The Seven Sisters and Their Hidden King

River Apartment.

Downstairs.

Noah stood nervously next to his Ghostfire motorcycle, his eyes darting around the residential complex as if he were hiding from someone.

When Emily returned and saw him loitering there, her fury flared.

"I told you to go home! Why are you still standing here?"

"Emily, it's not what it looked like earlier! Please, I'm begging you—don't tell Dad!"

As it turned out, Noah had been too anxious to go home. He had waited at the apartment complex just to intercept Emily and plead his case before she could report him.

Emily snorted. "So now you're scared? Still think it's fun to run around with a bunch of delinquents?"

"No, no! If you keep this a secret, I swear I won't ever hang out with them again."

"Really?"

"Really!" Noah nodded fervently, desperate to earn her forgiveness.