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  Fourteen seconds left. Alex blocked a shot. He sent the puck her way. Alayne snatched it, feeling the ice working with her, through her. The puck slid smoothly in front of her hockey stick, dodging the sticks from the blue jerseys. Now, only Jayme crouched in front of her.

  As though a voice spoke out loud, as certainly as she knew her own name, she knew Jayme would go glove-side. The ice zinged with energy; she could feel an ounce more of Jayme’s weight on his glove-side than his stick-side.

  Time slowed in her mind. She pulled her stick back, and with a powerful hit, sent the puck spinning across the ice to Jayme’s stick-side. She saw him feint to his left, over-correct, and scramble to stop it. He wasn’t going to make it in time.

  The puck stopped right in front of the goal post. Alayne’s eyes widened in shock. She’d felt the bend. Someone had messed with the ice.

  Jayme scrambled to his feet. He pushed his helmet off his head, slamming it angrily onto the ground. Skating to the blue jersey on his right, he pushed him against the glass.

  “Drake, you idiot! Now they win by default!” He threw his gloves down and hammered a hard punch across Drake’s jaw, knocking his helmet off.

  Drake threw a punch back, and both boys went at it. The refs hurried over to intervene. Kyle skated to Alayne’s side. “It’s not every day you see a fight between people on the same team.”

  Alayne turned to him. “Did you feel the bend?”

  “No, but it’s obvious that’s what happened, right?” He pointed at the pool of water where the puck rested. Someone had melted a perfect circle around the puck. It lay in the puddle, completely submerged. “So much the better though, right? We won our first game.” He raised his arm to give her a high-five.

  “We were going to win anyway, Kyle.” Alayne smacked his hand with her open palm. “My shot was going in.”

  Kyle looked doubtful. “Mm, maybe. Anyway, how awesome that we won?” He raised his voice. “Way to go, team!” He skated away, giving high-fives to all of them, finishing with the players still sitting on the bench.

  Jayme bypassed Alayne on his way to the locker rooms. His lip was bleeding again. He glanced angrily back at Drake as he stepped off the ice.

  Alayne hurried after him. “Jayme, wait.”

  He turned. “Hey, Al, nice shot.” A half grin twisted his mouth. He winced as his split lip parted. “I think you might have had me there.”

  “Shut up, Jayme, and hold still.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “Huh?”

  Alayne flung her gloves onto the floor. Cupping her hands, she blew into them, concentrating on the water elements in her moist breath. Ice-crystals formed in a small cloud. With an effort, she hardened them and packed them together, then added to them. After a few seconds, she held an ice-cube to his lip, dabbing at it gently.

  Neither of them spoke. Alayne glanced up at Jayme’s face. What she saw in his eyes stopped her hand. She couldn’t move. She couldn’t have spoken even if she’d wanted to. The heat spreading through her body made her fingertips and her head and her lips tingle. She was going to kiss him, and she couldn’t make herself stop.

  She stood on her tiptoes, closing the distance to his mouth. Her eyelids slid shut as she waited for him to make the final contact, hoping for it, expecting it.

  It didn’t happen. After a moment, she opened her eyes. Excruciating pain crippled his expression. “Alayne, we can’t.”

  Embarrassment crashed through her body like a tidal wave. She stumbled backward, her hands over her flaming cheeks. “S-sorry, Jayme. I’m sorry.” She dropped her gaze to the floor and hurried up the hallway to the locker room. She was fully dressed by the time the rest of the team came in.

  Kyle walked her back to the dormitories, his arm slung carelessly over her shoulders. He crowed about the game, how well it had gone and how he hoped it was only the first of many. At the entrance to the girls’ dorms, he pulled her into a hug. A moment later, he lifted her chin and gave her an exuberant kiss on the lips.

  Shock coursed through her body. It was the first time Kyle had kissed her, the first time anyone had kissed her. His lips were firm, jubilant, warm. It was everything Alayne had always imagined a kiss would be.

  But he wasn’t Jayme.

  Alayne broke the kiss. She stared up at Kyle’s flushed, excited face before backing up a step. She tucked a loose strand of hair awkwardly behind her ear and mumbled, “S—see you later, Kyle.” As she turned to go, she caught a glimpse of Jayme walking by, his gaze fixed on the floor.

  He had seen the kiss.

  Alayne turned to climb the eighteen flights of stairs to her level. By the fifth level, tears streaked her cheeks.

  Chapter 9

  The next morning at breakfast, Alayne sat at one of the long tables in the commissary, a mug of steaming coffee in front of her. Her bleary gaze stared at the pre-meal news with Stanwick Jones and Kathy Frontenleid.

  “There’s been another Shadow-Casting attack, Stan,” Kathy said from a sidewalk where curious people streamed around her. “The attacks have little rhyme or reason to them, and the Continental Guard has yet to pinpoint any pattern. Here in Skyden, the Shadow-Casters infiltrated a Basic School, Casted the students, and sent them to the City Offices where they attempted to burn the spire to the ground.”

  Alayne sat bolt upright. Skyden was her City Centre. She searched the background behind Kathy, struggling to see familiar landmarks. Kathy motioned to a steaming structure that was the centerpiece of a massive whirlpool of water a thousand feet tall. Several Water-Wielders could be seen standing on surrounding rooftops as they managed the elements. Fire-Breathers on the ground worked to finish off the flames.

  Alayne shoved her mug away, staring at that spire, alarm slamming through her mind.

  Marysa had been pouring over a textbook, and hadn’t been paying attention. She glanced up, and concern immediately darkened her eyes. “Layne? Are you okay?”

  “That—that’s Skyden! Kathy’s broadcasting two blocks away from my Basic School. The Casters used the kids at my Basic School to try to burn down the City Offices.”

  “Really?” Marysa whirled for a second look. “I thought I recognized that building.”

  Alayne didn’t answer. Kathy was speaking again. “We’ve managed to interview some of the employees of the City Offices, who say the Shadow-Casters demanded access to the files specifically mentioning the Vale before attempting to send the place up in smoke. I’m Kathy Frontenleid, Continental Media. Back to you, Stan.”

  Stanwick Jones ended the morning news, and all the MIUs shut down as students began ordering food.

  Marysa looked at Alayne. “I’m sure our families will be all right. We’d have heard by now if they weren’t. Our family lives on the other side of Skyden, but I’m sure my parents would have contacted me last night if anyone had died.”

  Alayne tried to shake off her dark mood. “You were in a different district, though; your Basic School was miles away.”

  “My parents would still have contacted me. Did you see the time stamp on the news? It took place last night. If anything bad had happened, they’d have gotten word to us.”

  Alayne stared at the wood grain swirls on the table. They were a perfect panorama of what her emotions looked like—twisted, bunched, and gnarled. “My mom would never go out, not with Casters in the city.” She pulled her coffee toward her again and took a sip. “I’m sure you’re right.”

  Marysa squeezed her hand. “Cheer up, dearie. You were talking in your sleep a lot last night. One of my brothers used to do that, still does, I guess. He only does it when he’s stressed, though. If it’s really bad, he gets up and walks around and does strange stuff, like taking the dog for a walk inside the house, leash and all.” She leaned forward and held Alayne’s gaze. “Something bothering you, Layne?”

  Alayne shrugged. “I’m fine. Just tired, that’s all.” She took another sip of coffee.

  “Good morning.” Jayme slid onto the bench next to Alayne.<
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  Surprise cut through Alayne’s sleep-fogged mind. “Hey.”

  Jayme carefully avoided her gaze. “I’m getting pancakes for breakfast this morning. Need to carbo-load after the game last night.” He held up his hand, and a plate floated out of the vents above and across to their table. Syrup followed shortly after.

  Marysa glanced back and forth between them. “What’s the matter with you guys?”

  “We’re fine.” Jayme dug into his pancakes. “Marysa, did you get the essay for History of Elementals done?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Can you take a look at mine? I did it, but it’s really lame.”

  Alayne stared at her coffee, hurt coursing through her. Her grades were as good if not better than Marysa’s; why hadn’t Jayme asked her?

  “Sure, I can do that.” Marysa took a bite of hash browns. “Let me see it.”

  Jayme dug his notebook out of his bag and slid it across the table to her. Marysa flipped it open, found the page, and began reading.

  “Hey,” Kyle greeted them from Alayne’s other side. He tugged on Alayne’s braid. “Did you get some good rest last night after the game? Oh, good. Coffee.” He slid his leg over the bench. “Guess the adrenaline got you, too, huh?” He ordered coffee and scrambled eggs for himself. “I might need three cups to get me through classes today.”

  Alayne gulped the last of her coffee. “I just remembered that I didn’t grab my essay for History of Elementals from my room. I’ll meet you guys in Elementary Elementals, okay?”

  She swung her leg over the bench and stood, not meeting Kyle’s gaze. She headed for the chute, stepping in as soon as the doors opened. She pressed the button for the dormitories, but Marysa slid through the doors before they could shut completely.

  Marysa planted her hands on her hips and glared at Alayne. She started to speak, but the car whooshed upward, and both staggered to the side for a handhold. A moment later, the doors slid open and they entered the common room. The place was empty. Most people were either finishing their breakfasts or were in their rooms preparing for classes.

  Alayne started for the girls’ side, but Marysa grabbed her arm and pulled her around. “I want to know what’s going on, Alayne. You and Jayme won’t look at each other, and you’ve been walking around like a zombie since after the game last night.” She pointed toward the chute. “And what was that this morning with Kyle? You wouldn’t even say hi to him. Granted, he’s not my favorite, but if I were him, I’d be a little hurt if my girlfriend didn’t even say good morning to me.”

  Alayne glanced at the floor and opened her mouth to explain, but before she could, tears blurred her vision and choked her voice, and she couldn’t speak.

  Marysa’s face changed instantly. “Oh honey, I didn’t know you were so miserable. Come on, sit down and tell me all about it, okay?” She led Alayne to a couch and sat down, patting the cushion beside her.

  Alayne sat weakly. All her feelings poured out of her mouth; how she really did like Kyle, but there was this nameless something between herself and Jayme, and how she didn’t know how to do anything without hurting somebody.

  Marysa dug a tissue out of her pocket and handed it to Alayne. “It’s okay, Layne. Just cry it out.”

  And Alayne did. She crumpled the tissue in her fist and sobbed, the tears dripping off her jawline into a speckled pattern on the knees of her jeans. After a while, she took a deep shaky breath, wiping her cheeks with the tissue.

  “What are you going to do?”

  Alayne shrugged. “I don’t know. I—I think I have to talk to Kyle. It all happened so fast with him. He’s never actually asked me out, but then he was just there, all the time.”

  “Maybe it’s best to step back from it all for a while. Let things settle down a bit.”

  Alayne nodded and blew her nose into her soaked tissue. “Thanks, Mary. You’re the best.”

  “I know. You love me, and you couldn’t do without me. Blah, blah, blah. Let’s go get your essay and head to class. We’re going to be late if we don’t hurry.”

  * * *

  Alayne slid the silver book inside her open textbook in History of Elementals and propped it against the table, both books resting on her lap. Professor Manders stood at his podium, reading his notes in a dry, dusty voice, glancing up at the class every four or five minutes.

  Kurt Dennison nodded off at the table in front of her. She grinned.

  Jayme elbowed her. He glanced pointedly at the silver book and raised an eyebrow.

  She shrugged and flipped the cover closed so he could see the title.

  “What’s a Quadriweave?” he whispered.

  “I’m researching it,” she mouthed back.

  “Miss Worth.” Professor Manders’ voice suddenly changed in pitch and volume. “Do you have something you’d like to share with the class?”

  Alayne slid down in her seat, drowning the urge to drop her book in her bag. He’d surely see that. “No, sir.”

  “While Mr. Cross may at this time be more interesting than my lecture, I would still appreciate it if you would rein in your enthusiasm for him and concentrate on the lesson for the day.”

  Heat rushed to Alayne’s skin. “Yes, sir.”

  Professor Manders eyed her steadily before resuming his lecture. Jayme scrawled on a blank sheet of paper in his notebook: “My fault. Sorry.”

  Alayne gave a tiny nod and forced herself to listen to Manders. For the rest of the class period and all the way through Throw-Casting, Jayme kept glancing at her, his expression unreadable.

  Finally, at lunch, he pulled her aside as she prepared to follow Marysa to their table. “Hang on, Al.” He lowered his voice. “You have to tell me why you’re reading a book about the Vale, ‘cause last I heard, Simeon Malachi and his Shadow-Casters were awfully interested in that, too.”

  “I just need to know what’s going on, Jay. Isn’t it better to be prepared?”

  “Prepared for what?”

  “I don’t know. But I wouldn’t cross CommonEarth domination off the list.”

  She edged around Jayme and went to join Marysa. Kyle was already waiting at their usual spot. As soon as Alayne sat down, Marysa gave her a significant glance. She stood up. “Actually, guys, I just remembered something I have to do for my next class.” She stopped Jayme as he headed toward them. “Jayme, I really need your help. Come with me to the dormitories.” Without waiting for an answer, she hauled him away. Jayme threw a confused glance over his shoulder at Alayne.

  Kyle pulled his plate nearer Alayne’s, threw one leg over the bench and scooted close to her. He traced a finger down her arm. “Ready for practice this afternoon? I’ve got some new plays I’m going to show the team that I think will make us a lot stronger.”

  “Yeah, I guess. Kyle,” Alayne began without pausing for breath, “I think maybe we shouldn’t see each other anymore ... like this.”

  He froze, his ever-present grin sliding from his face. “Why not?”

  Alayne shrugged miserably against the pain she saw in his eyes. “I’m not at the same place as you are in this, Kyle. I think you’re a lot further along than I am, and—” She stumbled to a halt at the eagerness that flashed through his expression.

  “I can slow down, Alayne. We can take all the time you need. Honestly, I won’t be bored while I’m waiting for you.”

  In spite of herself, Alayne laughed and then shook her head. “No, Kyle. I don’t know for sure if I want to catch up with you.” She looked around the commissary. “I think—I think you’re going to find a really excellent girl who wants to keep up with you just the way you are.” She laid her fingers on his arm as he opened his mouth to protest. “But that girl is not me.”

  Kyle looked down at the table and drew in three measured breaths. Alayne’s heart squeezed with pity, but overall, she felt relieved.

  When Kyle looked back up, she read determination in his eyes. “Only for now, Alayne. I’ll make you see.” He stood quickly and hurried toward the chute.<
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  * * *

  Alayne lay on a common room couch in front of one of the massive stone fireplaces built into the long wall. The nights were cold now; frost covered their window-panes each morning, and the higher up on the spire the rooms were, the colder it got, which meant that classes were freezing every morning at the start of the day.

  Marysa found this delightful, because for the first time, she could gloat that she had the edge over the other two. Alayne and Jayme often came into class to see a sheen of heat shimmering around Marysa’s desk. After she had basked in her success for a while, she had grudgingly wafted the warm air their way, so their hands wouldn’t be too numb to write their assignments.

  Now Alayne lay on her stomach, her chin propped on one hand while the other hand flipped the next page in the silver book. She’d read the book twice over now, but for whatever reason, she hadn’t wanted to return it to the library yet.

  Jayme sat on the floor in front of her couch, reading his assignment for Points of Motion-Stop, and Marysa lounged on the chair nearest the fire, practicing her Throw-Casting skills. The blaze in the huge stone chimney kept changing shapes. Alayne could figure out what some of them were, but others remained a mystery.

  Alayne stared at the page in front of her. “Jayme?”

  “Mm?” He underlined a sentence in his textbook.

  “Is this, by any chance, what you saw before? You know, on Daymon’s tattoo?”

  Jayme looked up and shifted to see the page in Alayne’s book. He narrowed his eyes and leaned closer. “Yeah, I think it is. Looks the same.”

  Alayne sat up, pulling the book with her. “It says here that the symbol has been around for many years, and while no one knows exactly where or how it originated, it has long been a symbol of the Quadriweave.”

  Marysa stopped building a towel rack made of fire. She sat up. “A Quadriweave? Those are really rare. I don’t actually know of any that are alive in the world today, but in the past, Quadriweaves have had to have crazy security systems, both to protect themselves and to keep them from harming other people. If you have that kind of power, you open yourself up to a lot of flack, I guess.” She flopped back into her lax position, her legs up over the arm of her chair. “I heard somewhere that Quadriweaves have dragon blood from ancient times.”