• I looked at him. His eyes were a light blue. He looked at me in surprise.

    “I didn’t know you would be awake this soon, Anion,” he said. Kaden’s voice was deep for someone who looked as young as he did. “Welcome back to the world.”

    “Thank you, Kaden, for saving me,” I said. “I owe you big time.”

    “Well, it’s not everyday you play hookie and find a fourteen-year-old crazy enough to jump off of a cliff to avoid suspension,” he grinned. Kaden winked at me and stood up.

    “Where are you going?” I asked quickly.

    “It’s fine,” Kaden said in an amused voice. “I’m not going to leave you. Sleep, Anion. You’ll feel better when you do.”

    I fell asleep at once. This was certianly odd. I knew I owed him and everything, but falling asleep at his command? In what seemed like seconds, I was half awake.

    “This is great!” came a loud voice. I jumped.

    “Silence, Damon!” said a a familiar, deep voice. “She’s sleeping.”

    “I’m sorry,” said the other voice, a lot quieter this time. “It’s funny, you know, you having a Serano doing your every request. I mean, our families are sworn enemies.”

    “I know, Damon,” said the deeper voice. “I don’t know why I saved her. I should hate all of her kind, but Anion. She’s… different. I won’t let anyone hurt her.”

    The other person, Damon, laughed again. There was a sound of skin on skin and a shriek of pain. “Sorry, sorry! I won’t laugh at it. I know neither of you can help it.”

    I opened my eyes and made to sit up. There was a hand on my shoulder keeping me down, and I didn’t struggle. Kaden looked down at me and smiled again. I couldn’t help but to be relaxed by the gesture.