Her golden eyes met mine, and her smile widened. “I’ll meet you all back at the house!”
“We have to study for—” Dimitri started.
“I’ll be back in like ten minutes! Don’t get upset, overachiever!” She peeled off from her squad, and Zuko and Slater joined her as the rest headed back to the house.
She jogged the last few steps, her breath fogging the chilly spring air.
“Jesper,” she greeted me, almost bouncing. I had never struggled so hard not to look at a woman’s chest before. “Quick question! No, wait, two questions.”
April exhaled and wedged herself at my elbow. “He’s busy,” she told Rune. “We were reviewing my mentorship?—”
“We already have,” I dismissed April and turned to Rune. “What were your questions?”
“Can you make me more of those noodles? I want to go on a mission with you,” she rushed out in a breath. “When can I shadow you?”
April slid in front of me, putting herself between Rune and I. “He’s already mentoring me.”
Rune’s smile went sugar-sweet. “Aw. Too bad. Must be hard being around someone who shits their pants.”
“What?” I asked before I could stop myself. My mom had drilled it into my head not to ask women about their bowel movements, but…what?
April’s face went paper-white. “She’s lying,” she blurted, her voice jumping an octave. “I didn’t—it was poison! She did it!”
“April,” I said calmly. “Your review’s over. Run lock-picking drills. You can brief Gavin during class.”
“I—But—Jesper?—”
“Brief Gavin,” I repeated.
She stiffened. “Understood,” she muttered, turning and walking toward the academy. I didn’t feel good about that. I also didn’t feelbad,though.
Zuko leaned in behind Rune and murmured something that pulled a sound out of Rune I’d never heard her make before.
It was low, involuntary, andpleased.
Then, a sweeter scent of midnight orchid hit me an instant later. It was herarousal.
I took an instinctive step back, but my foot caught on the edge of a paving stone. I stumbled and caught myself, coughing into a fist as I did so.
Smooth, Jesper.
Rune tilted her head, studying me with unnerving gentleness. “So, noodles? Shadowing?”
“Any time,” I murmured before remembering to add, “Within reason, for the shadowing. You also have to check with your mom.”
Slater saluted me with two fingers that smelledexactlylike Rune’s arousal. “See you later, future brother-mate.”
“Future…what?” I blinked at him.
Zuko shot me a wink, and Rune blushed as she gave me a little wave bye.
Then, they drifted back toward the year-one house. Rune walked between them, her pretty green hair catching the sun like sea-glass.
My phone buzzed before I could collect myself.
Mom.
I headed toward the column holding up the gate to Academy Nexus. “Hey, Mom.”
