And for the first time since being here, I believed them.
Icould barely contain my excitement as I went to breakfast. So far, there hadn’t been any consequences from the Varruk’s escape. He was so powerful that it wasn’t surprising at all that he managed to escape on his own.
I knew that I would probably still be punished for what had taken place in the arena, but if the Ancestors were with me, then I’d be gone before that happened.
“You five better be safe.” I waited a moment, but no one responded. My heart beat a little faster knowing it wouldn’t be long until I saw them again.
“Can you believe that all of the creatures escaped last night? Including your new best friend.” Torren came up from behind me, startling me with his question.
I ignored the best friend comment, “That's what all the alarms were about? He should never have been locked down there to begin with.”
“I can’t imagine why not. They’re just creatures after all, some of whom should be eradicated.” He narrowed his eyes at me in challenge.
“Maybe,” I said, noncommittally.
“Maybe? That’s all you have to say on the subject?” Torren grabbed my arm and pulled me to a stop.
I jerked my arm out of his hold. “What’s your problem?” It’s like the kiss never happened. This man blew hot and cold like no other.
“I just find it annoying that some of us are here to find a Faction and some of us are here to be some kind of hero.” He growled in my face.
“Are youfuckingkidding me? I didn’t come here voluntarily, so no, I’m not looking for a Faction. I already have oneafter all.” I pushed his chest with both hands and tried to shove him backwards, but even with my strength, he didn’t budge. “And I would have surely died if the Varruk hadn’t stepped in to help. So,no, I didn’t want to kill a being who helped me live to fight another day!”
“I’ve heard about the guys in your Faction, and I’m not impressed. You'd better get with the program, or you’re goingto find your stay here increasingly difficult.” He growled, then turned and stomped back the way he’d come from.
“What the hell?” I mumbled under my breath.
Where the crap did that come from? He’d been mostly kind since I’d met him, but it was like he took my actions personally. He could go fuck himself for all I cared. I had no regrets concerning Vee.
I entered the dining hall, filled a plate, and then sat in the back corner. The room was mostly empty because it was very late and the day after the coliseum battles.
“Who were you talking to earlier, you felt upset?”Zane’s voice startled me, and I dropped the eggs I was scooping into my mouth.
“It was nothing. I can’t believe you could feel that.”I ducked my head to hide the wide smile that overtook my face.
“There’s a lot that’s changed since we bonded. Also, I wanted to let you know I enjoyed the meal you provided the other night.”I could hear the heat in his voice.
“What are you talking about?”
“The tasty snack I had in the classroom.”I felt him smirk.“I had no idea that was a fantasy of yours.”
He couldn’t be referring to the sex dream I’d had about him… could he?
He laughed huskily,“I’ve always wanted to desecrate an instructor’s desk.”
Holy shit, he was. I suddenly felt shy because it had been so long since we’d seen each other.“We weren’t even able to communicate then.”
“At the time, I thought it was my dream, but there was always a little doubt. I wanted to believe I’d been able to visit you, but I didn’t know it was possible. Seems you found a way to visit me instead.”I could hear the smugness in his voice.“Shit,Oren is giving me his pay-the-fuck-attention look. Sexiest twin, out!”
I couldn’t contain my laughter, and the few people who were in here gave me strange looks. I just waggled my brows at them and continued eating. There wasn’t much that could ruin my good mood today.
A warrior I was unfamiliar with entered the room and kept glancing furtively at me. He filled a plate and then headed in my direction. “Is this chair taken?”
“No.”
I didn’t elaborate because after everything that happened yesterday, I was short on trust. It would be just like Selene to send an unknown to collect intel. Trying to find out if I had anything to do with the Varruk’s escape.
He sat and began eating, but was obviously casing the room. I took the opportunity to study him. Green eyes and mocha skin, complemented by lots and lots of muscle. He was a beautiful man, but I wasn’t attracted to him in the least. There was something familiar about him, too, but I couldn’t put my finger on what it was.
