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I put a sheer smoky shadow around my eyes that makes my irises look more gray than blue. Then I turn my brows into dark slashes, line my eyes with a cat-like wing, and lift my black lipstick to my lips.
I hesitate.
Without acknowledging the reason why, I put the lipstick back in my bag, leaving my mouth bare.
Then I spritz myself with perfume and put on my favorite necklace.
Leo gave it to me when we were only eight years old. The chain is so fine you can barely see it on my skin. The pendant is a tiny crescent moon.
He only wears one piece of jewelry himself: a gold St. Eustachius medallion from his father.
When I’m finally ready, I head down to the gnarled olive tree at the northwest corner of the Keep. That’s where Leo and I always meet, because it’s exactly halfway between our dorms.
He’s already standing there, chatting with Miles and Ozzy. His face is glowing with pleasure, and I’m sure he’s telling Miles that he was picked as Captain. Not that it’ll be news to Miles—he’s always first to know anything that happens on campus. He probably knew Leo got it before it was even posted.
“Hey, Black Swan,” Miles says, slipping something into my palm. I look down, seeing my favorite chocolate bar—Dairy Milk Marvelous Creations. It’s the weirdest candy ever created—pop rocks and jelly beans mixed with chocolate. I’m obsessed with it.
“What the hell, Miles?” I laugh. “I can’t even find these in America.”
“You don’t want to know what I had to do to get that,” Miles says darkly.
“If you murdered less than three people, it was worth it.” I rip it open immediately and take a huge bite. “Oh my god,” I moan. “I’ve missed you so much . . .”
Leo shakes his head with a revolted expression. “That candy is a war crime. Worst thing Britain ever did to us.”
“Maybe you’ll like it now.” I shake it in his face teasingly. “You’re not as picky as you used to be—I actually saw you eating salmon this week.”
“I was desperate,” he says, with a long-suffering expression. “But I’ll never be desperate enough to eat exploding chocolate.”
“Can I try it?” Ozzy is wildly curious.
“Of course.” I hand it over.
He takes a bite, chewing cautiously. After a moment, as the chocolate melts on his tongue and the pop rocks begin to erupt, he shivers like an electric current ran up his spine. “God no!” he shouts, handing me back the rest of the bar.
“It’s great, right?”
“I hate it . . . and I love it.” He gives a ghoulish grin, eyes rolling back.
“You coming down to the beach with us?” Leo says to Miles.
“Maybe later,” Miles says. “Got some stuff to do first.”
Leo doesn’t bother to ask what kind of stuff. Miles delights in being elusive.
“See you later then, maybe,” Leo says.
“What about Ares?” I ask Leo.
“He didn’t want to come. Said he was studying.”
“You think that’s what he’s actually doing?”
“I dunno.” Leo shrugs. “He might just want to be alone in the room for once. Kingmakers isn’t the easiest place for an introvert.”
“Tell me about it,” I say, thinking of Chay’s incessant commentary. I’ve come to like her more the longer we’ve been roommates. She’s blunt and funny and doesn’t hold a grudge about anything. But I do wish she didn’t feel the need to tell me every single thing that happens to her over the course of the day.
I can’t say I’m sorry that it’s just Leo and me walking down to Moon Beach.
