Chapter 4

The whole table erupted.

I stayed very still, my hands clenched beneath it.

I didn’t want to embarrass him. I was about to speak when Kieran answered first.

“Don’t start.”

His expression was flat.

“Our families are close. Her residency status makes things complicated, so my parents asked me to look out for her.”

He said it so lightly.

I couldn’t lift my head.

All this time, I’d been the only one who thought his care meant something more.

I excused myself to the restroom and stayed there a long time.

Only when I was sure my eyes were no longer red did I go back out.

As I turned into the hallway, I heard voices from the other side.

“Kieran, how are you supposed to get a girlfriend when you’re always tied to her?”

“She can’t use the link. She can’t even take the shortcut at night without you. You really going to look after her forever?”

“Everyone knows Viola likes you. You’re going to miss out on her over some dependent resident?”

“Think about yourself for once.”

I stopped at the corner.

I didn’t hear whatever Kieran said next.

So I wasn’t just a burden.

I was standing between him and Viola.

Then I should move.

I waited outside the private room until he appeared and quietly told him I wanted to go home early.

His expression changed at once.

“Ivy, can you not do this every time?”

I froze.

“If you leave now, I have to leave with you. I have friends too. There are things I want to do.”

“I’m not asking you to—”

“Then why come tell me?”

He lowered his voice, but it hurt more than shouting would have.

“Do you know how exhausting this has been? Because you’re a half-blood, because you can’t hear the link, everything I do has to revolve around you.”

“I’m not your guardian.”

“Can you please let me breathe?”

I stood in front of him without even enough strength left to explain.

What I’d heard on picture day was finally confirmed.

I’d told myself he’d only been irritated.

But he’d meant it.

After a long time, I nodded.

“Okay.”

“I understand.”

I worked to get the rest of the words out.

“Thank you for everything you’ve done. I won’t trouble you again.”

There happened to be a cab outside the restaurant.

I gave the driver the address of the residential district’s outer entrance and asked my father to meet me there.

That route took twenty minutes longer than the shortcut.

But it turned out I hadn’t needed to wait for Kieran after all.

When the acceptance letters arrived, both Kieran and I had done well.

Our families arranged a dinner to celebrate.

Halfway through the meal, the conversation turned to our academy choices.

Carol passed me the roast beef.

“Have you decided, Ivy? I remember you and Kieran both wanted Westbridge.”

She smiled at her son.

“It’d be nice to go to the same place. You could look out for each other. Right, Kieran?”

His knife and fork stopped.

“…Haven’t decided yet.”

Carol was about to ask more when my mother smoothly stepped in.

“There’s no rush. They’ll have their own reasons.”

Soon the table was lively again.

On the drive home, my mother asked, “Did something happen between you and Kieran?”

I knew I couldn’t hide it from her.

“I just think I shouldn’t always expect him to look after me.”

I watched the world outside the window.

“It’s not like there aren’t other ways for me to get where I need to go. He was always there on that one, so I never thought to try another.”

My mother was quiet for a moment. Then she took my hand.

“Ivy, there’s no shame in needing help. But if someone makes you feel you have to make yourself small to accept it, we can ask someone else. Or find another way together.”

I finally turned toward her.

Her voice was gentle.

“When I married your father and moved to Blackpine, I couldn’t hear their link either. I still built a life here.”

Later, I paid my enrollment deposit.

I spent most of that summer away from home.

First I traveled with my parents. Then I visited a few neutral towns that allowed half-bloods to register as independent residents.

I learned to plan my own routes and apply for visitor passes. I learned to find people willing to help in places I’d never been.

Before the term began, I hurried home to pack, then left again.

A few days later, Kieran came to our house.

“Diane, is Ivy home? I wanted to talk to her about when we’re leaving.”

My mother was surprised.

“She’s already gone.”

Kieran went still.

Westbridge’s freshman check-in was two weeks away.

“Where did she go?”

“Lakeview Academy.”