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“So,” Cal sat down extremely casually, keeping a normal distance between him and Merrin, “she’s your aunt?”
The girl glanced at the Asajj and tilted her head. “I believe we are technically second cousins, but I know her as my aunt.”
He nodded in understanding, still looking at where the shapeshifter was talking to Quinlan. “Is there any chance you’re a secret love child?”
She snorted. “No, I know exactly who my parents were, and I’m very grateful they weren’t those two.”
“Were?” Cal clarified. “Are they—”
“Dead,” she confirmed, drawing her knees closer to herself. “Two years ago now.”
“I’m sorry.” He leaned a little closer to her. “My mom died when I was little, and my dad around the same time as yours.”
“We were at your mother’s house,” Merrin frowned, “were we not?”
“I’m adopted,” he supplemented. “Cere was my godmother, she and my dad knew each other because of Mr. Kenobi’s school. Which is where I’m going after this, because Cere’s probably going to lose custody of me after what Trilla pulled.”
“She’s your sister, correct?”
“Yeah, Cere’s biological daughter. She and I don’t really get along.” He shrugged. “We’re enough grades apart that I don’t think she’ll bother me at the school.”
“This school, it’s the one for mutants?” she asked.
“Yeah.”
She hummed. “I believe I will be attending there. If we survive all this.”
He tried to stay calm at the idea of getting to go to school with Merrin. They could be in the same classes, they would probably see each other every day, and he might actually have a shot at becoming her friend. “I’ve heard it’s pretty nice, so I think you’ll like it.”
She nodded. “It’s preferable to prison.”
He blinked. “Prison?”
“I’m wanted for attempting to assassinate the President,” she said nonchalantly.
“That was you?” he yelped, before remembering to keep things quiet so the adults could talk strategy or whatever.
“I was brainwashed into doing it. I certainly do not like him,” her lips quirked, “but I’m not stupid enough to try and pull a stunt like that.”
“Wow.” He stared forwards to where the fire was, noting that Trilla was having some sort of conversation with Maul. “That makes my day sound a lot better by comparison.”
“There’s always someone who has it worse,” she commented, and he swore she scooted closer. “For example, you if I hadn’t caught you in time.”
“Yeah,” he rubbed his thumb over his palm. “Thank you, again, for saving me.”
“Of course.” She smiled, and the way the moonlight seemed to make her skin shimmer nearly took his breath away. “I just knew I had the power to save you, and that I had to use it.”
“I’m glad you did.”
“Me too.” Her eyes sparkled. “I already think that I like you better alive.”
“I like you too,” he blurted out, cursing himself up and down the second what he said registered.
“That is not what I said,” she paused long enough to make Cal consider trying to bolt. “But it’s nice to know.”
Any potential replies died in his throat as he tried desperately to figure out what that meant. Then, her hand sat on top of his, and he frantically looked between their point of contact and her devious grin. Without a doubt, she was going to kill him if she kept this up, and if Trilla or the government didn’t beat her to it.