"Ms. Lily?" Tommy tugged at my sleeve as I was checking names off the hastily recreated list. "I saved this for you." He pressed something into my palm—a small blue stone from the gift shop, polished smooth.
"For protection," he explained seriously. "From aliens AND regular bad guys."
I closed my fingers around it, throat tight. "Thank you, Tommy. I'll keep it with me always."
After the last child was safely aboard and the bus pulled away with police escorts, I finally let myself collapse onto a bench. Principal Guthrie sat beside me.
"The school board is insisting on an emergency meeting tonight," she said without preamble. "Police will be present. They want to discuss security protocols going forward."
"And whether I should be allowed near the children," I added flatly.
She didn't deny it. "There will be questions. Hard ones."
"I understand."
Guthrie patted my knee awkwardly. "For what it's worth, I think you handled this situation remarkably well. The officers said your quick thinking probably saved lives."
"It wasn't me." I glanced toward where Ryker stood, speaking with a detective.
"Ah, yes, your mysterious volunteer." Guthrie followed my gaze. "Who exactly is he?"
I opened my mouth, then realized I didn't have a simple answer. "He's... a friend who stepped up when I needed help."
"Well, tell your friend the school board will want to speak with him, too." She stood, straightening her blazer. "Meeting's at seven. Don't be late."
After she left, Ryker rejoined me, sitting heavily on the bench.
"So," he said, "good news: they didn't find any trace of the people who attacked the bus. Bad news: they didn't find any trace of the people who attacked the bus."
"How is that possible? There were witnesses, broken glass—"
"The vehicle they used was reported stolen this morning. They're checking traffic cameras, but the detective didn't seem optimistic."
I stared at the smoldering remains of our bus, now surrounded by fire investigators. "This is happening, isn't it? Someone is trying to... what? Kill me? Kidnap me?"
"I don't know," Ryker admitted. "But I'm not waiting around to find out their exact intentions." He turned to face me directly. "Lily, you need to disappear for a while."
"I have a school board meeting at seven," I said numbly.
"Perfect. We'll go to that, and then you're coming with me."
"Coming with you where?"
"Somewhere safe. Somewhere, they won't think to look for you."
I laughed, a slightly hysterical sound. "And where exactly is that? I don't exactly have a secret hideout."
Ryker's expression turned grim. "No, but I do."
Chapter 7
Ryker
“Seriously what the fuck is wrong with you Ryker?” Royal’s voice screamed into my ear as I stood in the hallway at the school board meeting. “Declan said to keep an eye on her, not engage with her at all. What part of the assignment did you not understand?”
I was half listening to him while my eyes were on Lily, sitting there with her hands folded in her lap.
The meeting had already started, and I watched as the board members glanced at her, murmuring among themselves.
