Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

?She doesn?t need to,? Cassandra said with finality. ?She doesn?t

need to learn to punch or hold a sword or shoot an arrow to defend

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herself. She?s already ten times more lethal than you are, Hector,

and if you keep trying to find a way to beat her you?re going to end

up brain dead. These sessions are over.?

Cassandra stood up and walked out of the dojo.

?She?s still vulnerable!? Hector shouted after Cassandra?s retreating

figure. ?There are a million ways to subdue her once you find a

way to get around her bolts!?

?Enough, Hector,? Jason said gently. ?Cassandra?s right. Figure

out her vulnerabilities and train her to deal with them, but the dojo

work is done. Hand-to-hand combat is not something she ever has

to fear.?

?So no more chaperone?? Helen asked, raising her eyes from her

empty water bottle. The Delos kids looked at each other,

shrugging.

?I guess not,? Hector finally concluded. ?At least not until Cassandra

foresees a threat. Then, I don?t care how lethal you are, one

of us will be with you at all times again.?

?May I go until then?? Helen asked, looking at Hector and waiting

politely for permission. He nodded. She bowed to him and then

jumped into the air.

?Wait, Lennie!? Claire shouted up at her. ?We were going to

throw you a party. Kate made you a cake!?

Helen saw Claire, saw how worried she was, but she couldn?t do

what Claire wanted. She couldn?t pretend to be cheerful. Not for a

few hours while everyone threw her a party, not for half an hour to

let them at least sing ?Happy Birthday? and scarf down some cake,

and not even for the five minutes it would take to explain to Claire