“He took Master Daviti’s loss just as hard. He’s a good male.”Coming from Ceredes, it’s a glowing review.
Master Harlan clears his throat. “Anyway.” His chin pops back up, the fighter on display, not the man heartbroken over losing one of his idols. “Get ready.” He finally glances at me. “Bartanz has proven himself to be a bit cagier than we all realized, so keep your ears and eyes open. Always alert.” With that, he turns and leaves, the door shutting softly behind him.
“Should we have told him what your mom said about Bartanz?” I whisper.
“No. We keep that to ourselves.” Kyte scratches the golden stubble on his jaw. “After all, I’m not entirely sure what she meant.”
I go silent, afraid to utter my thought out loud. “I thought it meant he’s working with the Sentients.”
“Bartanz is a lot of things, but I never took him for a traitor.” Ceredes scowls.
“What if he’s the one who opened the barrier and let them in the night of the ball? He was here. It could’ve been him.”
“Maybe, but perhaps everything will become clearer once we hear what he has to say to the fleet.” Jeren stands, and now I have to look athisperfect ass. He looks over his shoulder at me, cockiness writ large on his face. “Come on, Omega. We need to shower.”
“Um, no.” I stand but take the sheet with me. “I’ll go first. You three can go after.”
“Lana, we know what you feel like from the inside.” Kyte props on his elbow as I turn ten shades of red. “You don’t have to hide from us.”
“Kyte is right for once,” Ceredes agrees.
My eyes stray lower, and I bite my lip when I get a full view of his erection. Holy. Shit.
Ceredes beams. A huge, knowing smile that sends tingles down my spine.
“Great chat. I’m showering. See you on the other side.” I flee to the bathroom and slam the door as all three of my Alphas groan.
Resting my forehead against the door, I take a deep breath. So many emotions are coursing through me that it’s like I have whiplash. Grief for Kyte, worry for the fleet, desire for the circle, and uncertainty about our future.
“Just shower.” Jeren’s voice comes through the door. “One thing at a time, my beloved.”
“Just shower.” I nod, then remind myself not to go over every second of last night in bed with my Alphas. Because if I do—
“We’ll break the door down and join you,” Ceredes calls, and the other two grunt in agreement.
Ugh, Alphas.
* * *
We file into the ballroom, the cadets eerily quiet. The stakes are high, and everyone knows the skirmish that just took place, the casualties and loss of Master Daviti and Councilor Ellarian. I hold Kyte’s hand, refusing to let go and separate into the rows of Alphas, Betas, and Omegas. We stand apart, but among our classmates.
Tilda gives me a small wave and a wink. That wink. Does she know what we did last night? Surely not.
“Granterries know everything,” Kyte whispers in my ear.
“Great.”
Uaxin stands with her, her long hair in an interesting knot at the top of her head. I have the stray thought of asking her to teach me how to do it. As if we aren’t in the middle of a conflict that could claim all our lives, as if things are perfectly normal.
Ceredes rests one of his huge mitts lightly on my shoulder, his fingers massaging as Jeren offers me a blade. “Want to hold it?”
“Like a security blanket?” I have to smile at that.
“No, like a knife.” He smirks. “By the hilt.”
I poke him in the ribs. “You know what I mea—”
A hush falls over the room as High Commander Bartanz strides out onto the stage. It seems like years ago when Ilwen stood up there giving me the evil eye. But it’s only been a few weeks. The whiplash is back, and all three of my Alphas touch me, centering my thoughts and keeping that out-of-control sensation at bay.
