Wilder (The Renegades) by Rebecca Yarros Read Free Book Online

attention.
    “Oh, are you two…?”
    She hit the button for the elevator. “No way. And he’s not with Zoe, either, no matter how badly she wishes. She’s full of shit and probably crawled out of Landon’s bed, so don’t let her get to you about Pax.”
    “I don’t care who he dates,” I protested as the doors dinged open. “I just need him to keep his grades up.”
    “Well, that makes a whole bunch of us,” she said as we took the elevator to deck eight. “I know it’s odd, the position he’s put you in with the suite. Weird, but you’re kind of his Obi Wan.”
    “Are you seriously telling me I’m his only hope?” I asked, unable to stifle my grin.
    “A girl after my own heart.” She laughed. “And yes. You were selected for him for a reason, not simply tossed into the tutor pool.”
    “Weirdest thing ever,” I muttered as we walked through the doors onto the deck.
    The auditorium, which had been the theater before the ship was remodeled for the program last year, was filling quickly. “There’s Penna. Did you want to sit with us?” Brooke asked.
    Without Rachel, who’d been my security blanket these last couple of years, I’d have to make new friends or sit in my room alone the next three months until she got here. “Sure, thanks.”
    “Oh, and Leah,” she said, gently stopping me with her hand on my arm, “maybe the question isn’t why it’s weird that you’re stuck with the Renegades, but why you’re the one he chose.”
    She patted my arm and walked toward her sister, leaving me a bigger mass of confusion. Chose? He chose me? He was allowed the choice? None of the other tutors I’d met had been chosen, they’d all simply been assigned.
    We took our seats next to another blonde, and I immediately recognized her as the girl I’d seen outside on Paxton’s balcony. “Nice to meet you, Firecracker.” Penna waved from the other side of her sister.
    Apparently Paxton’s nickname for me had traveled fast.
    “You, too, Penna. Or do you prefer Rebel?” I asked, realizing my error.
    She had a supermodel smile and matching legs. “Penna’s fine for you, Leah.” The genetics in that family were seriously enviable. “Of course Wilder is late. I barely got him up when I walked out the door.”
    “Oh, you room together?” That would explain the balcony.
    “Yeah, it’s a three bedroom, and they thought the team should be together.”
    I nodded, not knowing what to say. Conversation wasn’t something I was particularly skilled at, and nodding usually saved me from whatever awkward comment was undoubtedly going to come out of my mouth.
    My watch read 9:05 a.m. Of course he was late, but I saved the seat next to me anyway.
    “Good morning, students, I’m Dr. Paul, Dean of Academics.” A middle-aged man with salt and pepper hair appeared from behind the curtain center stage. “Welcome to the Athena . I trust that your first night went well?”
    A cheer went through the auditorium.
    “Good. Now it’s time to buckle down. Today is your first full day of classes. The ship functions as a self-contained college campus. You’ll have regular classes, exams, homework—all the fun. You should have registered for the relevant shore excursions, but if you find that you need extra credit, contact your professors to see if they’re offering any extra field studies to boost your grades.”
    “Morning, Firecracker,” Paxton whispered in my ear as he slid into the empty seat next to me.
    “You’re late,” I chided, trying to ignore the way my stomach tightened at the sound of his voice.
    He simply winked and slid a steaming cup of coffee my way. I took a tentative sip and nearly moaned in ecstasy. Where I’d had an outright battle with the huge espresso machine, he’d obviously had no issues with his.
    “Thank you,” I said with a soft smile, more than aware that I hadn’t exactly been nice to him yesterday.
    He winked.
    My stomach nearly dropped to the floor. How was something so