The room was fuzzy, but I peered at the instructors from my hunched position. I panted, “I passed, right?”
“You’re the first person to pass who hasn’t come out of there with tears running down their face.” The instructor’s head tilted in curiosity. “How did you know to close your eyes?”
I stood up and stretched, the dizziness gone. “The vents. They have the smallest amount of yellow residue around the rims inside.”
Godric leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees. “I do have a question, Ms. Carvene.”
“Okay.” I eyed him with wariness.
“Do you have any suggestions on how to make it harder?”
My eyes widened in surprise. “Um…yes. If you switched the gas order, then it would be near impossible for someone to leave the room without tears.”
He sat back in his chair and stared at the glass room. “I’ll speak with Mr. Cooper about it. Thank you for the suggestion.”
I tipped my head. “You’re welcome.” Then I pointed inside the room. “Someone may want to call a medic. I hit him pretty hard.”
Godric grunted. “Yes, we saw.”
One male instructor groaned, disappointment in his eyes, staring at the prone body on the floor of the glass room. “What a shame. Victor had so much potential too.”
I walked down the stairs with an extra pep in my step. “Not as much as me. Obviously.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX
Black hands with razor sharp nails swiped at my face.
I screeched and ducked.
Creatures with black leather skin and no eyes, their shape like humans surrounded the grassy field I stood on. Their numbers were as far as the eye could see, fanning the hill in their darkness. My bare toes dug into the dirt beneath, and my hands clenched into shaking fists.
I shouted, “What are you?”
The black creatures pulled closer.
Their mouths opened as wide as my head.
Neon green shone from within.
The light called to me.
I screamed…
My bedroom door slammed open.
I jerked up in my bed, my eyes flying wide. The blanket twisted around my legs, the soft sheet still clutched in my shaking fists against my chest. Sweat drenched my clothes and dampened my hair. I panted as my eyes darted from side to side, the sun almost rising—enough to light my room through the windows in a subdued glow.
Godric stormed past the entrance of my door that he had cracked in his haste to enter, his nostrils flared and his eyes alert as he scanned the small area. His navy blue pajama pants swooshed with each step he took, checking my bathroom and closet. The useless weapon he thought was dangerous was gripped in his right hand.
Finn stopped just inside my room.
He was only wearing his boxers.
Although, he did hold a wicked blade.
I panted and wiped the sweat from my forehead. The dream had been terrifying. I shook my head to dislodge the memory, my red hair whipping across my shoulders.
“What’s wrong, Poppy?” Godric asked, his search done. The usual beautiful melody of his voice had disappeared, and in its place was a deadly cadence. He placed his weapon on my bedside, still close to him, and sat down on the edge of my bed. His hip pressed against mine. “Did someone break in?”
