The Girl They Bowed To

"Lena! Away from the glass!"

The door banged open, and Naomi flew across the room. She yanked the curtains shut and pulled Lena back so hard that her phone slid out of her hand and hit the floor.

"Mom, there are wolves out there!"

"I know."

"You know?" Lena stared at her. "You knew there were wolves, and you told me bears?"

"Did it look at you?" Naomi gripped her shoulders. Her fingers were shaking. "The big one. Did it look at you?"

"It bowed. Mom, a wolf bowed to me."

Naomi closed her eyes. For a second, she looked like a woman who had just watched her worst nightmare walk through the front door.

"What's going on?" Lena asked quietly.

"Nothing. They're guard animals. Victor keeps them for security."

"Wolves don't bow to people because they're guard animals."

"Lena—"

"Don't lie to me. Please. I've moved six times because of you, and I never asked why. I'm asking now."

A calm knock sounded at the open door. Victor stood there in a dark robe, his face unreadable.

"They've gone back into the woods," he said. "There's nothing to fear."

"Nothing to fear?" Lena folded her arms. "Your son turned up at my door at midnight with glowing eyes."

Victor's gaze sharpened. "Glowing."

"It was probably the hallway light," Naomi said quickly.

"There is no light in that hallway," Lena said.

Victor and her mother exchanged another look. This time, Lena caught every second of it.

"It's late," Victor said gently. "Rest tonight. Tomorrow, you start your last year at Crescent. We'll talk when things are calmer."

"When will that be?"

"Soon."

He left. Naomi lingered in the doorway.

"Mom, tell me one true thing. Just one."

Naomi's voice came out small. "I would burn the world down to keep you safe. That's true."

Then she closed the door.

Morning arrived with sunlight, birdsong, and a breakfast table so full of food that Lena felt like she had walked into a magazine.

"Eat, miss," Mrs. Bell said, setting down a plate of pancakes. "You'll need your strength."

"For what?"

"School." The old woman's lips twitched. "It's a dangerous place."

"Because of the classes?"

"Because of the girls."

Lena laughed, then stopped when she saw Mrs. Bell wasn't joking.

Footsteps sounded on the stairs. Kane came down with his jacket slung over one shoulder, his hair still damp. He looked like he had not slept at all. When he saw her, he stopped.

"Morning," Lena said carefully.

He said nothing. He poured himself coffee, leaned against the counter, and studied her over the rim of the cup.

"Are we going to pretend last night didn't happen?" she asked.

"Yes."

"You showed up at my door."

"I was sleepwalking."

"Your eyes glowed."

"I have a rare condition."

"What condition?"

"Being annoyed." He set down his cup. "Listen, here are the rules. We don't ride together. We don't walk together. At Crescent, you don't know me and I don't know you."

"That's my favorite rule so far."

"Good."

"Why are you so worried?" Lena tilted her head. "Because you're embarrassed to be related to me?"

"Because if my fans find out you live in my house, they will end you." He said it with a completely straight face. "I'm not exaggerating. There was a girl last year who sat next to me in the library. She transferred schools."

"You're being dramatic."

"Mrs. Bell, am I being dramatic?"

"Not even a little," Mrs. Bell said without looking up.

Lena sighed. "Fine. Separate roads. No eye contact. I'll pretend you're a stranger who happens to be rude."

"Perfect." He grabbed his keys. At the door, he paused without turning around. "And Lena?"

"What?"

"If anyone at school tells you they know what you are, don't answer. Just walk away."

"Know what I am?"

But the door shut behind him, and a second later his motorcycle roared down the drive.

Crescent University looked like a castle that had been stuffed with students. Stone towers, ivy walls, and a courtyard so full of chattering people that Lena felt her stomach flip.

She had barely stepped through the gate when a girl with bright red lipstick and a bag covered in badges crashed into her.

"Oh my gosh, sorry! I wasn't looking, I was too busy staring at the new girl everyone's talking about, which is you, hi, I'm Poppy!"

"I'm... Lena. How do you know who I am?"

"Everyone knows. New transfers are like fresh meat." Poppy beamed. "Don't worry, I'm joking. Mostly. Come on, I'll show you around."

"I'd love that."

"Great. First rule of Crescent: don't touch Kane Draven."

Lena almost choked. "I'm sorry?"

"The campus heartthrob. Tall, dark, mysterious, has dated half the school and kept none of them. He's untouchable and unbearable." Poppy sighed dreamily. "There's a fan club. They have jackets."

"They have jackets?"

"Purple ones. Very intense." Poppy pointed across the courtyard. "Look. That's them now."

A crowd of girls had gathered around the gate. A moment later, the motorcycle rolled in, and every head turned like flowers following the sun. Kane pulled off his helmet and gave a half-smile that sent the entire crowd into shrieking, and Lena rolled her eyes.

"Wow," she muttered. "He really is a lot."

"Right? Gorgeous and arrogant. It's a crime."

Lena risked a glance. Kane's eyes found hers across the courtyard, held for half a second, and looked away.

Good, she thought. Rule one is working.

"Oh, and her," Poppy whispered. "Don't look. Okay, look."

A tall blonde girl walked through the crowd like a queen. Everyone moved aside for her. She had sharp blue eyes, perfect hair, and the kind of smile that looked pretty and meant nothing.

"Selene Voss," Poppy said. "Student council president. Her family practically owns half the town. Everyone says she's going to marry Kane someday."

"Does Kane know that?"

"I don't think Kane gets a vote."

Selene stopped beside Kane and slid an arm through his. He did not pull away, but he did not smile, either. Lena noticed that. Selene whispered something in his ear, and his jaw tightened.

"Interesting," Lena murmured.

Selene's head turned slowly. Her eyes locked on Lena across the entire courtyard, and she tilted her head like an animal catching a scent.

"Why is she looking at me?" Lena whispered.

"No idea. She never looks at new people." Poppy frowned. "She's coming over."

Selene crossed the courtyard with the whole crowd trailing behind her. She stopped an arm's length from Lena and looked her slowly up and down.

"You're the transfer."

"Lena Hart."

"Selene." She did not offer a hand. She leaned in and breathed in once, quietly. Her smile thinned. "How odd. You smell like the Draven estate."

Lena's heart skipped. "Excuse me?"

"Nothing. Silly me." Selene straightened. "Welcome to Crescent, Lena Hart. I hope you last."

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Girls who stand out here don't tend to stay long." Selene's eyes cooled. "Enjoy your first day."

She turned and walked away, and the crowd followed. Poppy let out a breath.

"What was that?"

"I have no idea," Lena lied.

"Okay, she has never been that rude to anyone on a first day. Which means she doesn't like you. Which means you're either very lucky or very doomed."

"Thanks, Poppy. Really."

"Anytime! Come on, I'll show you the lecture hall."

By the end of the morning, Lena almost felt normal. She sat through two lectures, had lunch with Poppy, and managed not to look at Kane even once. She was walking toward the library when she reached into her bag for her notebook and her fingers closed on something that wasn't hers.

It was a folded piece of cream-colored paper. She had not put it there.

She opened it slowly. The handwriting was neat, careful, and old-fashioned.

We know what you are, Silver.

Come to the Moon Ruins tonight, or we will come for you.

Tell no one. Especially not him.

Her hands began to shake. She looked up. The courtyard was full of students, and none of them was looking at her.

But on the stone tower across the square, a man in a gray coat stood perfectly still, watching her. When their eyes met, he smiled, raised two fingers to his brow in a small salute, and stepped back into the shadows.