Chapter 66

We spend a long time under that tree as Jackson tells me the long story about how he stayed up for three weeks in a row, only giving in because he was so incredibly bored by the end of it. About how he just wandered around at night all alone, doing chores and going for runs just to have something to do. About how he missed dreaming, and missed rest, because while he wasn’t precisely tired, in a bodily sort of way, he was exhausted mentally.

“We need sleep, I think, to turn off our minds,” he says at the end of it, thoughtful. “Life’s hard enough as it is we need time away from it all, I guess.”

“Yes, that makes sense,” I murmur passively, all my words blurring together as I sit with my chin still propped in my hand, just staring at him, mesmerized.

Because god, he’s gorgeous. Jackson – he’s so brutal at first sight, all harsh lines and scars and darkness. But the more time you spend with him and the more he opens up the more you see the grace in him. It’s almost, somehow, like he…tucks it away, hiding it. But when he lets it out?

His face just….lights up, like a flaming beacon in the night. And god, is he breathtaking.

“I mean, it makes sense, right?”

I startle out of my reverie and curse myself for letting myself get lost in “Hmm?” I say, straightening up.

my mate’s

gaze.

He laughs at me. “Sorry,” he says, running a hand through his messy hair, “I’ve been boring.”

“Jackson,” I say, my voice low with the understatement, “you’ve been the opposite of boring. I got…completely lost in what you were saying.”

He grins, desperately pleased at the compliment, and his mouth to say more –

opens

But I gasp, suddenly looking around. “Shit, what time is it!?”

my god,” he says, dropping my hand suddenly and springing to his feet. “Shit, Clark,

“Oh

we’re late

it against my chest when I finally stand up straight. “We’ve got to go,”

pushing the satchel back to

of our books. He grabs my hand and

you even know where this is!?”

over my shoulder at me, like I’m stupid for not knowing that of

though there’s no time to dwell on it, especially as I consider that Jackson fulfilled his promise to Rafe that he’d see me to my next

that he’s not

it

the time I get to

asks, unstrapping my satchel from his shoulder and

towards the door, anxious

see you,” Jackson murmurs, turning

myself. Jackson turns, staring at me. I shake my head, speaking all in a hurry. “Come to

raises an ironic eyebrow, which makes

there,” I say as I grin and grab the door handle. “Which is all

then nods once before

grin, and twist the handle,

clearly annoyed. “And what emergency has kept you away today, Cadet Clark?”

hurrying to my seat. “No emergencies. Just…lost track of time….

your next quiz, Clark” Neumann says, turning

the terms, even as I realize

chance to spend the morning with Jackson under an oak tree, holding

again in a heartbeat, damn the

late so late that I’m already bathed, changed into a fresh uniform, and sitting on the couch with my arms crossed, glaring

the door opens and they come

boys stop dead in their

at me, standing

me sit here all alone!” I shout as Rafe closes the door and I get to my feet, grabbing the note I got at breakfast off the coffee table and waving at them. “And

Rafe asks, frowning at me as he crosses the room and snatches the note from my hand. I don’t answer, planting my hands on my hips and frowning at him, letting him. figure it

1

hell is Daphne?”

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