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It didn’t matter that the terms had changed and that he was teaching me. It was still only an exchange. It couldn’t be anything more than that. He couldn’t let anyone know that he was involved with a human, and I didn’t want any of my friends to know that I’d been a twenty-two-year-old virgin who’d known nothing.
Our deal had a shelf life, even if I hated to think about it ending. I would return to Earth to hopefully rise even higher within the ranks of Naval intelligence, and he would go on to be a Drexian warrior. Then I thought about Torq pinning me down to his bed, and my stomach did a somersault.
“You won’t tell anyone, will you?”
Morgan looked offended by my question. “And break girl code? Never. Your fling is your business. As long as you banging a Blade won’t make it hard when we beat them in the battle of the schools.”
I’d been so preoccupied with my dalliance with Torq and trying to help Ariana and keeping up with classes that I’d almost forgotten that the battle was soon. “Never. You know I’m loyal to the Assassins.” Panic fluttered in my chest, replacing the fizzy feeling thoughts of Torq had provoked. “The battle is soon, isn’t it? Should we be preparing? Have I missed coaching sessions?”
“It’s not like the maze. It’s not as deadly or as hard.” Morgan released a breath. “It’s supposed to use skills we all have—or should have—and it’s our entire school, so we have the upperclassmen to take the lead. Fiona assured me that it’s actually fun.”
I doubted that. The Drexian idea of fun was very different from mine.
“Your boy and his Blades don’t have much of a chance, especially after what happened last night. Their entire school was penalized with a delayed start in the battle, so it’s really just the Irons and Wings we need to worry about beating.”
I would have asked how Morgan knew so much more than I did, but the girl was amazing at hearing rumors and scuttlebutt. Another reason why she was a natural Assassin.
“Now, about those friends of Torq’s who might be interested in a fling…” Morgan said as she hooked her arm through mine.
I was about to tell her that I didn’t know his friends, but we both stiffened when we turned to the door and saw a figure standing silently in the shadow of the corridor, watching us. Dread sent a shiver down my spine. What was the admiral’s adjunct doing there, and how much had he heard?
As we hurried past Tivek, I wondered how many academy secrets the enigmatic Drexian knew—and how many of his own he was hiding behind his watchful façade.
Chapter
Forty-Four
Ariana
“Idon’t understand why you think I’ll be helpful,” Fiona said I practically dragged her along the corridor. “The guy hates me, especially after I threatened to cut off his testicles and use them as castanets.”
“I’m sure that’s not the worst threat he’s ever gotten.” The weathered Drexian not only looked like he’d been through a lot, but he’d also served in Inferno Force, which meant he’d been on the front lines against the Kronock.
“It might be the only time a colleague has threatened his nuts, though.”
“Vyk is tough.” I dismissed her concerns with a wave of my hand. “I doubt your threat even registered in his top ten. Besides, it doesn’t matter what you said to him in the past, we need him on our side.”
“Do we?”
I stopped when we reached the door to the security chief’s office. “You heard what Noora told us. Vyk is willing to help find Sasha.”
Fiona mumbled something about starting to regret sitting with the Academy Master’s wife during lunch, but I ignored her.
“Come on, Fi. We need to put our personal feelings aside. Yes, the Drexian has an issue with humans at the academy. Yes, he hasn’t been great to either of us in the past. Yes, he’s part of the reason I almost died in the trials, but if I can get past it, so can you.”
Fiona squared her shoulders and nodded. “You’re right. I’m not afraid of this guy, and if he can help find your sister, then let’s do this.”
I gave her arm a squeeze before I rapped my knuckles sharply on the door. “Thanks. You’re the best.”
Fiona winked at me. “Yes, I am.”
“Come in,” Vyk’s deep voice boomed from behind the door. I might not have had the altercations with him that Fiona had, but even I shuddered before pressing my hand to the side panel and waiting for the door to slide open.
When we walked inside his office, the commander stood from behind his desk, and his gaze slid from me to Fiona and lingered on her before returning to me. I couldn’t keep from glancing at the weapons hanging on the black stone wall we passed on the way to his desk, and I wondered how many of them the warrior had used in battle.
Before he could ask why we’d come, I beat him to the punch. “I heard that you were willing to help find my sister.”
He straightened, tipping his head forward only slightly. “I am. No female should be left in the grasp of the Kronock.”
