Determined to ignore Knox and his irritated expression, I turn my gaze to the massive room. Countless weapons line the walls, from swords that are almost the length of my body, to maces the size of my head. On one half of the room, thick mats cover the floor, and on the other, sections have been marked out with gray paint, dividing the space up.
Whispers follow me as I find a place, standing with the students who have grouped together in front of Knox. I intentionally make sure I’m close to Jensen, who’s sporting a violet mohawk today that contrasts strikingly with his pale green eyes.
He admires me appreciatively as I stop beside him, grinning like someone’s just given him a present. “Damn new girl. Looking good.”
I shoot a grin back at him. Okay so sure, he doesn’t have daddy vibes like four certain professors, but he’s still pleasant to look at, and this girl has needs.
Smirking, he peels off his shirt, revealing an impressive set of abs that I have no problem admiring.
Satine huffs from not too far away, planting a hand on her hip. “No one wants to see you without your shirt, Jensen,” she quips, yawning.
“That’s not what you said when you walked in on me at the showers,” he retorts, tensing his muscles like he’s posing for a photographer.
There are a few sniggers, and Satine’s face goes beet red, but I make it a point not to get caught staring at her.Nope, I do not need that drama. Even if the story does sound juicy…
Knox clears his throat, and I reluctantly turn my gaze to him, only to find the professor looks like he’s one word away from strangling someone with his shadows. And by someone, I meanme.Power radiates from him as he glares at me, his shadows curling and writhing around his tattooed arms.Seriously, why does this man hate me so much?The guy is unusually uptight for someone who got laid not that long ago.
“Oh, looks like soldier boy is in a mood today,”Elgen’s voice pops into my mind at that exact moment.“I love it when he loses his temper. Do you think anyone will die today?”
Soldier boy?I spy her and Tarlaz high up on the left wall, watching us all, enraptured. And is that…shadow popcorn? I frown, not sure if I’m seeing the bucket between them correctly, or if I’m imagining things.
I don’t bother pretending I can’t hear them. That cat’s out of the bag.“Where have you been?”It’s only when the words sound in my head that I realize I’d been worried about them. I hadn’t seen the shadows at all the day before, and for some strangereason, I’d been concerned. I tell myself it’s because I’m hoping they’re going to help me out of this mess at some point.
“Contrary to what you might think, we have a multitude of interests,”Elgen replies, sounding a bit snotty.“There’s always something going on in this academy.”
“Always,”Tarlaz agrees, and I swear I can even hear chewing like he’s eating something, though I’m assuming that’s impossible.
“Are you…eating popcorn?”I ask.
Elgen shrieks excitedly in my head.“Ohh popcorn, that’s what it’s called Tarlaz! How could I forget that?”
“So, it is popcorn?”
“Don’t judge,”Tarlaz scolds.“Pretending we can indulge in food is one of our few pleasures. It’s been a delight watching the dishes you humans conjure up, and you can’t blame us for our curiosity.”
My brows lift in surprise. I want to ask them more questions, but students start moving around me. I realize Knox must have already been barking out instructions, and I’d just missed it all.Crap.
“What am I supposed to do?”I hiss in my mind to the shadows.
“You’re not a very bright one, are you girl?”Elgen replies blandly.
“What? You’re the one who distracted me,”I protest.
“Yes, well we’re not the ones taking a class with one of the most powerful men in the shadow realm,”Tarlaz points out.
“Do try to stay alive,”Elgen urges me.“It’s nice to have someone else to talk to. As much as we’ve enjoyed seeing the human food, no one takes the time to describe what it tastes like. In time, we’re hoping you might indulge us.”
I’m staring at them in disbelief when Kenzie’s elbow jabs into my side. “Shade, you with us?”
I smile and nod, even though I still have no idea what I’m supposed to be doing. Students are busy grabbing weapons from the walls, and they practice with them solo before moving to the side of the room that doesn’t have the mats. They pair up, taking positions within the different areas that have been sectioned. A tall girl with muscular thighs takes up a spear and snarls as she jabs at the air.
“Don’t worry, you’ve got this,” Kenzie tells me, then she turns and strides briskly toward a stack of swords.
I wonder then, why I couldn’t have been sent to a different kind of academy. Maybe one that specialized in culinary classes rather than learning how to survive in battle? Or maybe a librarian’s guild? Yes, that would have suited me perfectly. I’mdistracted again, and I jump when I realize how close Knox is to me.
“You two pair up.” His hard voice cuts through my thoughts, and at first, I don’t realize he’s talking to me.
Who?My gaze goes to where Jensen is standing not far away. He grins at me, and I wonder if he has been loitering there on purpose, hoping we’d be placed together.
