House of Korba: The Ghost Bird Series: #7 (The Academy) by C. L. Stone Read Free Book Online

talk to you,” he said. “I just don’t have time right now.”
    “We talk all the time,” I said. “Can it wait?”
    He smiled a little. “I guess,” he said. He winked and then headed out.
    I wished I’d told him to tell me what it was about, but I didn’t want to stop him now since they had to get going. Now I was really curious.
    Since Silas was going to show up soon, I changed my clothes into some cotton shorts and a tank shirt so I’d be more comfortable. I used the kitchen sink to wash my face. I checked the contents of the fridge for something to possibly make for dinner if he was hungry.
    I didn’t have to wait too long before there was a quick knock at the door. Before I could answer it, there was a scraping at the lock and it opened.
    Silas came in. His dark hair was combed back away from his face; it was getting a little longer in the front. He towered over me, with a broad white smile that contrasted with his olive complexion. He wore a baseball T-shirt and dark jeans.
    He spotted me in the hall and then waved. “ Aggele Mou , grab a night bag and let’s go.”
    My heart leapt to my throat. Who was in trouble now? “Go? Go where?”
    “You’re coming home with me.”
    My lips parted as I stared at him, unsure if he was serious. I was waiting for another disaster. When he didn’t say anything, I realized this was different. No, he just wanted me to go to his house with him. “Really?”
    Silas nodded and pointed into deeper in the house. “Come on, short stuff.”
    I turned and walked back toward the bedroom. “What’s going on?”
    “Looks like Nathan’s going to be gone overnight so you’ll go with me.”
    I slowed a little. Nathan didn’t mention this. Had he known before he left that he’d be out late? Usually if he had to do Academy things, Kota or one of the others stayed with me at Nathan’s house. It felt a little strange to be going with Silas. “What about the people watching the house?”
    “If they’re that nosey, they can come along, too,” he said. “But I checked. They weren’t there. Kota’s gone and so is Nathan so they probably followed them.”
    I couldn’t think of another reason to question what was happening. I didn’t want to sound like I was complaining or anything, but it wasn’t like I got out a lot. The thought of going to Silas’s house for the night was exciting. Would I meet his parents? What would they think of me? What did it mean?
    In Nathan’s bedroom, I went for the closet, and pulled out clothes to sleep in and for wearing the next day, a couple of pairs of underwear, a bra, and for good measure, an extra shirt and a pair of shorts, just in case. I found a second pair of sandals, too. Did I want anything else? I had my phone. That was it. I didn’t have anything else I owned that I could carry. Was I worried I’d need something? I was going with Silas!
    I brought it all back with me out of the closet. Silas had my book bag which he emptied on the bed, and passed to me. Folded notes fluttered from the contents, falling to his feet. He scooped them up, looking at them. “They’re still doing this shit?” he asked.
    “I think it’s a game now,” I said, stuffing my clothes into my book bag. “I don’t read them still, but it’s like a contest or something to see if I’ll actually get the notes or if North or Kota or someone else intercepts.”
    “They don’t do it in our biology class,” he said, his dark eyes focused on the notes, my name scrawled on the fronts of them.
    “Probably wouldn’t dare,” I suggested, smiling.
    He flashed a grin at me. He unfolded one, reading it as I went to grab the bathroom kit on the dresser. I picked up a bottle of perfume, custom made by Gabriel, and dotted myself at the neck and wrists before corking it again. The sweet fruity musk scent wafted up to my nose, putting a thrill into my spine.
    When I turned, Silas was scanning another note, frowning, grumbling.
    I dropped the bathroom items