“She arrived when I did, but Craig lets Satine sit with them. She’s deluded herself into thinking she’s going to become an accepted in the next round as well,” Kenzie explains. She shoots a quick glance in Satine’s direction before averting her gaze.
“Is that possible? To graduate that quickly?”
“There aren’t any set timelines for graduating. As long as you master your abilities and prove you’re worthy, anyone can enter and compete in the graduation games. The rest of us are simply smart enough to know if we compete before we’re ready, we’ll die.”
Before I can ask another question, the massive doors of the dining hall swing open, and a hush falls over the room. The students all jump to their feet, standing rigidly with their attention focused on the entrance.
“Quickly,” Kenzie hisses.
I shoot to my feet, but I hit my hand on the underside of the wooden table in the process.Ow, ouchy.Trying to ignore the pain, I manage to stay silent. A moment later, shadows bleed into the room, slithering across the polished black floor, and Knox strides into the dining hall with his massive black wolf stalking beside him. He’s dressed differently now, wearing a crisp black suit with his hair slicked back, and I note how everyone averts their gazes when he passes. Well, the guys doanyway. The girls drool like he’s a god and they would worship the ground he walks on.If everyone treats him like that, no wonder he has such a big head.I chuckle then, because suddenly I find myself wondering if he’s big down below,too. That would definitely explain their reaction. And probably his overconfidence as well.
Knox doesn't look my way as he passes the table I’m at, but I swear I feel his gaze on me the entire time, and my breath catches as he strides past me. Bonfang, on the other hand,doesstare. The wolf’s red eyes stay fixed on me as the shadow professor walks to the long, stone table on the dais. Knox takes the seat on the end, and Bonfang sits behind him like he’s standing sentry. The wolf lifts his nose like he's scenting the air, and when his gaze remains locked on me, I’m tempted to sniff myself because there’s no way he could smell me from there. Could he?
“That's Professor Knox,” Kenzie whispers so quietly I almost don’t hear her. “We only use first names here, because once you enter the academy, any family ties you once had are dissolved. Professor Knox teaches Offensive and Defensive Maneuvers, and trust me, you don't want to be late to any of his classes or get on his bad side.” She winces, and I wonder if she’s remembering her bruised arm from her class with him not too long ago.
Knox’s power seems to fill the room, and it makes me wonder what exactly the man can do. Part of me doesn’t want to know, but the other part realizes it would be better to be prepared.
I lean closer to Kenzie. “You said earlier that when we graduate, we grow more powerful. Does that mean we would become like him?”
“If we graduate, our shadow powers will grow stronger,” she replies, keeping her gaze locked on Knox. “You know, shadow cloaking, shadow walking, manipulating shadows and the like,but no, we wouldn’t be as powerful. It’s different for the professors because they’re originals.”
“Originals?”
“You’ll learn all about them in your history classes, but their power is stronger and they also have unique abilities.”
“Okay, and what arehisabilities?” I prompt, indicating with my head to Knox.
“I can’t know for sure, I’ve only heard the rumors,” Kenzie explains, “but apparently, he can walk through dreams, manipulating your nightmares, and force you to sleep at will. There are a ton of other rumors too, about possession and the like, but it’s hard to know if they’re true or not.”
I stare at Knox, not liking what Kenzie is telling me.
“Either way,” she forges on, “Knox is one of the most powerful men in the academy. It’s why the girls all fawn over him. Well, that and the fact he looks like a greek god. It doesn’t do it for me, but I can understand the appeal. Oh, and then there’s also the fact that as an original he has been around for centuries.”
“Centuries?” My eyes shoot wide. “How old are the originals?”
“Old,” Kenzie replies bluntly.
Knox still isn’t looking at me, but Bonfang’s attention hasn’t wavered. The wolf peels back his lips to show me his glistening fangs.
Okay, so Bonfang still doesn’t like me. Noted.
Satine snickers from across the room, and her voice carries in the silence. “Looks like the new girl is going to become Bonfang’s next meal.”
This is followed by a few giggles and chuckles from the students around her.
I don’t bother reacting. Mostly, because I’m pretty sure she’s right. Bonfang does look like he’s fantasizing about hunting me. I blame the feathers.
I’m sure even Knox must have heard Satine, and I study his face, checking for his reaction. Aside from the tightening of his jaw, the man doesn’t speak.
Soon after, Thane is the next to enter the dining hall. Unlike Knox, the broad male looks my way. There’s a hint of surprise in his features when he takes in my outfit, but he recovers quickly and focuses his attention elsewhere. His bear, Rinoc, spares me a glance, and like Bonfang, he takes up a position behind Thane as the professor takes his seat.
“Professor Thane teaches our physical training classes. They say he has the ability to conjure shadow rain that burns like acid, but I’m yet to see it. He’s a fair teacher, but he’ll push you to your limits,” Kenzie whispers.
I wince. “And what if my limit is below average? Like,waybelow.”
Kenzie brushes off my comment. I get the feeling she doesn’t realize I’m being serious, but Raith and Galen enter the hall shortly after, and I’m quickly distracted. The pair of them hone their gazes on me, barely taking their eyes off me as they find their seats. Raith grins outright, and it’s not until he notices Knox glaring at him that he averts his gaze.
Around the room, the students stare at the four professors with a mixture of fear and admiration, and it makes me roll my eyes.
