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I groaned. “I’m sure there will be plenty of books to read next week. I can’t believe these guys. Who is so dedicated to education that they’ll make you go back to class after being transported to a hell dimension?”
She pressed her lips together and sighed through her nose at me. “The same people who are trying to make sure that you don’t end up fighting for the hell dimension, genius. Now get out of bed, we’ve got that assembly.”
“I’m sick of assemblies.”
“And I’m sure they’re sick of you too, but we’re getting our class schedules today, and I want to compare notes.”
“Oh, all right. Seriously. Classes in the underworld.” I shook my head, but eventually climbed out of bed, threw on fresh clothes, and walked the same three-hundred and twenty-five paces to the auditorium that I’d walked every week since we’d arrived. Yeah, I’d counted them. I was that bored.
“Good mo
rning, students,” Toland said from the podium once we’d all settled into our seats. “As you know, the new school year will begin soon. Our classes will be a little bit different this year. Obviously, our situation has changed, and we must be able to adapt to suit it. Vesper will call each year in alphabetical order, beginning with the new fourth-years.” He shot a look at Marshall, who sat several rows ahead of me and the guys. “I know all of you who were third-years should have graduated by now, but since you’re still with us, we will use the opportunity to do some advanced training. Once you have your class assignments, you are free to go to breakfast.”
Toland stepped back as Vesper took the podium, and I settled in for a long wait.
“Feels like they could have done this differently,” I muttered, shifting restlessly in my seat.
“It probably would have taken too much time any other way,” Jayce pointed out.
“Oh, no, not time.” I pressed my hands to my cheeks in mock horror. “The one thing we have an abundance of down here, can’t waste that.”
Jayce grinned. “Someone didn’t get her coffee this morning.”
“She’s been like this for days,” Hannah said solemnly. “Somebody needs to entertain her before she explodes.”
I shot a glare at Hannah, but I knew she was right. She knew me well enough by now to recognize the warning signs. I was going nuts here.
“That sounds like a job I can do.” Jayce’s voice dropped to a low, teasing whisper, and he put his arm around my shoulders, dipping his head to brush his lips down the line of my jaw.
I was in more of a fighting mood than a cuddling mood, but I melted into him anyway. I couldn’t help it. As soon as one of the guys touched me, it was like two drops of water coming together. Perfect. Unavoidable.
“That’s all for year three. Year two, pay attention. Alanis Abrahams.”
“Finally.” I sighed. “We might actually get out of here before all the coffee is gone.”
“They have been really stingy with it lately, haven’t they?” Kingston said, sounding almost as grouchy about it as I was.
“No coffee in the underworld, man,” Xero deadpanned.
“Well, there’s no broccoli either, and I don’t see them rationing that.”
“The man has a point.” I scrunched up my face. “Besides, don’t they just magically create our supplies? I never saw them pop out real quick to go grocery shopping on Mönkh Saridag.”
“I don’t know,” Xero said with a shrug. “I just know when I got to the underworld the first time, I spent six solid months looking for coffee. Even manifestors couldn’t get it for me.”
“Fan-damn-tastic,” I groaned. “Sorry in advance, then.”
Of course, the guys never seemed to mind all that much when I got bitchy and restless. Jayce thought it was cute, Kingston just fired it back at me, and Xero was endlessly patient. The combination basically took the wind out of my bitch sails.
Eventually, Vesper called our names and gave us our class assignments, and we went to breakfast to compare notes.
“Anybody else got Hiding in Plain Sight first period?” I asked as I looked over my paper. I had drunk my coffee way too fast, and it was gone before I even had the chance to enjoy it.
Jayce shook his head. “I have Maintaining Inner Light.”
“Me too.” Xero slid his coffee cup in front of me as he read over his paper. I grabbed at it with both hands and looked up at him with a grateful smile.
He shrugged. “Selfish decision, honestly. I like you better when you’re fully caffeinated.”
