Tiago walked up the salt-covered sidewalk and turned to wave good-bye to Dylan and Aiden. Dylan looked grim, and Tiago knew he had to at least try to help him. Tiago opened the front door, not knowing what he would face from his guardian. Did she know yet? Would she toss him out or hand him over to the wardens?
But she had to already know what he’d done. The wardens had appointed her, and she treated him with a wariness she tried to hide. Or at least she had at first. She’d gotten nicer over the past two years, even hugged him a few times.
Would that change now that the whole school knew what he’d done?
Rosalind sat waiting for him in the living room, her silver hair pulled back into its usual braid. “Come and sit down, Tiago.”
His heart sank, and every step felt heavy as he moved to the far side of the couch.
“I got a call from the wardens today.”
He stared at the floor. “So you know.”
She shifted closer, resting a hand on his leg. “I’ve always known what your parents made you do.”
“I kinda figured that. But now everyone else does.” He’d waited until most of the kids were gone before slinking to his locker with Aiden and Dylan. He felt like such a coward.
“What Warden Bradley did to you was terrible and way out of line.”
Some part of him wanted her to be on his side, wanted it so desperately it hurt. Like the way he’d wanted his parents to be proud of him. “I know you’re watching me, making sure I don’t turn out like my parents.”
“Tiago.” The way she said it made him look up. “Unless you’re the best damn actor I’ve ever seen, you’re a good kid.”
He let out a shaky breath as a rush of emotion came over him. Relief? Gratitude?
“Whatever happens, I’m on your side.”
Tears burned at the back of his eyes. His parents had never been on his side. He was never good enough for them, never werejaguar enough, never strong enough. This woman wasn’t related to him, had been assigned to watch him, and yet here she was declaring her support.
He suddenly felt guilty for treating her like an enemy and keeping his distance. Wet drops spilled from his eyes, and as he wiped them away, she pulled him into a hug. “Thanks,” he muttered against her shoulder.
Pulling away, he said, “Can I ask you a favor?” Guilt tightened his chest again, but his friend needed help.
“Sure.” She rubbed his back, and he wanted to curl into that affection. Soak it all up.
“Will you go to the PTA meeting tonight and vote for Dylan to stay? He’s… a good person, and he needs help.”
“He’s been a good friend to you, hasn’t he?”
Tiago nodded and suddenly decided to tell her. “He—he knows what I did. Him and Aiden. I mean, they knew before today.” A little spark of hope lit inside him. If Aiden and Dylan could still accept him, then could other people? “And they didn’t treat me any differently.” Telling Dylan had been much easier than telling Aiden. God, he’d been so scared when he confessed to Aiden, convinced his friend would be horrified.
“That’s good.” Rosalind smiled. “Of course I’ll help him. I think he made a stupid mistake saying those things at the protest, but he doesn’t deserve to be banned from certification for it.”
“Thank you.” Relief eased his muscles. “You know, you’re pretty cool.”
“For an old lady?”
Tiago laughed. “For anyone.”
* * *
Dylan’s parents said encouraging things to him all the way to the school, but they couldn’t hide their worry or their tension.
And it wasn’t just fear. They were mad—not at him, or at least mostly not at him. His parents were so easygoing it drove him nuts, but now they simmered with anger. Especially Mom. They’d been upset enough already, but after hearing what happened at lunch, they’d cranked it up a few notches.
They arrived early, but the auditorium was already filling up. A podium had been set up on the stage, which of course made him think of the speech that had gotten him into this mess.
Mom led him to a seat in the front row. Of course. Dylan felt every eye in the auditorium watching him. Anger and shame swirled inside him until he wanted to run, to burst out of his skin.
“It’ll be okay.” Mom squeezed his arm.
No it won’t.
The endless wait went on. Every time Dylan looked at the clock on the wall, the minute hand had barely moved. More and more people filled the auditorium. He could tell by the rising noise but forced himself not to look around. He stared at the floor, at his shoes, at the stage.
The principal came in, and Dylan tensed. Here we go.
But instead of getting on the stage, she walked over to Dylan. She said hello to him and his parents. “Dylan, would you like to speak? I can give you time to… well, to defend yourself.”
Would that be a good idea? Would he make things worse?
He glanced at Mom, instinctively wanting to check with her. But no, he couldn’t sit here while people crapped all over him again. “Yeah.”
“Okay.” She pulled out a little notepad and scribbled something down. “Just so you know, I don’t agree with any of this.”
Then Principal Nejem turned and climbed up on stage. “Thank you all for coming. As you know, we’re here to discuss Dylan Galloway and whether we feel he’s too great a danger to remain in school.” Her gaze flicked to him, but he couldn’t read it. Was she really on his side?
She wasn’t on Warden Bully’s side, that was for sure. Would she get in trouble for throwing him out?
“A few people have asked to speak, and we’ll have them come up before we open the floor to comments.” Her hand gripped the edge of the podium before she stepped aside.
A man stomped up on stage, glaring right at Dylan. He looked vaguely familiar, but that wasn’t surprising in a small town. The man glanced around at the full auditorium. Half of Shadow Valley had to be here. “I try to be tolerant and open-minded, but we have to have limits.” He jabbed a finger at Dylan. “That boy is a dragonkin. By his very nature he’s a risk, not just to the school but to the whole town. He’s already beat up one kid. Sent him to the hospital. Now he’s hanging out with radicals, calling for the end of the treaty.” The man shook his head. “I don’t want that thing anywhere near my kids.”
Thing. Even in a town full of monsters, Dylan was an outcast. They’d probably be happy to let the wardens execute him. No protests for his sake. No, they’d celebrate instead.
The man went on for a while before Principal Nejem interrupted him. “Thank you, Mr. Sellers, but your time is up.”
The next person to speak, a woman, said much the same thing, though she wasn’t as angry. Dylan felt his parents’ tension on either side of him. He usually took their support for granted. Wasn’t that a parent’s job, after all? They’d even said that to him plenty of times. But that wasn’t the case with everyone.
Hanna’s parents were jerks to her, trying to control who she dated and who she was friends with, yet totally overlooking what a giant asshole Conner was.
And Tiago’s parents were even worse.
Whatever happened, at least Dylan knew Mom and Dad had his back.
Speaking of parents… Dalton’s mom came up to the surprised mutter of the crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen, I agree that Dylan is dangerous.”
So much for a having a supporter. Cold betrayal stabbed through his gut.
“But…” She glared around the room. “All of us are dangerous. That’s why we’re here. That’s why our kids are here. Leaving aside my feelings on the treaty and the wardens, as things stand, our children come to Shadow Valley to learn to control their powers and be granted certification. Dylan Galloway is very powerful, but he also has excellent control. Many of you watched him at the spring exhibition. He deserves a chance to graduate.”
Well, okay. Maybe she was on his side.
She took a breath and gripped the sides of the podium. “A chance my son will never have. His killers were brought to justice, in part thanks to Dylan. How many more of us would be dead if it weren’t for him? How many of our children would have been slaughtered like animals?”
A wave of murmuring went through the crowd. Was she changing their minds? Or pissing them off?
Dylan thought of how many people had been at the protest. How many were here tonight? Enough to save him?
Dalton’s mom looked around the audience again. “And he killed the dark fae who sent panic sweeping through this town. Who murdered three people, and the wardens could neither find nor stop him. It took two teenage boys, Dylan and his friend, to stop him. Dylan Galloway isn’t a menace or a time bomb.” She looked directly at Dylan. “He’s a hero.”
People clapped, and a few even cheered. Dylan dared to hope the vote might come out in his favor.
Mom reached over and squeezed his knee. He half turned and gave her a little smile.
“Thank you, Mrs. Rhodes,” Principal Nejem said from her spot at the side of the stage. Her expression tightened. “Next we have Warden Bradley.”
Oh, shit.