Page 22 of Daughter of Garnet

“I’ll always protect you, Zoe. We have moved on from knee scrapes to delusional Alphas, but it stays the same, okay? You can rely on me.”

And I know I can, because Warren has never lied to me before.

CHAPTER 12

Zoe

Viv pushes her book away from her before throwing her head back and groaning.

“It’s only the third week of classes. Why are we studying right now?”

“You don’t need to study this much,” I remind her. “I do. I wasn’t exactly a killer student in university. I’m behind.”

She waves my words away. “Like I’d let you study on your own on a Friday.”

“You did for the last two weeks.”

“Well, that was before I knew you weren’t doing anything! I just assumed you were with Warren. When I saw him last weekend, and you weren’t together, I realized my mistake.”

I don't want to think about what Warren is doing at those parties, so I don't. I shove the thought down.

Viv rests her chin on the heel of her hand. “I didn’t realize my new bestie was such a study bug.”

I’ve told her I need a little extra study time, but she doesn’t know just how much. I know about the Gods in the way we tell children about them. Everything I learned at university went in one ear and out the other.

It is obvious now that it wasn’t a good idea to slack off. I took for granted that everyone was required to attend the Institute, so I didn’t think my grades mattered all that much.

“You don’t have to stick around with me. You can go party, if you want.”

She clicks her tongue at me. “Nuh uh. If you’re not coming with me, I’m not going. If you happen to change your mind after I stare at you for forty minutes without blinking, then that’s your decision.”

I close Earnings of Earth, where I was studying the common traits all of Kashmyre’s Blessed Alphas share, with a dramatic, over-the-top sigh.

“Okay, fine. I suppose I need to see what all the fuss about these parties is."

She squeals in excitement and jumps to her feet. “Come on, then, we have to get you dressed.”

What is it with my friends and wanting to dress me? I admire the way Viv commands a room whenever she walks in it, and how Warren somehow manages to look masculine and beautiful no matter how he dresses, but it's not something I've thought about for myself.

It’s not that I don’t want to dress beautifully or femininely, and I certainly don’t look down at those who do. But I don’t see the point at school. I’m in classes all day, sitting at desks and tables. Why do I need to wear heels for that?

If I had a date, I’d dress up. I know what to wear for high-class events and how to dress comfortably, even if it makes me look like a young boy.

There’s no middle ground for me.

Viv drags me out of the library and back to her room. It’s almost the same layout as mine, with an opposite view and two floors lower. She flips through the clothes hanging on a rod in the corner, looking at me over her shoulder every few moments.

Eventually, my friend makes a triumphant sound and pulls out two dresses.

“It’s casual, okay? Just people hanging out around a bonfire and drinking. But it’s your first one, and I want you to make an impression. It’s not just Betas at these parties.” She waggles her eyebrows. “So if you want to bring an Alpha home…”

“No, thank you. I’m not looking to bring anyone home with me.” The idea of having just anyone in my bed makes me feel queasy. I’m not sure why, but it’s probably because of my cycle. I’ve heard women talk about how, about two weeks before their periods, they’re insatiable, but I suppose I’m the opposite.

“Regardless. Put this on.”

The dress she shoves at me is pretty and understated, and not much different than some of the soft cotton ones hanging in my closet. It has more structure in the bodice and a subtle damask pattern, but the fabric feels the same. I turn my back to her and step out of my casual pants and top, then pull on the dress.

It fits well, falling just above my knees, with a neckline that dips low enough to show off the base of my breastbone. It’s reinforced with mock boning, keeping the deep ‘v’ of the neck in place so I can move about without fear of my breasts falling out.