Page 110 of Wicked Promises (Fallen Royals 3)

Lenora and Robert pick me up shortly after Josh and Norah leave for work.

I slide into the backseat and pull off my hat, grimacing. “When did it get to be winter?”

Overnight, we got at least six inches of snow, and I’m not prepared. I look at the seat beside me and smile. There’s a pair of fur-lined boots with a little Christmas bow on it.

“An early present,” Lenora says, winking at me in the rearview mirror. “Don’t worry, it’s fake fur.”

“Thank you so much.” I tug off my shoes and slip on the new boots. They’re a warm, perfect fit, and I sigh.

“Someone’s happy.” Robert frowns. “How many winters have you gone through without properly insulated boots?”

The ones I always wear are more hiking-slash-everyday boots, leather, and definitely not warm. “Um… A girl I was living with had grown out of hers and gave them to me. I was twelve? They were a bit big, so they lasted two seasons.” I smile to myself. “I gave them away when I outgrew them.”

They’re quiet. Contemplating how different our lives must’ve been, I’m sure.

“How are you feeling?” Lenora asks.

“Better.”

Except my wrists. I woke up this morning dripping blood down my hands. It seems like once I opened up a little wound, I now constantly pick at it. I covered the damage with a bandage and a long-sleeve shirt, but I doubt I’ll be able to hide it for long.

“My head doesn’t even hurt much anymore.”

Robert makes a face. “I wish I could say the same.”

I lean forward. “Are you sure you’re up for visiting the school?”

“I’m ready to see some familiar faces,” he says, glancing back at me. “And besides, I’m not sure what sort of antics they’ll try.”

“We have a teacher and a corporate mediator,” I joke. “Hopefully things will fall on our side. But… what kind of antics?”

“Just that you’re not fit to come back to school. They’ll probably try to push time off—but that will just hurt you in the long run,” Lenora says. “Your case worker agreed that it was up to our discretion. Unless you don’t want—”

“I’d like to return to normal,” I interrupt. “Sitting around, moping and dealing with…” Trauma, I don’t say. I clear my throat. “Yeah, normalcy is what I need.”

Robert nods. “Exactly.”

We get to the school and walk across the deserted parking lot, up the steps into the school. The secretary gets a little teary when she sees us—more Robert than me, I’ll admit—and circles her desk to give him a hug.

And then we’re shuffled into the principal’s office.

She’s a stern lady. Luckily, I haven’t had too much interaction with her or the guidance counselor since the beginning of the year, and I had planned on keeping it that way. She analyzes me over the top of her reading glasses, which are perched on the end of her nose.

Lenora explains what’s been going on at home. Between the craziness, I’ve managed to catch up on most of the work my classes covered. That appears to be the clincher, and the principal agrees I can come back tomorrow.

The principal sends me out, and I go stand in the hallway.

And… the bell rings.

Figures.

This part of the school isn’t too busy unless students are coming to the office, so I don’t worry too much about being seen. That is, until Savannah appears.

She hurries toward me—or, toward the office—and stops dead when her gaze finds mine.

“You’re back?”

I shrug. “It would appear so.”