitely ignoring that Earthside comment.

The bell rang before I could push for more information. My first class today was AP English, and I wondered which of my new group of protectors was with me.

“I’ve got Emma for this class,” Lexen answered my unspoken question. “Star, you’re with Jero and Marsil in chemistry.”

I shuddered, and she jerked her head back. “What? Is chemistry … bad?”

Another shudder rocked me. “The worst. Just … good luck.”

She blinked her wide pretty eyes at me and I couldn’t stop the smile any longer. “I’m kidding … kinda. I’m pretty good at science and math, but chem is not my favorite.”

Star brightened then. “I’m really good with numbers. This is exciting.”

She linked her arms through her brother’s, and started chatting loudly as they moved over to jump on a moving path. I found myself staring after them. I was a little enchanted by the sweetness of Star. She somehow made the world seem a little brighter than usual. Her innocent joy in simple things was … nice. I was going to try to learn from her example.

“Ready to go?” Lexen’s low voice sent a brush of tingles down my spine. I took a second to calm my rapid heartbeat.

“Ready when you are,” I said.

He started to walk and I fell in step beside him. When we reached the door, I waited for him to step through, but he hesitated.

“I need to speak with someone,” he said, before he peered inside the classroom. “You should be safe for a minute. I’m only going to be right there.” He pointed across to the far wall, where a few students were lingering.

I nodded. “It’s fine. I’m not a baby. You don’t have to worry about me eating food off the floor.”

His lips twitched but he didn’t reply. He just turned and walked away. I sucked in a deep breath, and then forced myself to stop staring at him and step into the classroom. Luckily, English was one of my favorite subjects, and I had read ahead in most of the assigned books. Because something told me I was not going to learn much today with Lexen at my side.





10





The classroom was empty, those fancy desks clean and shiny, waiting for students to arrive. I hesitated just inside the doorway, unsure about seating arrangements. Was I supposed to stick really close to Lexen? As in, sit in the elite area?

After a few moments of deliberation, I decided to sit in the same front desk I’d chosen yesterday. Lexen would no doubt be happy as long as he could see me. He might even prefer I didn’t confuse the humans even more by breaking social rules and jumping twenty levels to elite.

When I took my seat I slumped forward and felt some of the tension I’d been carrying for days ease. I had no idea why; nothing much had changed, but it felt like as I sat down I physically couldn’t hold on to that much stress any longer. I had to let some of it go.

“Oh. Em. Gee.” The excited exclamation jolted me out of my thoughts. I turned to find Cara sliding in to sit at the desk next to me. “So, I was freaking out on the bus thinking you were going to miss school, and then I get here and the rumors are flying.” She was waving her hands in the air, fifty-plus silver bracelets she wore jingling like chimes. “You arrived with the Darkens. Like in their car. Stepped out, walked between them. Didn’t get murdered for getting too close. Oh. Em. Gee.”

She collapsed into her chair, looking exhausted. Her face was still turned in my direction, her expression a mix of confusion, awe, and shock.

I cracked up. I couldn’t help it. She joined my laughter, her eyes – which were a very pale green today – filled with tears of mirth as she held her stomach.

“Oh. Em. Gee.” Another voice burst in from the side and Cara and I laughed harder. Ben looked more than a little confused as he glanced between the two of us. “I have no idea what you bitches are laughing about, but seriously, I need all the gossip.”

His eyes were locked on me, that mop of curls flying in all directions as he wiggled on the spot.