The Other Side of Envy: The Ghost Bird Series: #8 (The Academy) by C. L. Stone Page A

and Gabriel were shoulder to shoulder as they entered, moving to adjust only to avoid a potted plant on a stand. I kept right behind them. The foyer was dim, but beyond it, the hall was lit up well, as if making up for the gloom outside. There was a tile floor and a wooden staircase leading to a second floor, and ornate objects on tables. Portraits and plants took up a lot of space. There was a living room to the left, and an open door on the right revealed a room with bookshelves and an unlit fireplace.
    William closed the door behind us and then turned, took one look at me, seeming to see me for the first time, and then placed a hand over his chest. “Oh god,” he said as he closed the door. He turned a couple of locks, but kept his eyes on me. “Don’t tell me this is about a bird.”
    There was a groan from Henry and the blond man. Henry marched away, through the living room and pushed at a swinging door that opened to reveal a kitchen. Henry disappeared, the door shut closed behind him.
    The third man, the fair one, approached us, his hands up and stepping protectively in front of the woman. “Listen,” he said carefully, “just tell us why you’re here.”
    “Actually we are here about Sang,” Gabriel said.
    “You’ve been talking with North Taylor about her,” Luke said. “We’re here to find out what was said and what we need to know.”
    “North Taylor?” the woman said. She looked at the others in confusion. “Who’s been talking to him?”
    “Henry has,” William said through gritted teeth.
    “How come no one’s told me?” the woman asked. She turned to us, reached a hand out to Gabriel in offering. “My name is Lily.”
    “Gabriel,” he said. He took her hand and shook it.
    She moved on to Luke who shook her hand and said his name.
    She moved again to angle herself between Luke and Gabriel. They parted, revealing me behind them.
    She held out her hand.
    I lifted mine to meet hers.
    I said my name, but my voice was gone.
    “Pardon?” she asked.
    “Her name is Sang,” Gabriel said.
    “Nice to meet you, Sang,” she said quietly. She moved with an air of grace like what I had seen in Victor’s mother, however, this woman…Lily…. She moved more smoothly, like it was natural rather than taught.
    “No wonder they’re asking about you,” William said, who was standing by the living room opening. The blond man reached out, punching him in the arm. William winced and shook his head. “I just mean I understand it. I didn’t say anything about...”
    “Just shut up,” the blond man said.
    “Don’t mind them,” Lily said. She waved her hand delicately toward them. “They get overprotective of me around new people.
    The blond man mumbled something but I couldn’t understand it.
    Lily studied me for a moment and then smiled, the unsure glint still on her face but she masked it behind warmth. “Sang,” she said. “How about you and I go into the library and chat? If you feel comfortable, I’d like to talk with you.”
    No, no, no! My eyes went wide, and I looked at the boys, afraid to leave them. There was nothing wrong with Lily, but this was a creepy house and the men didn’t want us to be there.
    But North came here. He hadn’t told me. They’d asked about me? Talked about me? Why?
    Gabriel and Luke shared a look and then stared back at me, waiting. They waited for me to voice my own opinion if I wanted to go off with Lily or not.
    Maybe it was better if we split up. Looking around, there weren’t any other girls. Just the three men and the woman. Boys with a single girl.
    If they were in the Academy, then it obviously was allowed. North had come here to ask about me, possibly to see how I could join with them?
    I nodded, relenting to the request, but I pulled my phone from Gabriel’s pocket. I’d hold onto that. Just in case.
    Gabriel let me without looking at what I was doing. He knew.
    Luke touched my arm briefly, encouraging.
    I moved forward, feeling a knot