37. Ryan
37
Ryan
Tree sits in front of me with dead, red eyes. It’s impossible to miss his change since Stella told me what happened to Sia. He used to be so cocky, but now he’s subdued.
I don’t like the change.
“Where’s your coven?” I ask, knowing the answer before it leaves my mouth.
“I don’t have a coven. What an inappropriate question.” He stands up swiftly, grabbing his plate, which is now empty of the steak he was eating. It was not nearly as rare as it has been in the past.
He’s gone before I have the chance to apologize, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
Today was strange, and I’m unsure how to feel about the events unfolding. My dignitary, a female named Talia Walker from the Yean region, was nearly silent as we showed her around the campus. My staff escort, the minotaur professor from my meditation class, merely grunted in response to most of her questions.
She asked several questions about me and my family and why I decided to apply for a scholarship to the Academy.
Clay slams a tray down on the table, sliding into the empty seat beside me.
His normally sunshine-filled disposition is nowhere to be found. Instead, he glares at the pizza on his plate like it personally offended him.
“What’s wrong?” I ask hesitantly. “Did something happen with your dignitary?”
“What?” He looks up at me as if he is surprised I am here, even though he’s the one who chose to sit beside me. Clay shakes his head like a dog after a swim. “Oh. No. It’s the pizza.”
“The pizza?”
He holds up the slice, which bows and points towards his plate under the weight of its toppings. “Yes, the pizza. Can you believe all that was left has pineapple on it?”
My eye darts between the offending slice and my friend. “What’s wrong with that?”
“Fruit isn’t supposed to be on pizza, Ryan. Pizza is not supposed to be health food!”
“I hardly think adding pineapple qualifies pizza as a health food.” I look at my tray, which has a slice of lasagna and a small salad on it. “You can have my tray if you prefer.”
“No, I’m going to eat it, but I’m not going to be happy about it,” he grumbles, staring at the slice. Reluctantly, I peel myself out of my chair and make my way to the salad bar. When I return and drop the bowl of pickled jalapenos in front of Clay, he narrows his eyes at it.
“Peppers?”
“Yes, peppers.” I make a waving motion with my hand. “Put them on the slice. The spice of the pepper works well with the salty of the pepperoni and the sweet of the pineapple. It’s a more balanced bite.”
The Reaper eyes me warily but follows my instructions, tentatively taking a bite.
For someone who seems to inhale any food placed in front of him, he sure is being precious about a little bit of fruit on his pizza.
Eventually, he swallows and shrugs. “It’s fine.”
“I’ve seen you mix your salad and spaghetti together, Clay.”
“It’s more efficient that way. It all gets mixed in the tummy anyways.”
I sigh, rubbing my forehead. “Yeah, but now you’re going to act like pineapple on pizza is an affront to your delicate sensibilities?”
He crosses his arms over his chest like an obstinate child. “Everyone has their limits, Ryan.”
Many times over dinner, I wanted to bring up the Raven to Clay, but it’s not my place. I have to allow Stella to tell him when the time is right. I am surprisingly eager for that to happen. It would be nice to have someone to discuss this change with.
As Clay and I are leaving the dining hall, we find Stella standing outside with Professor Jessup. They’re having a heated conversation, and he looks pissed about something.
I don’t mean to eavesdrop, but snippets of their conversation start to filter in now that I’m paying attention to them.
“Have you cemented the rest of the Raven?” Jessup hisses.
“No,” she snaps, “and I’ll do it on my own time.”
“Something is about to happen, Stella, and you need a Raven to help you face it.”
Clay, clearly listening in as well, leans over and whispers, “Why does she need a bird?”
I hold a finger to my lip, trying to make out the rest of what Jessup is saying.
“The fact that the administration had made it part of your spirit rules to remain celibate should tell you that they’re against you finding your Raven. And whatever they’re against, we need to be for it if we’re going to topple this place.”
With her back to me, I can’t see what her face looks like, but by the cock of her hip and the way her wings flex, I can tell she’s angry. “Do not push me, Michael.”
“You’re a warrior and shying away from a fight?”
She huffs and stomps her foot. “I’m not shying away from a fight, Michael, you know that. But I feel like all of my control is being yanked away from me. I will do this on my own time. It isn’t your decision to make.”
“I’m a part of this too! We’re all supposed to be a team.”
“I never asked you to be a part of this!” Their voices are rising, but they haven’t drawn any additional attention so far. I don’t know if that luck will hold.
“You should’ve thought about that before you wrapped your thighs around my ears. I’m a part of your Raven now and I have the mark to prove it.”
I knew something happened between the two of them, but I wasn’t prepared to hear details about it. If Stella is right, I’m as much a part of this as Jessup is, but I still don’t feel great about having a simplynatural by her side.
“That’s my cue!” Clay says, bouncing on the balls of his feet and blowing into the middle of their argument. “Stella! My favorite warrior!”
Jessup takes a huge step back, and his eyes flash to mine. I shrug as if to say, “I don’t control him,” and meander over to the two of them.
“What are we talking about?” Clay folds his hands behind his back and rocks back and forth on his toes. “Little birdies?”
“Oh, yes, Stella, let’s tell them what we’re discussing,” Jessup says with a smug grin.
“Michael, don’t you dare.” I’ve never heard venom like that in her voice before. “This doesn’t concern you.”
“Of course it concerns me!”
“Woah, it seems like there are big feelings happening here, and you know what they say about big feelings.” He looks at the three of us, expecting us to finish his proverb. When we don’t, he sighs and shakes his head. “Big feelings lead to big problems, and big problems lead to big funerals.”
I gape at the death spirit, rolling his turn of phrase around in my mind.
“Clay…” I say gently. “That’s not a saying.”
“I said it, didn’t I?” He flashes me a cheeky grin.
Professor Jessup snorts and takes a step back. “Don’t bury your head in the sand, Stella. You need us all. You’re not meant to be alone.”
“She’s not. We spoke,” I interrupt. I don’t like how he’s talking to her as if he knows what Stella needs better than she does.
Stella smirks at our professor. “And Clay is coming over tonight, right Clay?”
He brightens and wraps an arm around her shoulder. “If you need me, I’m there!”
“See?” Stella says through gritted teeth as she stares at Jessup. “Leave it. We’re good.”
He rolls his eyes and begins to stalk off, but he comes to an almost screeching halt as a slim, grey-haired male turns the corner. Stella sees the male and swears.
“Guys, get out of here. That’s our dignitary. I don’t want his attention on you, too.” She pushes Clay’s arm off of her and shoves us away. “Seriously, we’ll talk later.”
I grab her hand in mine. Although it’s not delicate by nature, it still feels fragile when I hold it. “We can help take some of the attention off of you.”
“We’ll be fine. I’ll be back soon, okay?” She turns her face up towards me and smiles so softly that my knees go weak.
I return the expression before kissing her, without care of our audience, before backing away. Clay grabs her from me and smashes his mouth on hers before saluting skipping away. As I follow him, he hums softly.
“What do you think she and Jessup were talking about?” he asks as we walk through the administration building.
“I can’t tell you. It’s not my place. It’s nothing to worry about, though.” He stops and places a hand on my arm, his normally genial face suddenly serious.
“Is she okay?” This version of Clay is night and day from the goofy death spirit’s normal demeanor. The hint of fear in his voice is impossible to miss.
Wrapping my arm around his shoulders, I usher him forward. “I promise, it’s nothing bad. It’s just not my place to say.”
“If you’re sure.” He looks behind us as if he could still see her. “She looked freaked out.”
I snort gracelessly. Of course she looks freaked out – she’s facing the possibility of being bonded forever to five males. But Stella is strong and brave, and we’ll figure this out.
“What is it that she says? She’s got wings. She’s bound to be a little flighty.”