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

tightening in my stomach. This was more than I’d bargained for. North had talked to them; I had to believe if he talked to them about me, then I should be able to trust them.
    Why hadn’t North told me?
     
     

LILY’S DOG TEAM
     
     
    M oments later, I was sitting on a clean sofa in a library. I’d never been in a formal library in a home before. This one was better than I’d ever dreamed to have for myself.
    There were rows of paperbacks and hardbacks alike stacked on built in bookshelves surrounding us. The windows were stained glass, depicting characters from different fairy tales. The couches were plush, cozy. The fireplace, even unlit, was painted white and carved and beautiful, the marble mantle cluttered with photographs.
    Several were of Lily and the other three members of her team, plus an additional male with brown hair and handsome like the others. Some photos were of the group when they were younger. They’d been together for a while.
    With the door closed behind us, even with Lily nearby, who was a stranger to me, the room felt cozy.
    I wanted a room like this one day.
    Perhaps with one of Gabriel’s murals painted on the walls without bookshelves.
    It was funny to think of it, because it was the first moment I saw a future with the boys. I thought of Kota stocking the bookshelves, of Gabriel painting, of North building the shelves, or curling up with Nathan on a sofa to read or for a nap.
    This place was a home.
    I was jealous of what she had. I swallowed back emotions and waited quietly as Lily sat down on the sofa opposite me, smiling.
    “Really,” she said. “I’m sorry about the guys. They’re very protective. I suspect you’ve got the same issues.”
    I nodded, unsure how to respond. She talked like she knew me, knew what I was going through, and yet I didn’t know anything about her.
    She curled up, bringing her feet off the floor and tucking them under a pillow. She sat forward, keeping her head level with mine as she talked. “I hope you don’t mind, but I thought this would be more comfortable. You probably have a lot of questions.”
    My mind was a jumble of nerves. I didn’t know where to start. How much could she know? She didn’t know North was there to talk to John until just now. So how could she assume?
    Her smile never faltered as she waited for me to reply. When I didn’t, she continued, pressing her fingers toward her own chest, causing the material of her sweater to press against her ample breasts. “I’m a friend,” she said softly. “If you’re here to find out how a girl in the Academy can join a dog team...”
    “I’m not in the Academy yet,” I said quickly, not wanting to give her the wrong impression. “I just learned about it a few months ago when I met the guys.”
    Lily nodded solemnly and then sat back. “Why don’t you start at the beginning?” she asked. “It’ll help me to help you.”
    My lips parted. Tell her everything? Was it safe?
    Remember, they’re Academy, I told myself. The boys had said so. North had been here seeking answers.
    The only question that remained was, would Mr. Blackbourne want me to do this? He had said trust to the Academy. Did this mean others?
    I felt no threat from Lily, though. I was more concerned about the boys and what they would think. She smiled quietly, curled up and comfortable.
    She had boys on her team. That seemed to be a hard thing to do. I needed to ask her about it, and to learn what North knew.
    I didn’t know anything about the Academy.
    The boys couldn’t tell me.
    Could she?
    “I’m…trying to join the Academy through my team,” I said.
    Her smile remained, delicate. “Start at the beginning. How did you meet them?”
    I started with meeting Kota and then the others, and then how I ended up mixed in and living with Nathan. I skimmed through parts about school and their mission, and things that had happened with Volto, Jade and Danielle. Mostly I talked about discovering what I knew about