Adam shook his head. "I didn't see anything like that."
Cassie didn't want this to turn into an argument, but denying it wouldn't help any. They couldn't just pretend this away. "I saw it with my own eyes," she said. "I could almost reach out and touch it."
"Cassie." Adam took Cassie's face into his hands and made her look him in the eye. "Whatever conclusion your mind is racing to right now, stop it. You were close to dying when you think you saw that cord. You must have been hallucinating in the smoke."
"Adam ..." Cassie started to say, but he interrupted.
"The silver cord is just between us. That's how soul mates work."
"What if you have more than one soul mate? That's what I'm asking."
"I don't even think that's possible." Adam wrapped his arms around Cassie's torso. "And any cord aside, I love you, Cassie. Only you. With everything I have."
"I love you too, but - "
Adam kissed Cassie on the mouth, softly at first and then with more passion. The kisses made Cassie feel dizzy and light-headed in a way that made her want to giggle out loud. Even more so, she felt him - his essence - intertwining with hers.
Then Adam abruptly pulled away. "Did you feel that?"
"Of course I did."
"That's all the proof I need. Cord or no cord. So forget about what you think you saw when you were half-conscious." Adam kissed Cassie again, this time affectionately on the cheek.
His lips felt warm and loving on her skin, and she couldn't deny the feeling she got every time Adam kissed her. He was right about that much.
"I only wish you'd told me this sooner," he said. "I hate that you've been worrying about this."
"You would tell me if you saw it, wouldn't you, Adam?" Cassie wasn't sure where the question came from. She never doubted Adam's word before. She'd never had a reason to.
But Adam hesitated in a way that caught her attention. His answer didn't come with the immediacy of honesty.
"Of course I'd tell you," he said, calmly and dismissively, only after he'd faltered. "I didn't see a thing. And I don't think you did either."
Perhaps it was all in Cassie's head, but Adam didn't sound quite convincing enough. Maybe she was even more confused and paranoid than she realized.
Cassie turned away, focusing her attention on the long murky line of Crowhaven houses in the distance behind them. Like Adam said, cord aside, their relationship had grown and evolved way beyond love at first sight.
"You know what I think?" Adam said in a lighter tone. "I think it's time you allowed yourself to relax. Your mother's right - you're taking on too much."
"She said that to you?"
Adam nodded. "At the meeting you slept through this morning. But she didn't have to. We can all see it, Cassie. And you're not alone." Cassie started to respond, but Adam got that goofy look on his face once more.
"Will you do me the honor of being my date for the Spring Fling? We could use a little fun, hunters be damned. And I can't think of a better person to have on my arm than you."
Cassie giggled in spite of herself. But her gaze shifted back to Crowhaven Road, all the way down to the blackened depths of the bottom of the hill. "That sounds perfect, but I don't know if we can afford to make fun a priority right now."
Then Cassie paused and thought better of the idea. "On second thought," she said, "the dance might be just the opportunity we need to get close to the principal and Max in a public setting, to see if we can figure out some of their weaknesses, or find out more about their stone relics."
"Cassie. You're missing the point. Your only concern should be making sure I wear the right color bow tie."
"Come on, Adam, I know you better than that. You're always putting Circle business first, before everything else."
Adam blushed with guilt. "Okay, you're right. Using the dance to get close to the hunters had crossed my mind. But that is all the more reason we both need a night off." His eyes flickered in the moonlight and he reached for Cassie's hand. "No magic. Just go to the dance and have a nice time - simple as that."
Adam was so much better than Cassie at being happy these days. Maybe some awful punch and silly dancing with her friends and boyfriend was just what she needed to clear out the black cloud that had settled into her chest. At the very least she could pretend to be excited about it - for Adam's sake, and her mother's peace of mind.
Cassie accepted Adam's hand and let him draw her in, ballroom dance - style.
"Pink," she whispered into his ear. "For your bow tie."
Adam took a step back. "Seriously? Couldn't you choose a color that's a bit more manly?"
"Nope. Pink it is."
Chapter 7
For a dance in the school gymnasium, the Spring Fling wasn't bad. The walls were camouflaged with cheerful decorations and multicolored streamers. Twinkling lights hung from the ceiling like shooting stars. The basketball hoops were tied back and filled with bright, pungent flowers - primroses, tulips, and chrysanthemums - masking the smell of adolescent sweat. The gym had been completely transformed.
As promised, Adam had matched his bow tie to Cassie's pink halter dress perfectly. She fiddled with its knot now, straightening it solely as an excuse to touch him.
"Would you get me a glass of punch?" she asked. "Or else I might have to start kissing you."
Adam grinned. "I'll be right back."
Cassie stood alone for a moment and gazed around the gymnasium. Everyone from the Circle had come except for Faye and Laurel, and Melanie, who thought Laurel would need moral support being cooped up with Faye. Cassie thought about giving them a call to check in and see how they were doing, but then Nick appeared before her.
"You look beautiful," he said.
He'd caught Cassie by surprise, so she laughed, embarrassed. "Thank you. You don't look half bad yourself."
Nick stared down at himself, wearing his regular jeans, T-shirt, and leather jacket. "I didn't really dress for the occasion," he said. "But this is a clean shirt, so I guess that's something."
Cassie laughed again and a sudden warmth came to her cheeks.
"Do you feel like dancing?" Nick asked.
Cassie hesitated.
An air of mischief crept into Nick's face. "I'm only asking because I know you, Cassie Blake, came here with a very specific mission to have some fun tonight. I couldn't let you go home a failure."
"Then how could I possibly say no?" Cassie allowed Nick to lead her onto the dance floor.