“Distant cousins, practically unrelated.” Was that a challenge I heard in Nikolas’s voice? God, all I needed was to end up in the middle of some stupid testosterone match.

Samson glanced from me to Nikolas. “Listen if there is something going on between you two, I –”

My laugh came out as more of a snort. “Yeah, not in this lifetime.” I looked at Samson, ignoring Nikolas altogether. “I think I’ll go see what Roland is up to. Maybe I’ll see you again later.”

I don’t think I’ve stomped off like that since I was five. Nikolas made me feel like throwing a tantrum; how could one person be so damn aggravating? But then a couple hundred years is plenty of time to learn how to piss people off.

I spotted Roland with Dylan and a few other guys but I found that I had no desire for company so I headed to the beach and grabbed a seat near the fire. Someone had brought a guitar and he was playing a Lifehouse tune while everyone else talked amongst themselves. I watched the fire, content to sit quietly and listen as the guitarist finished his song and started another one.

Why did he have to show up and spoil everything? I was enjoying myself, really enjoying myself for the first time in weeks before he came along, acting arrogant and superior and reminding me how messed up my life was. All I wanted was to put the last few weeks behind me, and for a short while with Samson I had been able to do that. If Nikolas and Chris had to follow me, couldn’t they do it a little more subtly? It wasn’t like either of them could go unnoticed in this crowd, or any crowd for that matter, and I wasn’t blind to the attention I received from people when I was with either of them. I liked to stay in the background and I hated being stared at, I hated all of this.

I heard footsteps behind me but I didn’t have to look up to know it wasn’t one of my self-appointed protectors. The girls coming down the embankment scrambled and squealed like they were tumbling down a mountain.

“I don’t get it. What is the deal with her?” whined Jessie Clark. “Did you see Samson practically drooling over her? Samson – who won’t even look at a girl if she’s not in college!”

“I know!” Marie cut in. “I tried to talk to that dark haired hottie but he was watching her like frigging hawk. I thought he and Samson were going to fight over her.”

My ears burned and I was relieved no one could see the flush creeping up my cheeks. I had no doubt they were talking about me.

“I don’t think she even wears makeup,” Jessie declared as if wearing no eyeliner was a capitol offense. I was wearing mascara and lip gloss, didn’t that count?

Faith snickered. “Well what do you expect? She only hangs out with guys. Maybe they are getting something we don’t know about.”

“You think she’s like that?” Marie asked eagerly.

“Who knows with her,” Faith replied. “But if you ask me…?”

I didn’t get to hear the rest of her comment because they walked past me without even realizing I was there. My hands clenched in my lap and I was glad no one had noticed me overhearing the exchange between the three girls.

All the fun had left the party for me and I felt like crawling under a bush where no one could bother me until it was time to leave. I stood and picked my way a dozen feet down the beach where I could be alone but still keep the fire in sight. The night was cooling off and it was chilly away from the fire. I pulled my jacket closer around me and drew my knees up against my chest. Close to the water, the waves drowned out the voices and music and made me feel like I was completely alone here.

I picked up a stone and flung it out into the water. This is their fault. I couldn’t even pretend to act like a normal teenager without the two of them messing it up.

I felt the brush against my mind and I had to stop myself from crying out in frustration. Was it too much to ask for five minutes to myself?

“Please go away,” I said without looking up. “I promise I won’t have any fun or fall into the ocean in my drunken state if you’ll leave me alone.”

He sat down beside me and I ignored the warm arm touching mine. Silence stretched between us. I didn’t want to fight again so I kept quiet and waited for him to speak.

“I’ve heard that some orphans take the transition to the Mohiri life well and others struggle to adapt. Eventually they all come to love our way of life.”

I stared at the black water. “Maybe that’s because their life before wasn’t that great. It’s got to suck being a little kid with a demon wrecking havoc in your head. But I’m not like them.”

“No you’re not.”

“Why?”

It took him a minute to reply. “You are very strong, I don’t mean physically. Like I told you before, you have amazing control over your Mori; it’s almost effortless.”

“You don’t seem to have any trouble with yours,” I said.

Nikolas chuckled. “I’ve had many years to learn this much control and it’s still not as good as yours.”

“Oh.” I pondered that for a bit. “But you do control it right? You’re not going to go all Linda Blair on me, are you? Because I’ve had all the craziness I can handle for one year.”

His laugh was rich and warm and in spite of my dark mood, I felt a smile tugging at my own mouth. How was he able to infuriate me one minute and make me smile in the next one?

“I don’t think you have anything to worry about,” he said lightly.