Tempted

with huge leather seats that lay all the way back and super-thick window coverings, which I immediately went around and pulled down.
    “The sun’s not out there right now, dork,” Aphrodite said.
    “I’m just taking care of this right now in case any of you
forget
”—I made air quotes around the word—“to close them later.”
    “I’m not going to burn up your Warrior,” Aphrodite said. “Then
my
Warrior would have way too much to do.”
    “I will never be too busy for you,” Darius said, taking the seat beside her and lifting the arm that separated them so they could snuggle.
    “Barf,” Erin said.
    “Moving to the back of the plane so we don’t get Aphrodite sick,” Shaunee said.
    “Is there a beverage service on this plane?” Damien asked.
    “I hope so. I could use some brown pop,” I said, loving that everyone was sounding as normal as I was suddenly feeling.
    “Lenobia said we’d be on our own on this flight, but I would betyou could forage around after we get airborne and find something to drink,” Darius said.
    “I know where they keep the pop,” Stark said. “This is the plane that flew me from Chicago to here. I’ll get you some as soon as we take off.” Then he gestured to the empty seat next to him. “Sit by me?”
    “Hey, Zo!” Heath called from farther back in the plane. “I saved you a seat back here.”
    I sighed. “You know what, I think I’m going to sit over here by myself and just try to sleep. Jet lag is a killer,” I said, choosing a seat midway between Heath and Stark.
    “I’m taking a Xanax. I know how to fly,” Aphrodite said. “I’ll be ready to hit the stores the second we touch down in Venetia.”
    “Stores?” Shaunee called.
    “Shopping?” Erin said.
    “Perhaps we should reconnoiter with Aphrodikey,” Shaunee said.
    “Excellent idea, Twin,” Erin agreed.
    I smiled to myself as the Twins moved up to seats across from Aphrodite, who sneered at them, but launched quickly into an enthusiastic list of the shopping possibilities in Venice.
    “Here.” Stark handed me a blanket and a pillow. “It gets cold in planes sometimes, especially when you’re trying to sleep.”
    “Thanks,” I said. I wanted to tell him that I would like to curl up with him, but that I wouldn’t like how that would make Heath feel (who was now in a big debate with Jack over whether Macs or PCs were better).
    “Hey, it’s okay. I understand,” Stark said, lowering his voice.
    “You’re the best Warrior in the world.”
    He smiled that cocky little grin I liked so much and kissed the top of my head. “Go to sleep. I’ll keep a psychic ear on your feelings. If things get weird, I’ll wake you up.”
    “I’m counting on that,” I said.
    I curled up with the blanket and pillow my Warrior had given me, and fell asleep almost before we were airborne.
    If I dreamed I didn’t remember it.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Stevie Rae

    “I still disagree with you,” Lenobia said.
    “But it’s my decision to make, right?” Stevie Rae said.
    “It is. I just wish you would reconsider. Let me come with you. Or even Dragon—he could accompany you.”
    “Dragon is still too messed up from Anastasia’s death, and you’re pretty much in charge here. The way things are going, I don’t think it’s smart for you to leave the school right now,” Stevie Rae said. “Look, I’ll be fine. I know them. They’re not gonna hurt me, and even if they’ve lost every bit of what’s left of their minds and they do try to mess with me, they can’t. I’ll call earth and smack them around or somethin’ like that. Don’t worry. I’ve handled them before. This time I’m hopin’ I can talk them into comin’ back here with me. I think bein’ back at the school would really help ’em.”
    Lenobia nodded. “That is logical. Return them to where they last felt normal and perhaps they can find that feeling again.”
    “That’s kinda what I thought.” Stevie Rae paused, and then added in a soft, sad voice, “I still argue back and forth with myself sometimes. Sometimes it feels like the darkness is so close to me that I could touch it. And I see it in my group—the ones who also found their humanity. It’s not always easy for them, either.”
    “Maybe you’ll always have a choice. Maybe the line between good and evil is less clear for you and your red fledglings.”
    “But does that make us bad? Or worthless?”
    “No, of course not.”
    “Then you can see why I have to