He was the cutest thing I'd seen since that Trololo Cat YouTube video.

So, before school was cool. The ride to school was even okay. Well, Aphrodite was grumpy, but that was pretty much normal. Plus, she was actually talking to Shaunee, which was nice 'cause it was obvious Shaunee wasn't sure who she was now that she wasn't one half of the Twin team.

And we did stop at Starbucks on the way. I know fledglings aren't supposed to feel caffeine highs anymore, but it definitely seemed like we were all buzzing by the time we pulled into the House of Night.

Of course once we got to school everything else was, as Stevie Rae would've said, as under control as herding cats.

It all started with first hour. Okay, I hadn't actually forgotten Thanatos was going to use me as an example for her how-do-we-deal-with-losing-parents class project or whatever. I'd just kinda misplaced the memory of it, which probably had to do with Stark being so dang adorable and me being so dang happy he was acting like himself again.

And maybe I hadn't wanted to remember. Maybe I'd just wanted to not be momless and heartbroken for a little while.

Anyway, my selective amnesia didn't last more than just about two-point-five seconds after I stepped into first hour and followed Stevie Rae and Rephaim up front. Aurox was there, just where he'd been yesterday. He met my gaze for an instant before he looked away. Then I remembered what was up-that class wasn't just going to be me being entertained or me daydreaming. Class was gonna be, well, me. That totally made my stomach clench and suddenly I was nervous and anxious and wishing I'd gotten permission to go to the bathroom or the nurse or anywhere except class.

It was only later that I realized my seer stone, for the first time, hadn't heated up at the sight of him because, of course, Thanatos started to talk, which totally distracted me by putting the cherry on top of my anxiety sundae.

"I read your questions and found a common theme in many of them," she said. "Quite a few of you expressed a desire to discuss how to deal with the loss of your parents. The truth is if you complete the Change and become vampyres, you will inevitably lose not just your parents, but all of your mortal contemporaries because, as you already know, although vampyres are not immortal we are definitely longer lived than humans. So, to help us delve into this subject I have solicited the aid of the only one of your peers who has lost a parent, as well as a mate, to death-Zoey Redbird." I wanted to die.

Everyone was quiet and paying attention, even the jerky red fledgling back row that surrounded Dall as.

"First, let me begin with a word of encouragement," Thanatos said. "As you know, my affinity is death. I often guide spirits in their crossing from this world to the Otherworld, so I can tell each of you with certainty that there is an Otherworld waiting for us. I have not traveled there, but Zoey has." She smiled encouragement to me. "I believe you have seen both your mate and your mother joyously welcomed into Nyx's realm."

"Yes." I realized my voice was way too soft, so I cleared my throat and tried again, louder. "Yes, I saw my mom welcomed by Nyx, and I actually spent time there with Heath."

"And is it a beautiful place?"

I felt a little of the sickness leave my stomach as I remembered the good part. "Yeah, it's awesome. Even when my soul was shattered and I was super messed up, I could feel the peace and happiness in the Goddess Grove." I just couldn't reach it for myself, I added silently.

Stevie Rae's hand went up. "Yes, Stevie Rae." Thanatos called on her.

"Is it okay if we ask questions?"

"Zoey?" Thanatos's wise gaze turned to me.

"Yeah, sure, I guess."

"Then go ahead and ask your question, Red High Priestess." Thanatos's gaze took in the entire class. "But let us remember the rules of civility that are always in effect in my classroom."

There was a pause and then Stevie Rae asked me, "Uh, so, the Otherworld, it's a big grove?" I was surprised by her question and her obvious curiosity-then I realized she'd never asked me much of anything about the Otherworld. Really, outside of Sgiach, and mentioning it when I'd led the ritual for Jack, I really hadn't talked about it hardly at all.

"Well, yeah, but I know there are a bunch of different parts of the Otherworld. Like when I first found Heath he was fishing off a dock that was on a really pretty lake." Even though missing him made me sad, the memory made me smile. "Heath loved to fish. I mean, seriously loved it. So, that's where I first found him, but when we needed to be safe we went to the Goddess Grove. That was in a different part of the Otherworld." Damien's hand went up and Thanatos called on him.