I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice calm. “I… I wanted to use the time to call for the teacher,” I said. “I just needed a moment to clear my head before class started.”

Her eyes lingered on me for a moment, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. Not many people knew the truth about my past, about the deal my father had made, about the price he had paid to get me here. If she knew... 

She didn’t say anything else. She just nodded slowly and walked away. But I ...