Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

Helen and Claire shared a wide-eyed stare, which melted into

identical warm smiles. They had both been only children, both

growing up not being allowed to raise their voices indoors. Together,

they?d dreamed of having big families and full houses with a

thousand things happening at once, and now they saw in the other

the remembrance of that girlish wish. The yelling jangled the

nerves a bit, but there was no denying that it made the Delos house

feel like a home. ?Hec-Jace-Castor-Lucas!? Noel sputtered while

she stared at her son?s face and repeatedly forgot what she had

named him. ?Go drag your little sister down here. We have guests

tonight.?

Lucas did as his mother asked, returning with a very grouchy

Cassandra thrown over a shoulder.

?But I see them every day!? Cassandra whined as Lucas bent forward

and put her down on her own feet next to Helen.

?Mom said,? Lucas replied with an apologetic shrug. Apparently,

there was no arguing with that because Cassandra rolled her eyes

and sat down at the table without another word.

?Hi,? Cassandra said in a slightly miffed way to Helen. ?Do you

eat a lot of garlic??

?No. Why? Does my breath stink?? Helen replied uncertainly,

already working up a blush at the thought of having gassed Lucas

all day with dragon breath.

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?Not at all. Just trying to figure out why you?re impervious to

weapons,? she said. She held up a book she had clutched in her

hand and waved it at Noel?s uncaring back. ?I?m trying to solve a

problem here,? she said loudly, obviously intending for her mother

to hear, but Noel kept right on cooking.

?I?ve been looking stuff up, too,? Hector added, hands behind his