Traitor (Creepy Hollow, #3) Read Free Page A

blasts through my ears, drowning out all other sound. I step onto the darkened rectangle of floor, barely concentrating as I whisper the spell in my head. The floor slides away beneath my feet. I settle into a comfortable jog, matching my pace to the beat of the music.
    My thoughts turn immediately to Nate. I still don’t know what to think of him almost blurting out the big-deal L-word last night. How can he think he loves me already? He’s only known me a few weeks. I try to examine my own feelings on the matter. I know I care about Nate, but I’m pretty sure I don’t love him. Not yet. Do I? Maybe I do. Maybe being terrified that I’d lost him in the labyrinth means I love him. Would I do absolutely anything for him, just as he said he would for me? Would I . . . I don’t know, die for him?
    Ugh! Feelings suck!
    I stomp to a halt, pull my long-sleeved top off, and stretch my legs a little. I refuse to worry about Nate anymore. I begin running again, ramping up the speed with a flick of my hand. Faster. Faster. Faster still. I push myself until my legs burn and my breath scorches my throat, at which point a tiny voice in the back of my mind reminds me how monumentally stupid I’d look if I tripped right now. Good point . I slow down.
    I glance over my shoulder to check what’s going on around me. Aria and Jasmine are now shooting arrows at what looks like a stuffed version of their least favorite mentor; Rush and Asami are racing each other on the running rectangles beside me; the rest of my classmates are spread out doing various training maneuvers around the hall.
    I’m about to turn my head back when I notice Ryn striding toward a nearby mat to join his friend Dale. Trying to be subtle about it, I wave my hand past my sound drops, turning the music off in time to hear Dale say, “Dude, you’re late. We’re supposed to be beating each other up with sticks or something.”
    Ryn drops his bag beside his friend’s. “Whatever. I got held up at my father’s.”
    Hmm, that’s not what I saw in the foyer. I slow down a little more so I can hear over the pounding of my feet. I don’t normally listen in on Ryn’s conversations, but I want to know if he’s told his friends he saw me with Nate. I know he hasn’t told Tora; she would have interrogated me immediately.
    “ So, did you make an excuse for me?” asks Ryn.
    “ Nah. Rowan’s the mentor in charge today. You know how chilled he is; I doubt he even noticed you were late.”
    “ So what’s the big deal, then?”
    From the corner of my eye, I see Dale shrug. “Nothing. I just don’t like standing alone on this mat looking like an idiot waiting for my first session partner to show up.”
    Ryn shakes his head. “Dude, you need to stop being such a girl.”
    “ Hey, I just—”
    “ Morning, boys.” Aria’s sing-song voice interrupts Dale as she and Jasmine saunter over. Jasmine’s already let go of her bow and arrow, but Aria waits until she’s standing beside Ryn and Dale before gracefully stretching her arm out and watching her weapon disappear with a sparkle. Perhaps the boys are meant to find that attractive. I don’t know. She just looks stupid to me.
    Ignoring them both, Ryn sits down on the mat and pulls his shoes off.
    “ So you guys missed the party at my house on Saturday,” says Jasmine with a pretend pout. “It was epic. My parents were away on assignment.”
    I focus my attention on the wall in front of me and consider turning my music back on. I’m in danger of falling asleep listening to their inane conversation.
    “Some of us had better things to do,” mutters Ryn.
    “ Well, well,” says Aria, before Jasmine can respond to Ryn’s taunt. “Look who’s back from the land of the disgraced.” The muscles in my neck stiffen. I know without a doubt she’s talking about me. I concentrate on keeping my head forward and my pace steady. I will not let them know I can hear them.
    Ryn snorts as he stands. “Right. More like