“Where have you been?” Luke Elderman said. As I smiled to myself while gleefully walking up the stairs, I told myself that I wouldn't let him know, no matter what, that I was training with the hounds. It was something my instincts knew he probably wouldn't like—especially now with the cut that I was sure had turned purplish.

But there he was, in my room, sitting on my bed, waiting to catch me in whatever lie I would want to tell him.

“Why are you in my room?” I asked, quickly ...