“Wha–”
“I don’t have a lot of time,” Geordie interrupted. “It took a lot of doing to find someone trustworthy to get me into your dream, but I can’t risk being here for very long. I have to keep moving so I’m not found. This realm isn’t safe for me.”
“What’s going on, Geordie? Why did you lie to me about… well, everything?” I demanded.
“I promise, I will eventually give you those answers, but for now, I need you to focus, Bechora. I can’t tell you certain things or else the future will change. You need to discover what you are and how to use your magic. Things are progressing faster than I originally foresaw. All I can tell you without risking making it worse is to hurry. Your friends can help, give them the list, and for the love of Selir, accept your bonds. You’re going to need them.” Geordie’s wordscame out in a rush, and he started to flicker out of existence near the end. “I’m out of time. Do what I said, B. I’ll come to you again when I can.”
Before I could say a word, he was gone. Our apartment flickered, and a loud crash sounded from behind me. I jolted upright, my eyes flying open as my hands flew to my pounding heart. My entire body was soaked with sweat. I was in my bedroom at the academy, early morning light streaming in through the lone window. Geordie’s words echoed in my mind as I forced myself from the bed just as my alarm went off.
I gathered my uniform and shower caddy and made my way to the showers while I mulled over what he’d said. Part of me was angry at him, but another part recognized the underlying fear that had laced his words. I tried to figure out what could have him so scared, as I washed the sweat from my body and hair, but still hadn’t managed to come up with an answer by the time I finished.
I reached out of the shower stall to grab my towel from the hook and came up empty. “What the fuck?” I hissed, poking my head out of the stall.
My towel was gone, along with my uniform. I hadn’t heard anyone else in the shower, and yet my things were missing, even the pajamas I’d worn. Sticking my head out farther, I looked around and didn’t see anyone.
“Shit,” I huffed. “Guess someone decided to fuck with me today.”
Taking a deep breath, I steeled my spine and stepped out of the shower stall. My head was on a swivel as I looked for the culprit with each step. It wasn’t until I made it out of the showers that I found them.
“Someone must be desperate for cash,” Daena sneered. “Although I thought strippers were paid to take their clothes off, not start in the nude.”
Her posse of mean girls snickered, one of them holding up a cell phone aimed in my direction.
“I thought you might want to see what a tight body looks like,” I shot back, refusing to let her get to me. It was obvious the bitch was behind my missing towel and clothes. “It’s not my fault your man can’t keep his eyes off me.”
“You stupid slut,” she screeched.
I forced myself to laugh, turning on my heel and striding toward my dorm with a little extra sway to my hips. Daena called out insults, but I ignored them, keeping my head held high. There was no way the photos or video, whichever her lackey had taken, weren’t going to be all over campus before the day was out, but I refused to let them shame me with their idiotic mean girl prank.
“Where are your clothes, and why are you dripping water everywhere?” Shadrie asked as soon as I slipped inside our dorm and shut the door.
“Apparently, Daena and her crew decided they needed my towel and clothes more than I did,” I shrugged, heading to my bedroom so I could dry off and get dressed.
“So, you just walked back like that?” Shadrie chuckled.
“Yup.”
“Oh, Selir, I would have paid out the nose to see her face when you just strutted back like it was nothing.”
“If you hurry, you probably still can,” I called over my shoulder as I stepped into my bedroom. Shadrie cackled and shook her head, causing me to smile. “By the way, how do people have cell phones here?”
“We copied human tech for some stuff, like computers and phones,” she called back from my bedroom door as I disappeared into my closet to dry and dress.
Shadrie was leaning on my door frame, dressed for the day, when I finally reemerged. “I’d ask how, but I’m not sure I’d understand it, so I’m going to ask where to get a phone instead.”
“I’ll contact my parents and see if they can send one. There’s not anywhere on campus to get one,” she replied. “I’m surprised you didn’t realize we had them before now.”
“It’s not like the human realm where everyone is always on them,” I shrugged. “I didn’t even know you had one.”
“Magic tends to come more naturally to us,” Shadrie shrugged. “Anyway, we need to get moving if we want breakfast before class. Grab your list for Miles!”
Shaking my head, I snagged the list I’d made the night before and followed Shadrie from our dorm.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Zypher
“Good morning, Dilectus,” I purred as I handed Bechora a cup of coffee.
