Talen’s already circling, just waiting for an excuse. And maybe there’s nothing in the tunnels but darkness and death, but I have to try.
I swallow hard. “No,” I whisper, forcing a breath through locked lungs. “Lead the way, tell me your idea.”
“Okay then, good. The dorm was getting a little cramped with you in it anyway. And let’s just say I like it tidier than you.”
I roll my eyes, but the corner of my mouth lifts before I can stop it.
“So,” she whispers, leaning in, “here’s the plan…”
She lays it out fast and confident, like she’s done this before. I have to admit, I’m impressed. Ezzy’s cunning. There’s way more to her than I gave her credit for.
A minute later, I’m tucked in the shadows while her footsteps echo down the corridor—light, easy, like stopping to chat with guards in the middle of the night is the most normal thing in the world.
Brian lights up the second he sees her, grin wide, posture tight. Like he’s just been handed a gift he doesn’t deserve.
But she doesn’t stop for him.
Her attention shifts, stepping in close to the second guard. No hesitation. Just a few quiet words, low against his ear. The effect is immediate. He straightens, eyes snapping wide. Ezzy gives him a small, knowing nod and Greg vanishes without a second glance.
Turns out Greg’s been hooking up with a third-year cadet Ezzy knows. There’s been tension lately—some fallout, a string of ignored messages, and, apparently, a frustratingly long dry spell that’s been driving Greg crazy.
So Ezzy just plants a small seed, said she just ran into the cadet on her way here, who asked her to pass along that she’s waiting.In his room. It’s clean, simple, and devastatingly effective.
Now time for Brian, not that he’s exactly a challenge. Ezzy shifts her stance, tilts her head just enough to catch the candlelight, and starts talking about his research—Thread Resonance Curves, and the supposed potential for Threads to transfer between individuals. His eyes light up instantly and helaunches into a detailed explanation, Threadfields, vibrations and potential energy shifts.
She nods along, just enough to sell it, then, right on cue, her eyes wide with interest. “You know... I’d love to read it.”
His whole face lights up, until it doesn’t.“Oh. I don’t have it on me. It’s in my dorm.”
Ezzy tilts her head, pretending to think, twirling a strand of hair with a shrug. “That’s a shame. I wasreallygetting into it.” She doesn’t overdo it, just enough to land the suggestion. Friendly. Curious. Maybe a little flirty, but still in a very Ezzy way—nerdy and natural.
And it works. God, it works.
Brian blinks like something in his head just glitched. “I—it would only take me two minutes. I can grab it. Should I?”
Her smile lifts, easy. “That’d be amazing. I can keep an eye on things while you’re gone.”
He nods so fast it’s a blur. “Yeah, okay... Umm, if Greg comes back, just, uh, tell him I ran to the bathroom.”
Then he’s off, practically jogging, nearly tripping over his own feet as he goes, throwing a finger up mid-run, mouthingone minutelike this is the most important errand of his life.
Ezzy just waves after him, all sunshine and innocent chaos. She holds his gaze until he’s around the corner and out of sight, then drops the act like a coat, and waves me over. I slip out from the shadows, crossing to her.
“Okay, you’ve got a little time.” She’s already hurrying me forward towards the tunnel. “But they’ll be back soon. I’ll wait here so Brian doesn’t get suspicious, he’s twitchy at the best of times. You should be able to get in and look around, but…” She hesitates, a flicker of discomfort crossing her face. “I don’t know what you’ll find down there. The protective magic, the Wards, in those tunnels, it’s old. Treaty-forged. Dark stuff. If anything feels wrong, don’t push through. Just come back.” She shudders, hervoice tightens as she continues, already planning for my failure. “If you do turn back... well, try and wait for the guard rotation or something. Let’s just say you don’t want Greg catching you.”
She doesn’t move, and for a second, neither do I. Then her eyes crease, shoulders lift, just slightly—Oh shit. She’s about to go in for a hug.
I stiffen, take half a step back, not sure what to do. I don’t exactlywanta hug. But let’s be honest, chances are I’m never going to see her again. Not because I’ll be safe and warm in Bren’s bed by morning. But because I’ll probably die trying. So fuck it. I step forward and wrap my arms around her, rigid, quick, one hand patting her back.
At first she tenses, almost surprised, but then she exhales and suddenly I’m caught in her full grip, arms tight around me. She squeezes, and for a second, I freeze. It’s weird, but not bad.
“Good luck,” she whispers. “Now go. Before they get back.”
My body’s still tense as she spins me, pushing me toward the tunnel’s mouth.
Shit, do I really want to do this?
Ezzy is here, ready and wanting to help me. Maybe I could just bail out of this, go back to the room with her and make another plan? But no, there is no other plan, Talen is not going to stop. I have to try.
