Iris grabbed Xinyi shoulder. “Xinyi.”
“Thank you.” I nodded at them, determined to do exactly that.
Tate chased after me, his emotions just as heightened, a mix of excitement and anxiety fueling each step as we made our way to the main building. The sun had thankfully set, so I was no longer confined inside and could help with the search.
When we reached the main office, Tate grabbed my arm. “Maybe you should let me do the talking?”
I growled.
“Baby, you have to admit you’re not exactly a people person on a good day, and right now, you’re barely holding your shadows in check.” Tate arched a brow. “Or am I wrong?”
Grunting, I let Tate go first and focused on keeping my powers in check.
Tate spoke to the person behind the desk for a few minutes, pouring on the charm and sugar until he got an answer. Unfortunately, the answer wasn’t what we wanted.
“It looks like the only address they have is for Alora in Italy.” Tate sighed and tugged on his braids. “It’s doubtful that’s where Jack went.”
“Agreed.” I glared off to the side, frustration filling every inch of me. We were at a dead end again.
On the way back to the dorms, I caught sight of Professor Fawley. The hunter.
“Him,” I growled, stalking after him.
“Kyren?” Tate called out as he rushed after me. “What are you doing?”
I grabbed the professor’s shoulder and pinned him against the wall with my shadows before Tate could stop me. “Where is she?”
Students shuffled back from us, Tate telling them everything was fine and some other bullshit that would keep them back. I didn’t care what Tate told them. All that mattered was getting answers from the man in front of me.
“Who?” he had the audacity to ask, his lips lifting even as he said it.
“Do not play with me.” I tightened my grip on his neck, not choking not yet. “I will kill you.”
He laughed.
Tate grabbed my shoulder. “Kyren, you can’t. He’s not only a teacher but a hunter. You’ll get executed.”
“I don’t care,” I shot back, shrugging Tate’s hand off. “He’s going to talk.”
“Not if you choke him, he won’t,” Tate tried again, jerking at my shoulder. “You’re drawing a crowd, Kyren. We can’t help her if we’re dead.”
Baring my fangs at him, I released the professor.
He rubbed his throat with a laugh, causing to wince. “Wow, you really do care about her, don’t you?”
“Don’t test us,” Tate growled.
“Where is she?” I bit out again, my shadows undulating around me.
“Home.” He pushed his glasses up his nose.
“And where’s that?” Tate pressed, moving in closer to the professor. His own patience running short, adding to my own restlessness.
Shaking his head, he held his hands up before him. “If she didn’t tell you, I’m not going to.” I moved toward him, but he cut me off with his words. “You can torture me all you want, but it won’t get what you want. You should respect her wishes. She’ll come back… maybe.”
The last word made me want to punch him in his smug face. He was trying to provoke us now. That meant he knew she was alright or he would have been doing the same thing we were — trying to find her.
With one final glare, Tate and I left the professor there, standing in the hallway, the students all watching as if it were a mid-day drama show.
