Chapter 9:
Kael was between us before I could move.
Not aggressive. Not even tense. Just — there. His body angled so he could see both of us at once, one hand out flat toward me, the other one loose at his side. Like he was born doing this.
"Ella," he said. "Look at me."
I looked at him. My eyes were doing something weird. The hallway was spinning a little.
"Breathe," he said.
"I'm breathing."
"You're not. Breathe."
I breathed.
"Good. Now sit down."
"I don't want to sit down."
"Sit down anyway."
I sat down. Right there on the floor of my hallway, back against the wall, in my pajama shorts with my knees up.
My mother was still standing by the door. She hadn't moved. She had her hands in her pockets and her shoulders up around her ears like she was cold.
"Colleen," Kael said. "
