Chapter 48

“Think they’re okay?” I ask.

Noah looks disgusted. “They’re fine. High school kids are idiots.”

“Why are they even on there?”

“They wanted me to take it out, but I couldn’t very well do that when I wasn’t sure what time you’d be here, could I? After all, I never would have broken that record without you pushing me.” Noah’s smile warms my heart. He seems so genuine. It’s strange to be around someone who wants nothing from me.

“Is the Conqueror your dad’s yacht?” I glance at the smooth lines. It does look fun. “Why didn’t your dad name her after your mom?”

He glances at me sideways with another inscrutable expression. “My dad wouldn’t dare name his smallest, least impressive ship after my mom. He’s smarter than that.”

Interesting. “Why’d he name her the Conqueror?”

Noah’s eyebrows both rise. “My dad came to America for the very first time a few months before I was born. He decided on that visit to expand the family business overseas. So when he sent me here for school and bought a yacht for his house here, it seemed logical to name it Conqueror.”

“Does he spend much time in the States?”

“None,” Noah says. “My dad prefers home and rarely travels.”

“Wait, they aren’t here right now? Do they even know you’re having a party?”

Noah grins. “I check in with my dad pretty often, but believe me, this isn’t something I need permission to do. He wouldn’t care at all. My parents both live in China, so as long as I get good grades and don’t get into trouble I can sort of do what I want.”

“Where in China?”

Noah leans back in his chair. “Our family home is in a small town in the Kunlun mountains just north of Tibet. Does that mean anything to you, princess?”

The word princess takes me aback at first, but then I remember that it’s a common nickname for spoiled or rich kids among humans. “Uh, no. I’ve seen the region on a map, but I’m not an expert on China.” Judica is, but I don’t mention that. I doubt he’d appreciate knowing my sister salivates over the idea of seizing control of his country.

“Knowing the general region on a map is better than most people can boast,” he says.

“I can’t believe your parents would send you here alone.”

He shrugs. “I’m the youngest son.”

Like that explains it.

Logan strolls up and sinks into a chair next to me, slinging one arm around the back of it. “Noah’s filling you in on his dad’s plans for world domination?”

Prickles run down my spine and the hair on my arms rises under my jacket. A chill that has nothing to do with the temperature. “World domination?” I listen for Noah’s heartbeat again. It’s far too fast for him to be anything but human. And Alora looked into him. I force a big breath in and then out again. This isn’t a plot. Not everything is some kind of manipulation.

“Hey, where’s Laura?” I ask Logan.

“She’s talking to some kids over there. She stinks at pool, by the way.”

“So did you lose?” I ask.

Logan laughs. “Heck no. I could win with a blow up doll as a partner.”

“You mean the only girl dumb enough to have you?” Noah asks.

Logan rolls his eyes. “You’re one to talk. Noah’s been here since he was five, off and on, and he’s never had an interest in any girl for more than half an hour.”

The thought makes me smile. I’ve never had a boyfriend, and I always figured I was behind everyone else in the world. But maybe not. “You’ve been here that long without your family?” It sounds terribly lonely.

“I go home for summer and holidays,” he says. “And people come visit me here. My family is huge. Don’t pity me, princess. I’m happy.”

“Princess?” I glance at Logan to see whether he mentioned anything. If Noah knows who I really am, I want to know it.

Logan shakes his head imperceptibly.

“It fits you.” Noah shrugs. “I don’t know why. Does it bother you?”

“No,” I say. “Whatever.”

“Well if you two are done making up pet names for each other,” Logan says, “there’s a new poker game starting over there.”

I demur. “I don’t gamble recreationally.”

“Recreationally?” Logan smirks. “So, what? You’re strictly a professional?”

I roll my eyes. “Of course not. I just meant, I never gamble for fun.”

“I know what recreational means,” Logan says.

Surely Logan comprehends that my entire life is a series of gambles right now. So much for him smoothing my way with humans.

“Oh come on,” Noah says. “A few hands won’t hurt.”

It wouldn’t be fair for me to play against these kids, even Logan. My mom’s been teaching me to read people since practically the day I was born. “Sorry, hard and fast rule. But don’t let me stop you.”

“Wow Noah, I think your girlfriend’s worried she’d destroy us,” Logan says.

“She’s not my girlfriend,” Noah says. Under his breath he mutters, “Not yet.”

“Better for Noah that you sit it out,” Logan says. “He sucks. In fact, he owes me like three thousand bucks.”

Noah quirks one eyebrow. “Nice try.”

Logan sighs heavily. “It might be the other way around. But if we don’t play, how will I ever win my money back?”

A short kid with dark framed glasses and shaggy brown hair shuffles a deck of cards at one of the patio tables. “So are we playing, or what?”

“What do you play for?” I ask, curious. “Cash?”

Noah nods. “What else?”

“I don’t need money.” I shrug. “Not interested.”

We’re attracting more attention now, and a half a dozen new kids have gathered around. Noah rubs his hands together. “If you don’t need money, then let’s change the stakes. What do you need?”

I like seeing what makes people tick. “How about we change the game entirely. Have you guys ever played truth or dare?”

He looks into my eyes and I can tell he’s weighing something, but I don’t know what. “Sure, why not?”

Noah introduces me to a dozen or so kids who have gathered around. I notice several hands of cards are strewn on the coffee table, as well as a few stacks of cash. Noah grabs one and stuffs it into his pocket and a few other kids do the same.

“So we’re done with poker?” Logan asks. “That’s not cool. I’m way behind.”

Noah laughs. “I’m doing you a favor, man.”

Logan punches his arm. “You usually don’t destroy me that bad. Who were you trying to impress?” Logan looks at me and grins.

“If you have to guess, you’re an idiot,” Noah says softly enough that I doubt any humans present could hear.

“Can anyone play?” a girl with light brown hair cut into a bob asks.

“Princess, this is Frances, the editor of the school newspaper. And sure.” Noah raises his voice. “We’re going to play a game of truth or dare if anyone wants to join us.”

Raven and two of her friends I’ve met, Alyssa and Faith, walk our way. Logan, Lark, Frances, and ten other kids I meet one at a time all drag the chairs scattered around the back porch in and around the existing patio furniture to form a loose approximation of a circle. As we prepare, more kids crowd around. Noah points and some guys drag lounge chairs from the area around Noah’s olympic size swimming pool to round out the circle.

Noah sits down on the empty side of the sofa and pats the spot next to him. I sit there, and then Frances squeezes into a non-existent space on his other side. Frances’ co-editor, a guy named Sven, sits down on the arm of a lounge chair directly across from her.

Logan sighs melodramatically, but he runs his hand through his hair and sits in a chair across from me. “This should be interesting.”

The captain of the swim team, Todd, straddles one of the patio chairs backward. “I think you meant fun. This will be fun.”

“So who goes first?” Frances asks.

“Why don’t you go first?” I suggest.

“Sure, I guess. How does this work?” Frances asks.

Geez, you’d think a bunch of humans would know how to play this game. I saw it on one of their television shows. “You’re first, so you pick whether you want to tell the truth, or accept a dare,” I say.

“But who asks the question or poses the dare?” Frances asks reasonably.

I hadn’t thought of that.

“Pick someone,” Raven says, “since you’re going first, but then after you go, you can pick who goes next, and you get to issue their dare or question. So once you’ve gone, you get to pass along the misery.”

Sounds reasonable.

“I don’t want to go first. How about if I just pick someone and I can issue their dare or expose their truth?” Frances asks.

I barely know her, but I’ve already formed an opinion. Frances is annoying.

“Whatever,” Noah says. “Just start already.”

Frances sighs. “Alright then, I choose you.”

Big surprise.

Noah leans back on the sofa, tossing one arm behind me and leaning back so he can look Francis in the eye. “Fine. I choose dare.”

“I dare you to... Hmm, what if I can’t think of anything?” Frances asks.

I could strangle her. “Then you aren’t very creative,” I say. “Think of something he might be reticent to do, and then dare him to do exactly that. Like eat a worm you dig out of the flower bed, or parade around in his underwear, using his pants as a crown.”

“Uh, don’t ask me to do either of those things,” Noah says. “You have a strange, quirky mind, princess.”

“Okay, then,” Frances says, eyes gleaming. “I dare you to kiss me.”

Logan laughs out loud and Sven looks ill. Todd was right; this is fun.

Noah grins. “Sure,” he says. “Why not?” He leans down over Frances and kisses her right on the lips. He doesn’t linger, but it’s more than a peck.

Frances’ heart practically races right out of her chest. Interestingly, Noah’s hasn’t changed pace, not even a tiny bit.

“My turn,” Noah says. “I choose you, princess.” He smiles at me and the laugh dies in my chest. He wouldn’t possibly be so ridiculous as to repeat Frances’ dare. Right?

Either way, I can’t pick truth. Not if I want to really experience this dumb game. Plus, there are too many things I couldn’t possibly answer. But the thought of him asking me to kiss him spikes my pulse. I meet Noah’s gaze and force the word out. “Dare.”