Rushing around my new home, I throw on a pale-blue polo and black jeans. I grab my bright-pink Converse sneakers as a pop of color to add that bit of personality that’s all me. Nat bought them for me for Christmas, but I barely got a chance to wear them. I’m glad Sally and Jess packed them for me. I add in my necklace that Nat gave me and now I feel like she’s with me. She will keep me strong today.

Shit, I’m gonna be late on my first day. I dig through my bags and pull out a messenger bag, thankful for the girls’ packing skills. If Dad had packed he would have forgotten half the crap in here.

Bolting out of the pool house, I run straight into Jaxson as I open the garage door. He must have been standing right behind it. He grabs hold of the door to stop it flinging back into my face. “Come on, we’re going to be late.”

He turns, stomping away as if I should just follow him. I do, not because I have to, but because I’m going to be late. I follow him around the corner and almost walk straight into Carter.

“Jeez! What is it with you guys appearing from nowhere? You scared the crap out of me,” I admit, holding a hand to my chest in the hopes of calming my racing heart.

“Sorry, I was waiting for Jax. He was supposed to tell you we were leaving, but he stomped out here without you. I figured he forgot until you came barrelling around the corner,” Carter says, grabbing onto my hand, gently dragging me behind him. His touch sends shivers up my arms, making me flush excitedly.

“What about lunch?” I ask as we reach a blue SUV. Carter lets me climb in first, sliding in after me. Zane is already sitting in the backseat, waiting for me with a smile. Jaxson’s driving, which I expected, while Cooper is in the passenger seat.

Carter shoves my bag in between my legs before slamming the door shut behind him as Jaxson speeds out of the property. He turns to me, “Don’t worry about lunch. We have meal plan cards for the cafeteria. Until Troy gets you one sorted you can just use ours.”

Wow, that’s actually pretty nice of them. I thought last night was going to be a rare show of kindness, but it seems to have carried over to today. Not that I’m not happy.

“Thanks,” I murmur, keeping my gaze focused on the road ahead of us.

As we get closer to the academy my heart speeds up, nerves rearing their ugly head. What do I have to be nervous about? I’m going to go to class, get a degree, then leave. Maybe I will have answers about Natalie by then. One could hope.

We pull into the parking lot, and I can’t help but roll my eyes. Seriously? Jaxson’s car makes a whole lot more sense now.

All through the parking lot are high-end cars such as Lamborghinis and Porches. This is gonna be a fucking nightmare. Sighing, I slide out after Carter, pulling my bag out and slinging it over my shoulder only for Zane to snatch it off me. He walks around the car and holds out the forms I filled in earlier. “Come on, let’s go.”

I offer no arguments, following him until we reach the registration office. He says a few words to the secretary before she hands him my schedule along with information for the required textbooks I’ll need to pick up from the campus bookstore later. He then leads me to a seat, and we sit and wait for the Dean.

Ten minutes later the Dean comes out of a door behind the secretary. He’s at least a head taller than me, his long blond hair tied in a ponytail. His brown eyes show kindness, and my fear at being new eases.

“Valerie?”

I nod and he offers a gentle smile. “Step into my office. Zane, you can wait right there. We’ll only be a moment.”

The nerves come back full force when the door closes behind us, and I focus on studying the room rather than meet the eyes of the Dean as he takes a seat.

It’s filled with all kinds of mythological artefacts that fascinate me. I’m drawn to one in particular; a painting of a woman dressed in a deep-red dress, holding a baby. She looks so happy but there’s a sadness etched across her face, as if the happiness won’t last.

“Hecate.”

“Huh?” I ask, confused. I was engrossed with the woman in the picture.

The headmaster comes to stand beside me, his eyes staring down at the woman too. “The woman is Hecate. Goddess of Magic, Witchcraft, Necromancy, the Night, and the Moon.”

“She’s so beautiful. Who painted this?” The picture looks old, but new, if that even makes sense. It’s mesmerizing.

He chuckles and walks over to his desk, taking a seat. “A friend of mine. How about you take a seat?” he offers, his hand pointing to the seat across from him.

I take the offered seat and try not to fidget as I meet his dark-brown eyes. Overall his whole image radiates power and control. It’s both terrifying and fascinating.

To do something with my hands I give him the papers Zane handed me and lean back in the chair, trying to calm myself.

He looks through the papers before placing them on the desk. “Now, Valerie, your father has filled me in on some of the details of what’s been going on. I want you to know that in my mind, and most of the staff’s, you’re innocent until proven guilty. However, that doesn’t mean you’re not on a fine line here. If you misstep I’ll be forced to contact the authorities, and that will lead to your arrest. So long as you go to classes and keep to yourself until all this has been sorted out, then everything will be fine. Understand?”

“Yes, sir. I just want to experience college and, hopefully, get a degree. Thank you for giving me a chance.”

He smiles at me kindly. “You’re welcome, Valerie. Now, your father has offered a generous donation and covered any expenses you need, including textbooks. I took the luxury of having them collected for you,” he says gesturing to the pile that I take and shove in my bag, wondering if I’m going to need to make a stop at the car. There’s no way I can carry this much all day.

The Dean continues speaking while I place my bag back at my feet. “I thought your first month we would do a trial period. Your father wasn’t sure which classes you may want to attend, so we agreed you could try a bit of everything. You will do any exams that each class has set, unless you decide to drop from those courses. This will mean your class load may be a bit much, but we’re hoping that after the first two weeks you will have an idea of what you’d like to continue with.”

He stands and holds out his hand for me to shake. “If you need anything at all, feel free to come to my office. Now, off to class. Your guardian is getting antsy.”

“My what?” I ask, sure I must have misheard him.

“Your friend, Zane. He’s waiting for you.”

Shit. I feel extra crazy at the way he’s looking at me. Ugh, why won’t this guardian thing leave me alone?

“Sorry. Thank you again.”

I leave the room quickly, relieved when I see Zane still sitting in the same spot I left him, texting away. “Come on, we can go.”

He stuffs his phone in his pocket and grabs my bag from me, swapping me for my class schedule.

“I’ll take you to the car first so you can drop off any extra books. It’s easy enough to get them between classes. ”

“Sure,” I agree, following after him. We make a quick stop shoving all my books I won’t need into the car before heading back into the school.

Zane walks in front of me, leading the way, so I take the time to peruse my classes. I’m about to ask him what the hell each of them are, when a shoulder knocks into me sending me sprawling on the floor, my schedule and the other small pile of papers I had tucked under my arm with it.

I look up to see who the hell pushed me over when a blond Barbie doll’s face comes into view, complete with pale-blue eyes and a cruel smirk. “Oh, I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you,” she says, grabbing her chest in fake shock. As if. Zane was right in front of me. She would have had to step between us before she could hit me.

Rubbing my shoulder, irritated, I look up at her defiantly as I start to get to my feet. But before I can right myself or speak, a pair of arms are scooping me off the ground. I sink into the warmth of the touch for a second before I’m placed on the ground gently. Jaxson turns me around to face him, checking me over for injuries. “Are you okay?” he asks, looking me up and down, as if there’s some wound he can’t see.

His concern is surprising and sends butterflies fluttering in my stomach. I pull myself together, realizing there’s a small audience building around us. This is totally not what I want on the first day.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just surprised, is all. I mustn’t have been looking where I was going,” I mutter, glancing over at the blond bimbo and the friends who are gathered around her. They’re pretty much replicas of each other, close enough that I think they could be sisters or something, except for the fact the other three have serious regrowth happening.

Jaxson studies me a minute longer before handing me over to Zane, who helps me pick up the papers that fell to the ground. Jaxson casually walks directly into the blond’s personal space, his fierce expression at war with his seemingly relaxed stance making her take a step back. “Joy, let’s pretend I actually believe you missed Valerie standing right there, it’s best you never make that mistake again or we’re going to be exchanging words. Are we clear?”

Her cocky smirk is still in place, despite the anger radiating from Jaxson. “Oh come on Jax, there’s no need for that. It was clearly an accident. Besides, why would you need to get involved at all? She’s a big girl, a bit different from what I’ve heard but nothing special,” she spits, her eyes turning to glare at me. I ignore her, focused on putting the papers in my bag that Zane holds open for me.

He takes another step closer and she finally loses the grin. “Let’s try this again. Cassandra vouches for her. So does my father. Do you understand yet? This isn’t about your opinion of what she is or isn’t. Mind where you step and do not make me repeat myself.”

At his words Joy pales, nodding hastily. She and her friends scurry down the hall as fast as they can without looking back. Well, that was weird. And, why would his father vouch for me? This place is freaking weird! Zane clips my bag shut and Jaxson’s gaze meets mine, his amber eyes burning bright. “You need to toughen up, Valerie. I can’t protect you from everything.” With that he stalks off down the hall, the crowd automatically dispersing as if afraid Jaxson will turn on them.

I watch him go, not sure what just happened, when Zane speaks. “Don’t worry about him. Jax can be pretty abrupt around women. You being around is going to be a challenge for him. Not to mention the whole situation with Joy. She hates anyone who she perceives as a threat. Not that Jax is still going through with the wedding last I heard, but that doesn’t stop her from trying to push everyone away from him. She thinks if she can push all the girls away then Jax will have no choice but to take her back. It’s pretty pathetic, really,” he says as we walk down the hall.

My mind, however, is stuck on one important fact. “He’s engaged?”

Zane looks over at me, and whatever he sees causes his fear to cross his face. “Uh, maybe this should be something you talk to Jaxson about.”

“Why? You just said there’s a wedding. Either they are or they aren’t?”

He sighs, slamming the locker closed. “Fine, yes they were engaged, but it was a very short engagement. Come on, you’ll be late for your first class.”

Zane hurries down the hall — as if he could really escape me. “So, what happened?” I pester when I get alongside him.

“Look, it’s really not my business. If Jax finds out I told you he was engaged, he’ll kill me.”

“Fine. I’ll let it drop — for now.”

We walk into a brightly lit lecture hall, other students pushing past us in their hurry to get in on time. Zane walks me straight over to the professor, grabbing hold of my hand and dragging me behind him.

“Hey, Professor Callin, this is Valerie. My new stepsister.” Zane introduces me as other classmates turn to stare. I guess on an island like this everyone is bound to know when someone new arrives.

Professor Callin is an elderly woman with beautiful ginger-colored hair which is starting to show the beginnings of age with slight silver streaks running through it. Bright red lipstick is smeared on her lips and rubbed across the tips of her teeth, which makes me cringe. I always feel bad when I see women with lipstick smeared on their teeth. It’s such an awkward subject. It’s like, do I mention something, or is it too embarrassing? Or is it more embarrassing if I don’t say anything?

“Hello, dear, welcome to Light Shadows. I’m your creative writing professor.”

“Nice to meet you,” I murmur, feeling the nerves making me feel queasy. After all, the Dean said all the staff know exactly why I’m here. That on its own is enough to make me want to throw up.

She smiles at me, as if seeing my internal dilemma. Amazingly, it has a calming effect on me, and I find myself feeling a lot more relaxed in her presence. “I’m sure you’re a little nervous today, but don’t be. You have nothing to be nervous about. We’re all very welcoming here.”

Hmm, she obviously hasn’t met that bitch Joy.

“If there’s anything you need, don’t hesitate to ask.” With that she shoos me off after Zane and we take the steps right to the top row where Jaxson is seated. Zane forces me to sit next to him, choosing to sit on my other side, so I’m stuck between the two of them for the whole of the class.

I pull out a notebook and pen from my bag, Zane doing the same, but Jaxson just remains casually leaned back in his seat.

“Jaxson? Would you please come down and assist me?” The professor calls to him, and he moves from the seat beside me, going down to the front of the classroom.

At my confused look Zane leans in to whisper. “He’s essentially graduated, but he likes to help out as a teacher’s assistant for most classes.”

Oh wow. I look down at him as Professor Callin piles a bunch of papers into his hands and instructs him to hand them out among the class. He gets to us last, putting the last two papers on Zane’s desk before dropping back to his chair.

I take the piece of paper Zane hands me, reading over the title.

World of the Gods. It has a bullet point list of gods; Ares, Zeus, Poseidon and Aphrodite to name a few. Next to each name it lists a brief overview of who they are and their powers. Some I’ve heard of; others, I have no idea who they are.

So, maybe all the teachers in this school have some kind of fascination with gods. Then again, after Justin’s brief history last night, it doesn’t really surprise me too much.

The professor claps her hands together, grabbing the class’s attention. “Right. So today I want you to pair up and discuss the Greek gods. I want you to each pick one of the gods and write on both your choice and your partner’s. I want a detailed report of their life in the other realm and what gave them their rise to power.”

There is a collective groan, and she turns her glare on the class. “Alright, enough with your groaning. Off you go.”

Everyone gets up, walking out the door, leaving me totally confused. That’s it? We’ve barely been in the class more than ten minutes and she’s already dismissing us? What kind of college is this?

Jaxson reaches over me, grabbing my notebook and pen before I can. Zane grabs my bag along with his own and they both get to their feet and start walking down the stairs without a backward glance. It’s not until Zane gets to the bottom that he realizes I’m still sitting in the same spot.

“Well? You coming, or do you plan to stay in here all day?” he asks, a cocky smirk in place.

I shake my head, a mix of frustrated and amused. They are both treating me like I don’t have the physical capacity to carry my own stuff, but are still waiting for me. I don’t get these guys. All the mixed signals are confusing me. I thought for sure Zane was going to end up hating me after my first day here, but he has been surprisingly nice. Even Jaxson. Sure, he’s a bit standoffish, but he has this soft side to him, something I’m sure he doesn’t let anyone see too often.

We get out of the class and a pair of arms grab me, lifting me in them and spinning me in a circle. I look up to see Carter and relax, letting a smile light up my face. He puts me back on my feet, the wind knocked out of me, and I see Cooper, Zane, and Jaxson watching us from the side, each of them intrigued.

Carter smiles down at me, “Hey, babe. How’s your day going so far?”

“Confusing. It’s barely been ten minutes and we’re already dismissed. I thought classes were an hour long,” I admit. “And, what is it with you all calling me ‘babe?’”

He lets out a laugh. “Why, do you not like it?”

“No, it’s not that,” I hurry to reassure him. “I guess in the past few days I never really stopped to ask about it, that’s all.”

“Oh, good, because I doubt any of us are gonna stop. We all like it too much. As for classes, most of them are an hour long, but sometimes the teacher gives you the task and then you spend the rest of the hour doing it. I’d imagine you guys have some kind of assignment? Professor Callin likes her free time,” he explains at my raised brow.

Like a bubble bursting, Jaxson’s voice invades our little encounter. “Yeah, we’re heading to the library now if you guys want to join us. Zane and Valerie have to write about gods,” he says, putting a strange emphasis on the word ‘gods.’ Cooper opens his mouth to respond but I notice Jaxson holding his gaze and raising an eyebrow at his brother. I feel the tension between the two rising before Cooper looks away.

Carter looks between Zane and I before shrugging, unimpressed. “Sure, may as well. We don’t have anything to do right now. We finished our assignments.”

Jaxson leads the way down the hall and the few people still in the halls turn to stare. I hear vague whispers, my name mentioned most, but a lot of people are staring at the guys too. It’s as if they are some kind of celebrities.

As we walk I have to ask. “Guys, does everyone on this campus know why I’m here in the community?”

Silence is my only response, and when I can’t take it anymore, Zane speaks up. “No, Valerie. The professors do, but only because it was the one condition of you attending. Some of your classmates might know or suspect, but unless you flat out tell them, it’s best to assume no one does.”

I can’t think about this now. I shut down my train of thought and focus on the halls around me. If I get too absorbed in my mind all those bad thoughts creep back in. Jaxson pauses at a set of mahogany double doors, building the suspense before he opens it, and when he does I see why. It’s pure magnificence.

Holy hell, why haven’t I ever seen a library this big before? It’s as if all my dreams have come true.

Stacks upon stacks of books line the walls and smaller shelves are scattered through the room. There must be hundreds of thousands of books here!

I walk forward, my feet guiding me along the stacks, my hands running over the books. A zap of electricity shoots up my arm and throws me back.

The shadows come from the shelves and swarm me, leaving me scrambling away. A scream builds in my throat when Jaxson steps in front of me. His body shines, a gold glow building around him as he lifts his hands, light blasting from them, sending the shadows back wherever they came from.

Jaxson turns and I gasp, shocked. His eyes are full-blown amber and there’s something almost dangerous there.

“How?”

He smiles and snaps his fingers. My eyes grow heavy, and I can’t fight the wave of tiredness that overcomes me.