Page 5 of Monster's Past

“If you didn’t want the response, you shouldn’t have said it out loud.”

“That might not have helped. For all I know, you could be a mind-reader.”

He raises an eyebrow. “I’m not sure I’d enjoy that very much.”

“Oh?”

“People can be judgy.”

My cheeks flame red.

“Worried about what you’re thinking about?” he asks, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

I push a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “It’s not what you think it is.”

“You don’t know what I think,” he points out. “Unless you’re trying to tell me thatyou’rea mind-reader.”

“All right, class,” Professor Wainwright calls, cutting off our conversation. “If you get out your textbooks, we’ll start with the exercise on page thirty-two.”

Panic fills me.

“Here, you can share mine,” Cethin says, sliding his book in between us.

“So youarea mind-reader,” I mutter.

He chuckles. “Your face is just very easy to read.” He leans closer. “And that includes what you were thinking when we were introduced.” The low inviting tone makes me think he’s telling the truth about that.

I swallow hard. I’m not supposed to be thinking of anyone like that, especially when I don’t know them.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I murmur.

“Of course you don’t.” A satisfied smile flits over his face and his ears perk up to go along with it, as if they’re responding to his amusement. It makes me like them even more.

I ignore him, choosing to focus on the task at hand instead. But it’s nearly impossible to with how close the two of us are sitting. No matter how I move, I can sense him. It’s almost as if we’re connected in a way that I’m not with anyone else.

I shake my head, hoping to rid myself of some of the delusion. I have no idea what’s causing it, but there’s no doubt that it’s all in my head. And I’m only feeling this way because it’s my first day at Blackthorn, no other reason.

And I refuse to accept otherwise.

CHAPTER3

Cethin

My stomach rumblesas I follow the crowd of students down the corridors and towards the dining hall. I’m famished, and a good BLT will go a long way to changing that.

I pass through the double doors that lead into a room lined with rows of tables, many of them already filled with students. I scan the faces, looking for my friends, and almost sigh with relief when I spot them at the back. I can eat without them, but it’s always better to have company.

I wind my way through the assembled students, almost tripping over someone’s tail as I pass.

“Sorry,” they murmur, whipping it out of the way.

“No problem,” I respond. It’s just one of the hazards of Blackthorn, and to an extent, I’m used to it. This is just what things are like at home anyway. I’m just grateful I don’t have a tail of my own that I have to mind, they seem to have a mind of their own.

I let out a loud sigh as I sit down next to Afan.

“Where’ve you been?” my oldest friend asks, the deep ridges above his eyes making his frown more pronounced. Or maybe it doesn’t, it’s hard to tell precisely what expression he’s pulling because of them.

“Professor Scottsdale droned on a little too long,” I respond.