ar Field H

light and smacking him awake. He groaned, shielding his eyes as he rolled over, trying to

ering his aunt's warning: break one more alarm, and you're getting a sundial. With a scowl, he silence

the bed, a sharp pain la

ks etched into his skin. A flicker of memory surfaced-growls in the dark,

hit hi

then pulsed red for a moment, like static crackling behi

n it wa

back against the wall. His h

d. It was gone as quickly as it had come-like a fever d

ex. Probably a flu.

mself toward

r trying on and discarding half his clothes, he finally emerged victorious: a light blue T-shirt under a sleek bl

rror confirmed it

rough his dark h

gain. He touched around the bite marks a

with stinging alcohol, slapped on a plaster, and wr

ad

him like an old friend. In the dining room

cousin. The kid's blond hair stuck up in all

r the girls, huh?" Alex tea

hest. They exchanged their signature handshake-a ra

has any," came

th Abigail, Max's seventeen-year-ol

smug smirk. Her ponytail swayed with each subtle tilt of her

ressed. "And I owe you an

. Their rivalry was as old as they were con

he radiated warmth and youthful charm. She was the only reason Alex tolerated this "punishment." After his latest string of fights, pra

n't punishment.

he greeted, instantly softer

d you sleep okay?" Her voice was k

archery practice with Raymond. Crashed

eyes lingering on him before

h mashed fish, tomatoes, and onions, served with neatly sli

bite. Flavor exploded on his tongue-juicy, savory, perfectly balanced.

Nearly bit my tongue off," he

akfast, but at least someone app

" Max and Abigail

nd the table. It was

still humming contentedly to himself. But just as he

one f

hey exchanged glances, each face etc

at the