“Dinner?” I blink a few times. Why does it feel like Amund is asking me out on a date? My heart starts to speed up, which is ridiculous. I catch myself quickly. It’s just to exchange information, that’s all. “Where?”
“The dining hall.” He hesitates. “If you’re okay with that.”
The last time we were there together was when I was attacked.
I force myself to nod.
Amund takes a sheath and fastens it to a belt before securing it around my waist. “There. Now you’ll be able to defend yourself, but you still need to be careful. Especially around Isaac. Don’t let him know you’re suspicious or do anything that could provoke him.”
His concern startles me, catching me off guard.
“Don’t worry about me. And… thank you,” I say, my voice coming out too breathy.
Warmth spreads across my cheeks when I think of his strong hands guiding me. Why am I being like this? I’ve held plenty of hands, kissed plenty of boys, but I’ve never felt so embarrassed before. Somehow, training with Amund feels intimate in a way none of those things did.
Embarrassed or not, I’m grateful he’s helping me learn how to protect myself.
Amund doesn’t seem to notice my awkwardness. “You’re welcome.”
CHAPTER THIRTYAMUND
“Curfew is in effect,” Father says, leaning over the map. Two days have passed since I trained Edith, and I have nothing to show for it. That changes tonight.
Eight of us crowd around the table, the office too small for so many hunters. Since the attack, our patrols have doubled. Curfew was put in place for students so we can comb through each campus. No distractions. No mistakes.
“Amund, Valerie, you take the berserkr campus.”
I nod, exchanging a glance with Val.
Odds are Isaac will be on that campus if he’s out tonight. Which means Val or I will be the one to stop him. Of course, unless I capture the killer myself, I will have failed. It doesn’t matter to Father if the killer is caught. It only matterswhocatches him.
It must be me.
While Father continues handing out assignments, I try to focus. He will be expecting results. It’s already been well over a week since Edith was attacked. Nothing has happened since, but we’re also no closer tocapturing the one responsible. If I can’t catch Isaac tonight, hopefully Edith will confirm he’s the killer tomorrow. We have to get him before he kills again.
“Shoot down any animal,” Father finishes, surprising me.
“What?” Dorian asks. “I thought we weren’t allowed—”
“You have my permission,” Father says. “No student should be out after curfew without an escort, let alone transformed. We have to nip this problem in the bud before the Unity Celebration. I don’t care how you do it. Just get it done.”
Dorian nods, his lips quirking into a satisfied smirk. “Understood.”
Looking around the room, I realize none of the other hunters will hesitate.
Except for Val. She looks as uncomfortable as I feel. Ever since Tala called her out, she must be having doubts. Not just Tala. Idris too. Perhaps even my argument in class as well. Maybe we’re finally getting through to her about berserkir.
“Dismissed,” Father says gruffly.
This is no ordinary night. No ordinary patrol.Shoot to kill.Father has never said that before. We’re not playing games anymore. The pressure is on all of us, especially me. None of us speak. Everyone is focused on the task ahead, running through our routes in our minds.
Outside, Val joins me. “You ready, Amund?”
“I always am,” I say, ignoring my own discomfort. “Are you?”
Val hesitates before nodding. “Let’s get this over with.”
The berserkr campus is quiet. No one in sight. I move as if I’m on a hunt in the Wilds, keeping my feet low and quick, surveying each area before proceeding to the next. My bow is ready. This ends soon, one way or the other.
