I wonder if she’s visited the library yet?
If not, maybe that could be the olive branch—invite her to the library.
I hummed softly, pleased with my idea.
Circumventing the main portion of the Academy, I used the instructor’s entrance near the back and side of the building, quickly palming the Mage Orb and forcing the door open. Blessedly, Lex was the only one in sight.
“General,” Lex intoned with a respectful incline of his head. If he was surprised to see me here this late at night, his expression didn’t show it. He sat at a table, Ilyas across from him as they played a game of cards. Clearly they had guard post tonight, even if this was an odd place for a guard post.
“Where is Sasori?” I asked by way of greeting and saw Lex’s mouth tighten as Ilyas’ shoulders hitched slightly. Their tells were incremental and would have been overlooked if anyone but me had seen.
“She’s on another assignment,” Lex said, trying desperately to keep his voice even.
I tilted my head slightly as I processed his statement.
“An assignment I am unaware of?” As a Vessel to a Mage in the army, she fell directly under my command. To know that someone else was giving my soldiers commands without my knowledge was disconcerting.
Alois. It has to be Alois.
“Apparently the dignitaries from Samyr are here. Because she is from there, she’s assisting Alois in negotiations. Something about a Vessel exchange,” Lex clarified, and my shoulders relaxed slightly, though my headache still pounded.
Something in the tight set of Lex’s jaw and the way his leg absently bounced beneath the table told me there was more to the story than he was letting on, but it was obviously of a more personal nature. If there was more that threatened our security, Lex would tell me in an instant—of that I had no doubt.
There was no one more loyal to me than Lex d’Talionis, not even Alois.
“Care to help me release some of my magic?” I asked, and both men visibly brightened at the proposition. “I think it’s safe to leave this area unguarded for an hour at most.”
The likelihood that anyone was looking to enter the Academy was low; bypassing the instructor door was even lower, and my magic was now pushing at my skin, threatening to break loose at any moment. While I didn’t need another person present while I released my magic, it would help to have someone as thoughtful and loyal as Lex to pull me back from the edge if the worst happened.
My fingers twitched as I waited for Lex and Ilyas to respond. They seemed to communicate with their eyes, sharing looks and glances that only they could interpret. Simultaneously, they tossed their cards into the middle of the table before pushing to a stand.
“Training yard?” Ilyas asked, his hand clasped on Lex’s shoulder.
With a brusque nod, I led the way out of the instructor’s quarters, through the Academy, and into the adjacent training yard.
Chapter 30
Lex
Something about Rohak’s movements unnerved me tonight. It was like he was on edge, constantly fighting a demon only he could see. The fact that the need to release his magic was so desperate it pushed him from bed in the middle of the night had my hackles rising. Not for the first time, I wondered how he was able to draw so much power for so long without any consequences.
After his return from Hestin, he’d seen more withdrawn; deep shadows cast beneath his eyes at all hours of the day, and he’d taken to barricading himself in his office here at the Academy. I wasn’t going to complain—I liked having Rohak close—but his mannerisms were odd, and I worried for him.
Which is why Ilyas and I agreed to accompany him to the training yard. I wasn’t necessarily concerned for my own safety, even though Rohak was the most powerful Destruction Mage in recorded history, but Iwasconcerned forhissafety.
If he needed someone to pull him out of the embrace of his magic, Ilyas and I would do our best to ensure that happened.
The training grounds were predictably empty at this time of night, the cadets asleep in their quarters, and instructors eitheralso asleep or planning lessons for the following day. Most of my plans were finished, and I was in desperate need of a distraction—both for my body and my mind.
Sasori was abruptly called away to the manor this morning by one of Lord d’Refan’s personal guards. That part wasn’t concerning, because they were from the same territory, Lord d’Refan often consulted her on various aspects regarding Samyr, especially since Sasori came to Vespera much later than Lord d’Refan. What did concern Ilyas and me was her flippant dismissal of us when she was called; there was no discussion, no forewarning. She simply packed a small day bag and left our rooms without so much as a goodbye.
Sasori was always a bit standoffish and cold—over the years, I’d attributed that to her natural personality, simply heightened by our Forced Bond. But her attitude had grown increasingly worse over the past few months, ever since Rohak asked me to be his eyes and ears in Vespera.
Obviously I’d told my Vessels of our assignment as they would have to follow me wherever I went, hear what I heard. But I was starting to second-guess my open communication with both Vessels as well as Sasori’s trustworthiness.
If she and Lord d’Refan were growing close . . . what did that mean for us? The thought of having to pick between my Vessel and the man whom I admired and trusted more than anyone else caused acid to burn in my throat.
She wouldn’t make me do that.
