“Ren thinks that if we show our compliance to the union early,” I continued, “you know—follow orders before they are orders—that the Keepers will give us a break.”
“What do you think?” Ansel had gathered the scattered Fritos back into a pile in front of him.
“I think we should try it. One step at a time,” I said. “If it sucks, we’ll separate and wait until the order is given in October.”
Mason dropped his chair back to the floor. “What do you mean one step at a time?”
“We’re invited to a party at Eden on Friday night.”
“Whoa.” Mason elbowed Ansel, who grinned.
“But . . .” All their eyes were on me. “I don’t want the Banes to call the shots. Eden is Efron’s turf. Their turf.”
Bryn leaned closer to me but looked at the other Nightshades, baring her teeth. “She’s right. Ren can’t control the merge.”
“He won’t,” I said. “I’m going to keep him guessing. He’s always been too sure of himself.”
My packmates laughed, nodding.
“I need you guys to follow my lead and play nice,” I said. “Even if what I do is somewhat . . . shocking.”
Mason drummed his fingers on the table. Ansel cocked his head. Bryn just nodded. I stared at Fey, who chomped at her apple before speaking.
“You’re the alpha, Cal,” she said, mouth full of fruit flesh. “But for the record, I hate Sabine. She’s a heinous bitch.”
“Maybe she’s nice when you get to know her,” Ansel said. He shrank away from Fey’s withering glare.
“So we’re agreed, then?” I straightened in my chair, waiting. They all nodded, Mason eagerly, Fey last.
“Okay, guys. Here comes the cannonball.” I turned to face the Banes.
“Hey, Ren!” I called.
He broke off his conversation with Sabine, whose face contorted with outrage. His eyebrows shot up, but he quickly composed his face into a picture of disinterested but respectful regard.
“Yeah?”
“Push our tables together?”
I heard Fey swear under her breath. My smile broadened when Ren couldn’t suppress the startled twitch of his limbs.
“Of course.” He shot a quick look at Dax and jerked his head toward us.
The bulky senior walked over and gripped our table with one hand. He pulled it along the ground, which caused a horrible screeching of metal on tile, until it bumped up against the Banes’ table. Heads all over the cafeteria lifted and turned toward the teeth-grating sound. The Keepers’ faces registered shock and murmurs of interest drifted toward us.
Good. Let Lumine and Efron hear about this as soon as possible.
Mason was already on his feet; he dragged his chair over to Neville, who looked surprised but smiled and pushed his own seat back to make room.
Mason waved Ansel over. My brother trotted happily to his friend’s side, and Neville extended a welcoming hand.
Huh. I hadn’t expected such an easy melding of our packs.
Sabine scooted backward when Fey carried her chair to the united tables. Fey stared back at the Bane girl, positioning her own seat as far from
Sabine as possible.
Maybe not so easy.
“Calla?” Bryn waited beside me.
“Fey needs some moral support. And maybe restraints. Sit with her.”
I kept my gaze on Ren. He leaned over to Dax. I saw his lips move though I couldn’t hear the words. Dax stiffened. Ren put a hand on his shoulder, which Dax shrugged off as he stood.
The broad-shouldered wolf sauntered past me, picked up the chair I had been sitting in, and carried it over to Bryn and Fey. I nodded and they adjusted their chairs with some reluctance to make room for the imposing Bane. Ren gestured to the chair next to him and raised his eyebrows at me.
I grabbed my lunch and moved to the empty seat. Sabine sulked. Cosette offered a nervous smile as I sat down.
“Hello, ladies,” I said.
Sabine grunted, tightening the lock of her arms around her body.
“Hi, Calla,” Cosette murmured, toying with the meatball atop her plate of spaghetti. Her glance darted uneasily from me to Sabine.
“Interesting move, Lily.” Ren took a swig from his bottled water.
I resumed chomping on my turkey sandwich and shrugged. “I thought it might save us from random acts of violence at Eden. I’m sure Efron wouldn’t enjoy pulling rival teen wolves off each other in the middle of his party.”
Ren laughed, tilting his chair on its back legs, but Sabine glared at me.
“So you’re coming?” Her nails dug into the flesh of her arms, leaving bright red welts.
“Of course. We can’t wait,” I said. My voice dripped saccharin.
“Whatever.” She pulled out an emery board and began filing her nails.
Ren brought his chair back to the floor with an abrupt clatter. “Knock it off, Sabine. Now.”
She dropped the emery board and cast a pleading glance at Cosette. The younger Bane girl bit her lip, scooped up the board, and handed it back to
Sabine.
A trill of wicked laughter came from the other table. Fey grinned as her eyes followed Dax’s wildly gesticulating hands.
“Well, that is a strange sight,” I said. “Smiling ranks at the top of her seven deadly sins.”