Goddess in Time by Tera Lynn Childs Read Free Book Online

miss anything.
    The only way to get out of this is to dig in deeper on the library cover story.
    I flick a warning glance at Troy. Even he can’t miss the subtle go-along-with-this-or-suffer-dire-consequences look. He shrugs and backs up a step. Smart boy.
    Taking a deep breath, I walk up to him, reach down, and take his hand.
    â€œWe’ve been trying to keep it a secret,” I explain.
    I look up at Troy, trying to bat my lashes like a lovesick schoolgirl. His face turns bright red and his eyes grow so wide I can see white all the way around. Way to sell it.
    If he throws up on me a cursed tongue will be the least of his worries.
    Finally, after what feels like an eternity—at least when you’re trying to fake romance with your best friend so your other best friend doesn’t find out about the golden feather stuffed down your pants—Troy clears his throat and manages the sickliest-looking smile I’ve ever seen.
    â€œNo point in hiding it.” He swallows so hard I can hear the gulp. “Sweetie.”
    â€œHa-ha ha-ha!”
    Phoebe doubles over with laughter, clutching her stomach like it hurts. I’m pretty sure her eyes are watering.
    â€œOmigods, you guys,” she gasps, “that’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all year.”
    While she gets lost in her hilarity, I yank my hand out of Troy’s. Good thing he doesn’t want to be an actor. I scowl at him—even though this might not be entirely his fault—and shove him back a step.
    â€œSorry,” he mumbles.
    I shake my head. Whatever. It was a dumb idea in the first place, but it was the only thing I could think of to keep her from digging her way to the truth. I should have known Phoebe would see right through it.
    â€œOkay, guys,” she says, finally recovering enough to talk. “Now tell me what’s really going on.”
    â€œNothing,” Troy and I say at the same time.
    Great, that doesn’t make us seem suspicious at all. I glare at him until he bites his lips.
    â€œNothing’s going on, Phoebes,” I insist.
    If I repeat it enough, eventually she’ll have to believe me. Right?
    â€œSeriously, Nicole, I know you’re up to something,” she replies, all signs of humor vanishing. “So does Damian.”
    The hair on the back of my neck tingles. “Headmaster Petrolas?”
    Troy makes a choking sound.
    Great. Of course Phoebe’s stepdad—aka the esteemed leader of our illustrious secret school—knows what’s going on. He’s weirdly intuitive like that. I swear the man has better intelligence skills than the CIA, MI6, and Mossad combined.
    â€œWhat does he know?” I demand.
    â€œThat you stole a book,” she replies. “From the secret archives.”
    â€œHe’s going to kill us,” Troy croaks.
    I cut him a sharp look. “He’s not going to do anything to you. You didn’t take the book.”
    Me, on the other hand, he’s going to assign to detention for the rest of my life. I’m not the worst-behaved student in school history—I’ve never set anything on fire or encased a teacher in a block of ice or turned the cafeteria into a nightclub—okay, wait, I did do that last one. But just for one lunch period.
    Anyway, I’m not the school delinquent or anything, but I have tried the headmaster’s patience. Repeatedly.
    â€œI didn’t take the first book,” Troy whines.
    My elbow connects with his ribs before he has time to make a pouty face.
    â€œOw. What?”
    Phoebe’s eyes widen. “You took two books?”
    Troy casts me a sideways glance. “Oh.”
    â€œHe’ll know it was for me,” I insist, trying to make Troy’s color return to normal.
    â€œEither way, he says you won’t be in trouble if you return it—return them,” Phoebe corrects. “Just give them back and—”
    â€œI can’t,” I