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“That’s why she was hiding?” I asked. “Because of the Vok -”
“Vrykolakas,” Master Grey said. “I imagine that’s one reason.” He leaned forward slightly. “Our mission within the academy is to protect our packs from their attacks. We train to fight, to lead, and to inspire.”
A snort from behind me filled the room.
I perked my brow, looking at Kent once more. He wasn’t looking at me, however. Instead, his focus was on Master Grey. When I turned back to look at him as well, Master Grey didn’t seem offended by the doubt. If anything, he understood.
“Yes, it is a bit of a stretch to hope for such a thing when all we’ve known is darkness and destruction,” he admitted. “But I find that even at the darkest, there’s always a sliver of light, and that’s enough for hope.” He clapped his hands together. “Now, I’m sure you’re exhausted, Ms. Foster.” He stood. “Captain Byron will get you situated in your dormitory, and I’ll have you outfitted in your uniform and provide you with all the supplies you need to begin your first day of school tomorrow.”
“Excuse me, Master?” Kent asked, stepping forward. “Situated? What dorm will she be residing in?”
Master Grey smiled. “Why, the Earth Dormitory, of course. All of her criteria has placed her with you and your pack.” He beamed at me. “Welcome to Bloodmoon Academy, Ms. Foster.”
Kazu
The last place Kazu wanted to be was standing in Master Grey’s office in the middle of the night, talking about Embyrlyn, of all people.
Especially with that Scarlet scroll on his desk.
“No.”
Master Grey arched a brow, tilting his head back slightly so he could look Kazu Shiroiokami in the eye.
There was something supremely satisfying about looking down at his alpha in charge, of standing at his full height without having to hunch forward or tilt his chin down in order to make others feel bigger than they were. Master Grey might be slight, but even Kazu recognized the Alpha had a presence about him, could bring even the tallest, strongest man to heel. There was a reason this man united four different packs as well as humans under his academy.
But just because Grey had this power didn’t mean Kazu agreed with every decision his superior made. And right now, he vehemently disagreed with the old wolf.
“No?” Master Grey asked, the word coated in genuine curiosity.
“No,” Kazu said again, shoulders rolled back. Rigid.
“I didn’t think I gave you the option of rejecting the offer, considering it’s not yours to reject.” Grey began to shuffle some papers on his desk, but he didn’t move that scarlet scroll, that damn curled parchment tied together with a thin, maroon strand.
Just seeing it caused everything within Kazu to burn, to turn to flame and ash. Knowing who it was for was enough to send him in a rage, something he wasn’t quite used to. Kazu was able to curb his emotions, control them, allow them to ebb and flow without an outburst. And yet, a flimsy piece of brittle paper was enough to make his fingers twitch – hence why he placed them behind his back as casually as he could muster without drawing the attention of Grey, who had the uncanny ability of somehow seeing through him and everybody else.
“Remember, Kazu, I asked you to come here so you could give me insight into your student and discuss whether she is capable of being assigned such a task,” Grey continued. He stopped shuffling, locking eyes with him again. “Not make decisions for her. Technically, you aren’t her teacher any longer, but a captain. And she’s part of your three-man squad.” He clenched his teeth together. “Two, I should say.”
Kazu forced himself to hold the old man’s gaze. The indirect mention of Dade Gregory was enough to cause him to tense, but that was the only reaction he intended to waste on his former student. Dade made his choice, as far as Kazu was concerned. But that didn’t mean everyone shared that perspective.
“And I’m giving you my answer,” Kazu replied, trying to keep the edge out of his tone. Despite the tension tearing through his muscles, keeping him at bay from shredding the scroll to pieces, he didn’t want to disrespect his alpha.
“You don’t think she’s capable?” Another squeak of Grey’s chair as he leaned back once more, folding his hands in his lap and arching a brow again at Kazu.
“Emberlyn is…” How to explain this. “Many things. I just believe she’s too naive to handle a Scarlet Scroll.”
“Even if there’s a possibility it will get Dade back?” Grey asked.
“Especially,” Kazu said. “We already know how she feels about him. He’s her blind spot. And I won’t let her put herself at risk when he’s been gone for three years and could be lost to us completely. He didn’t like her when our team was formed, and from what I heard, the way he left was a disaster. She and Felix have been searching for him in every way possible, and it’s proven futile. I don’t want her to get her hopes up, sacrifice an integral part of who she is to do this mission, on the chance she may be able to retrieve Dade from the Light Bringers. And that’s only assuming he’s with them.”
Master Grey frowned, resting his elbows on his desk. Instead of continuing to lean back casually, he sat forward, pressing his lips into a white line.
“You’ve put a lot of thought into this,” he said after a moment.
Kazu glanced to the bookcase to the right, eyes flitting over the spines. “Rumors have been swirling about the Scarlet Scrolls for the past couple of years,” he said, choosing his words carefully as he slid his hands in the pockets of his joggers. “It puts certain things into perspective.”
“I don’t understand.” Grey stood up and slowly walked around his desk. For once, it looked like the old man wasn’t as spry as he once was with his careful movements. When he got to a small cart on his left, he lifted a silver teapot and carefully poured steaming amber liquid into a white teacup. “You’ve evaluated her and your marks have always had her exceed expectations.”
“For what I was evaluating her on, yes —“
