Last period.

Sagan couldn’t imagine this day going by any slower, especially her advanced placement Chemistry class. At least her lab partner was awesome.

Lynn Renee’s deep brown eyes matched her braids and flawless complexion. Said umber eyes were sharp as she carefully measured a solution into a beaker. Satisfied, she said, “There. Now we set it on the Bunsen burner—Hey, are you with me, girl?”

Sagan shook herself, saying, “Yeah. Sorry. We want to heat it to three hundred degrees Celsius.” Even though Sagan had watched every step and documented their results, she couldn’t keep her mind from Rayne’s mysterious visitor. And despite the progressing migraine, Sagan continued to formulate questions about the planet called, ‘Cinder.’

Beside Lynn and Sagan’s lab table, another student warned his partner, “Hey, Justin. I think that’s too hot.”

Sagan looked over to see John inching away from the Bunsen burner of which Justin had cranked all the way open. The liquid in their beaker was foaming. She warned, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

Justin’s mouth lilted into something he thought passed for a sexy smirk, but it came across as condescending. The sleaze behind it filled his voice as he said, “Don’t worry, gorgeous. I know what I’m doing. Here and in the bedroom.” He blew her a kiss.

Sagan recoiled, and her stomach soured at his unwanted advance. She was only fifteen for fuck’s sake. It didn’t matter that Justin was conventionally attractive. His quarterback entitlement had always unnerved Sagan.

Unimpressed, Lynn leaned across the table, saying, “Yeah, well. Are you planning to blow prematurely there, too?”

The beaker shattered, and glass went everywhere.

John yipped and ducked under their table.

Justin scowled. Under his breath he mumbled, “Whatever.” Loud enough for the teacher to hear, he said, “Hey, we need another beaker. Genius John, here, disintegrated ours.”

“Asshole.” John, cute in a geeky best friend kind of way, folded his arms and sulked on his stool. He grumbled, “This better not affect my first nine weeks report card.”

Sagan looked back to her beaker and gave a little cheer. “Woo! From clear to blue. We did it, Lynn!”

They high-fived, and when Sagan turned around to stick her tongue out at Justin, she froze.

For the split second before their eyes met, the strangest look was on his face.

Desire—

No.

Ownership.

The intensity of it chilled Sagan to the bone, and she looked away to hide her anxiety. Maybe she could use a guardian.

Mrs. Callahan picked up the girls from school for a three-day sleepover at Rayne’s house. There, they ate pizza and prepared for the big night.

“Thanks for always remembering pineapple, Mrs. Callahan.” Sagan gave Rayne’s mom a thumbs up.

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Michelle shuddered. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it, dear.”

Tameka owned the pepperoni and jalapeño with a knife and fork.

The Callahans were awesome enough to let Tameka and Sagan stay over regularly since they were kids. Between Michelle running a bookstore and Ray working graveyard at the hospital, they kept busy. With Rayne starting high school and her little brother, Jack, not far behind, they did their best, and Sagan loved them for it.

Rayne got her pale complexion and height from her mother.

As Ray rushed down the stairs and snitched a slice of cheese pizza, Sagan considered his contributions to Rayne’s genetics. Bright blue eyes and thick black hair.

To his wife, Ray said, “Sorry, honey. No time to chat. I’m late.” Then he kissed Rayne on top of her head.

“Dad!”

“I’ll never apologize for it, sweetie. No matter how much it embarrasses you in front of your friends.” Ray patted his scrubs before snapping his fingers and snatching the car keys from a side table. “Where’s your brother?”

Jack emerged from the washroom. “Hiding from the girls.” At eleven years old, Rayne’s baby brother was growing up into a handsome little man. His hazel eyes scrunched as their dad ruffled his soft brown hair.

At the honk of the carpool, Ray kissed his wife and waved to the busy household. “I’m off. Have fun, kids.”

The rest of the late afternoon was equally chaotic. In a whirlwind of tops, skirts, makeup, and hair spray, the girls tried their best to dress older than their ages but not so much as to upset Mrs. Callahan. It was a delicate balance. One Jack kept trying to interrupt despite his earlier complaint.

This was par for the weekend course.

Sagan loved braiding Rayne’s hair, and judging by the goosebumps on the other girl’s skin, she was enjoying it, too. It was hard not to crush on the prettiest girl in school, and Sagan had caught Rayne’s admiration earlier in the day after the blond hair reveal. They’d almost kissed once during a sleepover, and Sagan would never forget how her heart had pounded from the excitement.

One day.

Tameka finished getting ready first. With her tawny brown complexion, darker brown freckles, and crystal green eyes, Tameka hardly warranted any makeup. Just eyeliner and mascara on her red lashes. She’d tied back her froth of red coils gifted to Tameka by her mother. Both women were simply stunning, and they shared a grace Sagan saw in Tameka well beyond her years.

Pragmatic.

That’s how Sagan would describe Tameka.

An hour later, Mrs. Callahan dropped them off at the skating rink for four hours of parent-free fun.

Well, sorta.

It was mostly walking around with Kyle trailing behind them. He and Tameka argued while Sagan and Rayne brushed fingertips, sending Sagan’s heart racing—

A glimpse of someone distracted Sagan.

Weird.

That was the second time she’d noticed an older man with blond hair watching them. What was his problem? It couldn’t be the mysterious guardian. Rayne had described him as tall, gray, and handsome with black hair and eyes.

From behind, Kyle interrupted Sagan’s thoughts with a groan. “Oh, great. Here comes Andrew.”

Andrew rollerbladed up to the wall with a thud. “Hey, ladies.” Flatly, he added, “Kyle.”

Sagan and Rayne separated, flanking Andrew. “Hey.”

Tameka climbed to her tiptoes and peered through the black-lit space toward the door.

Kyle snapped. “Okay. Who are you three looking for?”

Feigning ignorance, Tameka said, “I don’t know what you mean.”

“All night, you girls have been looking at the front door. Andrew’s here now. So why are you still looking?” There was a tad bit of jealousy in Kyle’s voice.

Andrew quirked a brow at Sagan, who looked over at Rayne.

With a defeated sigh, Rayne admitted, “We’re meeting someone tonight.”

Andrew made a delighted sound and asked, “Anyone as hot as you three?”

Tameka clicked her tongue. “It’s a guy.”

“Would you like me to repeat the question?” Andrew bounced his brows at Tameka’s widening eyes.

Sagan snickered into her hand.

Despite everyone else’s playfulness, Kyle looked hurt as he asked Rayne, “You’re meeting a guy here tonight? What happened to the shit earlier about ‘girl’s night?’”

Rayne ran a hand through her hair. “You’re right. It’d be much safer if you and Andrew were with us when we meet him.”

Andrew leaned into Sagan and muttered, “Who are we meeting exactly?”

Rayne winced as Kyle reiterated, “Yeah, who?”

In frustration, Tameka threw her hands up in the air and gestured at Rayne. “Some mysterious guy came to the Callahan’s bookstore to tell Rayne about alien vampires.”

Andrew gaped.

Kyle frowned.

Bouncing with excitement, Sagan added, “The man said the planet was called—”

“Cinder.”

Sagan pouted because Kyle ruined the big reveal, and she winced because the word spiked pain in her temples. But it posed an excellent question.

How did Kyle know?