Page 37 of Legacy Ascended

Sophia is in the middle of telling Freya about an argument with her tutor that apparently lasted forty minutes and wandered through several unrelated subjects. Freya listens with a book propped against the water jug. Declan keeps passing food whenever somebody’s plate gets low.

A student two tables over is still staring at me. I eat one of Renzo’s potatoes and let them stare.

Ander comes in with his coat over his arm. He finds our table and walks straight toward us.

“Is this seat free?” It's the one on my right, because Declan has been keeping my left side clear all day. "It's yours," Declan says, and moves his bag. Ander sits beside me.

His knee rests against mine under the table. Neither of us moves away.

“Natasha asked about the fourth mark today,” I say.

“I heard.”

“That was fast.”

“Luftis is remarkably efficient when the information is none of anyone’s business.”

“She wanted to know if it belonged to another prince.”

“It does.”

I glance around the table. Everyone appears deeply invested in the argument over whether the fish is worse than the pie. Renzo is trying so hard not to look at us that he’s staring at the ceiling.

“Are you ready for everyone to know?” I ask.

Ander looks at my mouth and doesn’t hide that either.

“I came over here to sit beside you.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“Yes,” he says. “I’m ready.”

I put my good hand on the table, palm up.

Ander looks at it, then places his hand in mine and closes his fingers around it.

Nobody at the table says anything. Sophia smiles into her cup. Renzo continues studying the ceiling with the concentration of a man expecting answers to appear there.

“Pass the water,” Ander says.

Declan passes it. Ander takes the glass with his free hand and leaves our joined hands on the table where everyone can see them.

Chapter seven

Jessica

They give me the meeting at nine, in a small room off the administration corridor, and I get to say who's in it.

Falken. A woman from the Council's office with a recorder and two pens. A man from academy security. Freya, on a chair by the door with her notebook, because I asked for a witness.

Luke at the far end.

Jon isn't here. He asked Falken if he could be. Falken said no.

I give them all of it.

The lead car stopping. Cassel getting out and putting herself between me and the trees. The shots. Dragging her into the ditch by the back of her coat.