Maggie sighed at his obvious attempt to end the conversation. “Yeah, we’ll talk about this later.”
Aiden made his escape.
* * *
Maggie asked for a ride from Dylan since she was going to Aiden’s to do homework. Dylan dropped her and Tiago at Aiden’s house, and they both went up to his room.
As soon as the door was closed, Maggie looked at them with a smile. “Okay, so I’ve been thinking about the LGBTA group.”
Aiden suppressed a groan. Of course she hadn’t forgotten about it.
“What group? Is there a group?” Tiago sounded interested. Uh-oh.
“There’s not one yet, but I’m going to start one.” Her smile widened.
Tiago’s eyebrows went up. “Oh, are you… one of those?”
“No, but…” She tilted her head. “Well, maybe. I mean, I’m pretty sure I’m straight, but I’m not one hundred percent. I’m still young, right? And I don’t want to close myself off even if there’s only a little tiny possibility…” She waved her hands. “Anyway, that’s not the point. The club is also for allies, which I definitely am. And that way people who are questioning or too nervous to come out even to a support group”—she very carefully didn’t look directly at Aiden—“can join the group without being worried.”
“I’m in. I’m totally in,” Tiago said.
Aiden’s stomach fluttered.
Tiago took his hand and squeezed it. “I mean, if you’re okay with it. I can just call myself an ally if that makes you more comfortable.”
Oh God. Tiago was holding back. Hiding and lying for him again. Tiago had done nothing but support him, always worried about his feelings. “No.” Aiden’s heart hammered. “You should be honest. At least to the group.”
Tiago twined their fingers, dark brown eyes looking straight into Aiden. “What about us?”
“Um, maybe not.” Ugh, I’m such a coward. “Not right away at least. I want to see what the group is like first.” The least he could do was show up to support Tiago.
“Sure. Whatever you’re okay with.”
Aiden didn’t deserve him.
“You can be an ally for now. Totally fine.” Maggie grinned. “So we have our first three members. That’s a good start. I’ll talk to the principal tomorrow—”
“The principal?” Aiden sat straighter, almost jumping off the bed.
“Well, yeah. I want this to be an official group. We might need a teacher to be an advisor or something. Maybe Mr. Emery?” Maggie slid her bag off her shoulder and sat in the small desk chair. “We can put up flyers. I bet Kenzie and Ellie will show up. Those are the two freshmen girls you saw kissing. They’re very ‘out and proud.’”
“Did you talk to them?”
“Not yet,” she said. “But this group will give me the perfect reason to talk to them. And it will give you a great cover to ask them questions about how people react to them.”
Tiago laughed. “You’re devious.”
“Just be glad I use my powers for good.” Maggie winked and dug in her bag. “Okay, on to homework.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
As if signing up to be a warden wasn’t bad enough, Dylan and Aiden would have to go through training. Mr. Johnson said the program had been accelerated so the wardens could get new members faster, which only made Dylan more cynical. Rushing through training? They’d only get shittier wardens than usual.
On top of that, they’d have to go to training mornings and weekends while still going to school. Less free time and more homework—just what he needed.
Classroom training on rules and regulations was three times a week. Dylan and Aiden walked into the room at city hall for their first class, and Dylan froze in the doorway.
“Oh hell no.”
Sitting behind the teacher’s desk was Warden Bully.
Aiden bumped into Dylan. “What—?” Then he saw Warden Bully too. “Oh crap.”
“I’m out of here.” Dylan turned to leave.
Aiden gripped his arm. “We have to. We made a promise.”
And it was literally impossible for Aiden to go back on that promise. If Dylan left, he’d be abandoning Aiden to deal with Warden Bully on his own. “He’s just going to yell at us and fail us anyway. Why even bother?”
“If we fail, then there’s nothing we can do. We fulfilled our obligation by trying, and then we’re off the hook.” Aiden frowned. “At least I think so.” He took a breath. “We just have to do our best.”
“Fine.” Dylan walked into the room, glaring at Warden Bully. I should have left you to die.
The man looked equally pleased to have Dylan in his class. “Mr. Galloway. Mr. Spencer. Welcome. Warden Johnson insisted that you be allowed into the program.”
The desire to say something rose in Dylan, and he fought it for a few seconds before giving in. “After what we did to save your asses, he’s sure we’re powerful enough to be wardens.”
“Dylan…” Aiden gave him a warning look.
Warden Bully tensed. “I can’t understand why he’d think you were capable of this kind of responsibility, but more than that, I can’t understand why you’d agree to be a warden. You hate everything we stand for.”
“Not everything. I don’t want to go around killing mundanes like those antitreaty people.” In his darkest fantasies, Dylan burned whole cities. But it had never been about killing people. It was about the wild destruction, setting his fire free. “And they attacked kids at prom. My friends.” The memories were fresh: chaos, people screaming as magic flew everywhere, adults attacking teenagers. “I’ll follow your stupid rules if I can protect this town against people like that.”
It was similar to the story Aiden helped Dylan come up with to explain it to his parents. Dylan had done his best to convince them, but he didn’t think they were buying it. They didn’t stop him from joining though.
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Warden Bully studied him.
“We really do want to help,” Aiden said. Trying to smooth things over like usual.
Warden Bully drummed his fingers on the desk. “I’m wondering if this is some scheme to take the wardens down from the inside.”
Aiden’s mouth dropped open. “Wh-what?”
Dylan clenched his fists. “If I wanted you all dead, I could’ve said no when Mr. Johnson went to rescue you.” Guilt twisted inside him. He had wanted all the wardens dead, and he’d made an agreement with Morgan to make it happen. But he’d been younger and stupider then. Dylan still wanted freedom, but he wasn’t willing to slaughter a bunch of people to get it. “I could’ve left you there and watched Dalton’s mom tear you to pieces.”
Aiden put a hand on his arm. “Calm down.”
Warden Bully looked him straight in the eye. “It was surprising to learn you have a conscience.”
Dylan’s magic hummed inside him, and he took a step toward the man. “You—”
“No!” Aiden pulled him back. “Dylan, please.”
It was like last year all over again.
“Take your seats, gentlemen. It’s time to begin class.” Warden Bully’s tone was even, but his eyes were full of anger. “But rest assured, I’ll be watching both of you carefully.”
Aiden tugged him toward the rows of desks. Dylan realized they had an audience. All the other recruits were staring at them.
Dylan chose a seat all the way in the back. “He’s just gonna flunk us.”
“As long as we can get through this without you guys getting into a fight, I’ll call it a success.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Welcome to the first meeting of the Shadow Valley High LGBTA support group.” Maggie beamed. She’d pushed half the desks off to the side and put the others in a circle in the middle of the room.
The girls Aiden had seen kissing in the hall were there. The dark-haired girl watched Aiden warily, like she was waiting for him to say or do something awful.
“Let’s go around the room,” Maggie said. “Everyone say your nam
e, pronouns, and why you’re here.”
“Pronouns?” Aiden wondered what that had to do with anything. Maybe he’d misheard her. He was too focused on his breathing, trying to keep his anxiety under control. He wondered if he’d be able to eat any of his lunch.
Maggie had worked it out with the principal and Mr. Emery—who had ended up as their faculty advisor after all—and lunch was the best time to meet. It didn’t disrupt class, and they wouldn’t have to stay after school.
“Yes. I’ve been doing some studying and want to make sure we’re transgender and nonbinary inclusive. So it helps if we all say which pronouns we use—like she/her, he/him, they. I’ll go first.” She put a hand to her chest. “I’m Maggie Thornton, she/her. I started this group because I want everyone at Shadow Valley High to be comfortable being their true selves.”
From someone else it would sound cheesy, but Maggie really meant it. And leave it to her to do research. He should have gone looking for information himself. The few times he did look up bisexuality, he cleared out his browser history, but he was always paranoid his parents would find his search history and then he’d have to explain it.
Maggie turned to him and gestured that he should go next. Crap. “Uh, hi. I’m Aiden Spencer. I guess maybe you know that. I’m a him.” They were all looking at him, wondering why he was in this group. If he didn’t say something soon, they’d all think he was gay, and while that was half true, he wasn’t ready for other people to know. “And, um, I’m here because I’m an ally. Maggie convinced me it was important to have a group like this.” There, that last part was true.
“I’m Tiago Barros, and I’m gay.”
Aiden’s heart shot into his throat. They’d talked about this; he knew Tiago was planning to say it, but hearing it was still a shock. Many of the other kids looked surprised too, especially Kenzie.
Aiden, Tiago, and Maggie had discussed how Tiago’s presence might make people nervous. After his admission about hunting and eating people, a lot of kids were afraid or hostile toward him. But they had decided the benefits outweighed the risks. Someone as well-known as Tiago being open with the group might encourage others to be open as well.
“Pronouns,” Maggie said.
Tiago shifted in his seat, and only then did Aiden realize he was nervous. “I’m a he. So yeah, I’m here because I’m gay.”
They went around the circle. Two other kids said they were allies. Then they got to Kenzie. “I’m Kenzie. I’m a girl—she. And I’m a lesbian. I’m here because I think none of us should have to hide. There’s nothing wrong with me liking girls. If anyone doesn’t like it, they can kiss my dyke ass.”
Her girlfriend shook her head slightly, multicolored hair bouncing, but she was smiling. “I’m Ellie, also a she. I’m here because my girlfriend dragged me into it.” Still smiling, she leaned over to kiss Kenzie’s cheek. “I’m bisexual, by the way.”
The word zipped through Aiden. Someone like him. He needed to get her alone so they could talk. Would he be able to ask questions without her getting suspicious, or would it be better to just admit it? Could he trust her to keep it secret? He certainly liked the idea of talking to her more than talking to Kenzie. Ellie was more like him, and she was also… less intense than her girlfriend.
The last kid introduced himself and then took a deep breath. “I’m here because I’m gay. And I wish that wasn’t a big deal.”
“It shouldn’t be,” Kenzie said.
“And in this group, it won’t be,” Maggie said. “This is a safe space. Nothing we say here leaves this room, unless you get express permission from the person or persons involved, okay?”
They all nodded.
Maggie asked some light personal questions while they ate. What their favorite colors were, what their hobbies were, things like that. Aiden picked at his food. The whole time, he tried to gather the courage to stand up and tell them he was bi but never managed it.
Coward.
* * *
“Where are Aiden and Tiago?” Sakura asked.
Lunch had been going on for a while, and the other side of the table was still empty. Dylan knew they were at that LB-whatever group, but he couldn’t tell Sakura that. Why hadn’t it occurred to him that she and Izume would wonder where they were?
“They, uh…” What would be a good lie? “Have to work on some homework.”
“Why couldn’t they do that here?” Izume asked.
“Um… the lunchroom is too loud. They need to concentrate.” Yeah, that sounded believable.
“I thought you guys all worked on your homework together.” Sakura swirled a chicken nugget in her ketchup.
Dylan grunted. “That was before warden training.” Which wasn’t a lie at all. More than half their after-school time was spent in that stupid training. And six hours on Saturday, which was just cruel.
“What’s the deal with that anyway? You hate the wardens.”
Anger rose in his throat, and Dylan choked it back down. “You were there. Those extremists attacked kids. They’re worse than wardens. I want to make sure none of them can hurt any of us ever again.” That was true enough. He’d made his choice when he captured Mrs. Rhodes instead of letting her kill Warden Bully.
Izume leaned on the table to see around Sakura. “Aiden talked you into it, didn’t he?”
More like Dylan’s idiocy had forced Aiden into it. “Sort of.”
“That’s what I thought. Your bromance is so adorable.”
“We’re not… It’s…” Dylan couldn’t think of anything to say. He didn’t want to seem homophobic even when Aiden wasn’t around. And especially considering where Aiden was right now.
I wish he’d come out and just get it over with.
Izume laughed. “I’m just teasing.”
“But it is good that you have such a close friend,” Sakura said. “You closed yourself off for so long.”
Dylan shrugged. He’d been a different person then and had convinced himself he wasn’t lonely. It was only after Aiden came into his life that he’d realized how deep his loneliness had been.
“Guys get so weird about this stuff.” Izume sipped her can of Sunkist. “Oh no! Feelings!” She rolled her eyes.
Sakura nudged her. “Quit bugging him.”
“I’m just teasing.” Izume bit a nugget in half. “So what’s warden training like anyway? All you’ve said is how much you hate Warden Bully teaching you.” Izume and Sakura had taken to using Dylan’s nickname for him.
“Rules and Regulations. The worst class with the worst teacher.” And lucky Dylan got to deal with it twice a week. “But Defense and Restraint isn’t so bad. It’s kinda like gym. We learn to protect against different kinds of magic. Nichols teaches it.” So far she’d kept her word about protecting the school too. Nichols hadn’t harassed Dylan or his friends even once.
“No wonder you’ve gotten better in gym.” Izume eyed him. “That’s kind of cheating, isn’t it?”
“Is not!”
“Though I guess it makes up for you sucking last year.”
“Hey!” Sakura punched her friend in the shoulder.
“You’re just mad I kicked your ass yesterday,” Dylan said to cover the sting. He’d struggled the year before, his confidence in his magic shaken. On the advice of Ms. Yang and Aiden, he’d gone to the counselor, and that had helped. Fighting the extremists last year had helped too.
Izume glared and jabbed a finger at him. “I’ll get you next time.”
“Wanna go right now?”
Sakura laughed. “Maybe you can finish eating first?”
“Maybe Ms. Yang will let us have a grudge match.”
“And I’ll fight the winner.” Sakura looked between them with a grin.
A flash of desire went through Dylan, and he pulled her into a kiss. Sakura was sorta perfect.
CHAPTER NINE
Bright sunlight flickered through the trees as Tiago walked through the forest. Everything seemed intense—the colors, the scents, th
e feel of bark under his hand as he brushed against a huge trunk.
Where am I? This wasn’t the woods surrounding Shadow Valley. Something tickled at the back of his mind, but he couldn’t get a grip on the thought.
He made his way down the narrow path until he came out into a clearing. The sweet smell of grass and wildflowers filled his nose. At the other end of the clearing, a figure stepped from between the trees and stood obscured in shadow. Even without being able to make out its face, Tiago knew it was studying him.
“Hello?” Unease tightened his stomach.
The figure shifted, moving closer. As the shadows fell away, he could make out a woman with long, flowing hair a shade of bright red. Her skin was pale green, and she wore a light brown dress. “Come closer, young one. I will not harm you.”
Tiago took two steps but then stopped. This was too weird. “Who are you? Where am I?”
“This is a dream, young one.” The woman moved two steps closer as well.
“A dream?” Hearing the words made everything click into place. He’d only been aware while dreaming a few times, usually right before waking up. This was different though. “But you’re real, aren’t you?”
“I cannot hold our connection for long, so I must be brief.” The woman took three more steps. She was maybe a dozen feet away now. “You know the one called Aiden, yes?”
“Yeah.” Now he recognized the scents around them. The forest smelled almost exactly like Aiden’s magic—sun-warmed leaves, rich earth, and something floral that didn’t smell quite like any flower he knew of.
The woman smiled, then turned to beckon at the tree line. “He knows your child.”
What?
Another woman came out of the woods, running. Her hair was long too, but dark brown and woven with flowers. Tiago tensed, worried she might barrel into him, but she stopped just short, staring at him with wide and desperate eyes. “You know my son?” She lifted a hand, and magic tingled over Tiago’s body. “You carry a taste of him. Are you his lover? You have… exchanged fluids?”
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