Gabriella Poole: Blood Ties (Darke Academy)

‘Yeah, looks like it,’ she replied. ‘Sorry … I’m not sure what happened there.’

‘Um, neither am I.’ His golden-brown skin flushed. ‘I missed you,’ he laughed. ‘If that wasn’t obvious.’

Cassie couldn’t repress a huge smile. ‘Me too. It was a long Christmas, eh?’

‘You’re telling me.’

She wondered if he was mocking her a little, but his face was as sternly beautiful as always. There was something else in his expression

too, a yearning that matched her own. Damn, he was hot. A voice on a mobile phone was one thing, but she’d forgotten the sheer animal

presence of him. She could practically sense his heart beating faster, and she knew instinctively that he wanted to touch her again – almost

as much as she wanted him to …

Whoah, Cassie!

Without even thinking about it, she’d stepped towards Ranjit and caught herself just before she could fall into his arms again. This was

going too fast. After what had happened, she was a little embarrassed. Maybe even a little scared.

Estelle’s promise came back to her. You’ll never have to be scared of anything again, Cassandra …

Not strictly true. She’d managed to scare herself, getting carried away like that in public. She felt herself flushing as she imagined the

eyes of the whole school on her.

‘Cassandra?’ Ranjit looked a little wary himself. Like her, he’d taken half a step forward before he stopped himself.

‘Sorry,’ she mumbled. ‘Guess absence made my heart grow even fonder than I’d thought.’

Ranjit laughed. ‘I know what you mean!’

‘Look, maybe I should go and, um, freshen up. I haven’t found my room yet, and I should say hi to Isabella properly. But we could meet

for a coffee later?’ she ventured.

‘Yeah. That’s probably a good idea. Five o’clock?’

‘That’d be great.’ She checked her watch. ‘Actually, how about four-thirty?’

He grinned. ‘Four-thirty it is!’

‘Great. See you then.’ As she smiled and turned to walk away, Ranjit reached out suddenly and took her hand gently in his. The warmth

of his skin sent a fresh flutter through her body.

‘Wait. Before you go – you’re OK, right? At Christmas when we spoke on the phone you sounded …’

‘I know. I’m fine now. Honestly. I’ll fill you in this afternoon.’

He held her gaze for a moment, as if to make sure she was telling the truth. For a moment there was a suggestion of the roiling, fiery

glow she’d seen in his eyes more than once, but Cassie couldn’t look away. His hand squeezed her fingers more tightly. The gurgling trickle

of the fountain seemed amplified, and the sound of expensive heels on marble. Then the shrieking giggle of a Year Nine made both of them

jump. Releasing her hand, Ranjit shook his head self-consciously and smiled.

‘If you say so.’

‘I do. I’ll see you later for that coffee. I’m buying!’

‘OK. Where are we going?’

‘Don’t sound so nervous, rich boy.’ She winked. ‘This is New York, isn’t it? I’m sure I’ll find a suitably seedy joint.’

Ranjit’s deep, honey-tinged laugh echoed around the atrium. God, she thought, you could bottle that sound and sell it to lonely girls the

world over.

‘Find me a seedy joint then, Cassandra Bell. I’ll meet you back here.’

‘Don’t be late.’ She gave him a mock scowl.

He grinned. ‘I wouldn’t dare.’

Well, she’d done her best to introduce Ranjit to the sleazy and the downbeat, but they didn’t seem to be part of this New York. Sir Alric

certainly had his standards, and he’d obviously brought the Academy to this neighbourhood for a reason.

Out on the streets, staring up at the gigantic buildings in wonder, with her breath pluming in the frosty air, Cassie happily let Ranjit take

over the hunt. Coffee, after all, had only been an excuse to be alone with him; that, and to experience the city she’d missed on her arrival.

She could forget for a while about monsters and demons. Walking north on Fifth Avenue, just one anonymous couple among the brisk and

smartly dressed crowds, she could barely choose where to look next – so it was just as well Ranjit seemed to know his way around. He

steered her down East 78th Street to Madison Avenue and a chic and glossy café that served a bewildering selection of coffees to chic and

glossy customers.

‘Jeez. You’re paying after all, I’m afraid.’ Unwinding her scarf, Cassie raised her eyebrows at the price list as they ordered.

‘It’ll be worth it.’ He nudged a mug towards her. ‘Though why you’d want to put cinnamon syrup in fine coffee, I can’t imagine.’

‘Mm-mm. Good as the Tears of the Few,’ she murmured mischievously, relaxing a little for the first time. ‘Perks a girl up no end.’