Darla handed me dry clothes and pulled out a screen so I could change with a little privacy. The tunic and pants she provided smelled of soap and were soft against my chilled skin, while the wool socks were a hug for my feet. I shrugged my coat back on and stepped out from behind the screen, clutching my wet clothes.
She held out her hands for them. “I’ll pass them to Domestic for laundering.” I handed over the bundle. “Keep that bandage on for a day. Then you’ll need to clean the area and rebandage. If you’re staying, Old Vitra can summon me for you,” Darla said. “Now, off with you. I have work to do.” She went back to her desk, to her notes and pestle and mortar, dismissing us.
I followed Talbot back into the corridor. “Who’s Old Vitra?”
“Your Tower Master, and he’s expecting you.”
Another arch led to a flight of steps that took us to a circular room bathed in a rainbow of colors spilling from the many windows that made up the walls.
The nighttime landscape was visible through each colorful haze. Shadowy shapes jutted up in the distance—towers and, somewhere in between, a majestic castle that seemed to rise above it all, balanced on a jagged, jutting section of land.
“Impressive, isn’t it?” Talbot said. “Main Building sits on an island in an inlet at sea. Only way in or out is by port or bridge. You’ll need the azure window to get to Bramble Tower.”
Wait a second. “You want me to step through a window?”
“No, I want you to step through aport, which is what the windows are.”
“That’sa port?” I pointed at the azure window through which I could clearly see the outside world. “If my gut didn’t tell me otherwise, I’d think you were trying to finish the job your radio man started.”
Talbot snorted. “If I wanted you dead, I wouldn’t have alerted the Hunters that you were in trouble.”
“Good point.” I took a deep breath. I bloody hated heights, but I’d learned to keep my weaknesses and strengths close to my chest. So I shrugged, overtly unconcerned. “Okay, here goes.”
I climbed the steps to the window, offered Talbot a jaunty salute, and before I could overthink it, stepped through the window.
My stomach dropped.
And I fell.
CHAPTER 6
We will rebuild and we will prevail. Our world is not broken, merely changed, and in time we will find a way to coexist with the threads of magic that have found their way into our world. Technology is malleable, and in time we will prove it.
YURI REGINALD (FIRST CUSTODES HOMINUM ADDRESS 1 A.O.)
The wind whistled in my ears as the world tipped topsy-turvy and inside out. A scream bubbled up my throat, rage aimed at that bastard Talbot, but before I could release it, I landed hard on the ground with a muffledugh.
The ground…
Oh, thank the heavens.
I pressed my cheek against the cool wood and hugged the floor, barely registering the click of heels until a pair of shiny black boots appeared in my eyeline.
A moment later, a deep, rumbly male voice drawled, “I’m no stranger to women metaphorically falling at my feet, but this is new.”
I scrambled to my feet, coming eye level with taut, brown pectorals—partially exposed because the maroon shirt he wore was too tight to do up the buttons. Normally, that would have been enough to put me off, but then I spotted the intricate ink decorating his decidedly masculine arms, also on display because his sleeves were rolled up.
My weakness for inked men kicked in, fingers itching to investigate him.
“Have you finished taking in the view?” he asked coolly.
My gaze whipped up to the kind of face that belonged on a work of art—chiseled lovingly into planes and sharp lines, softened by pillowy lips. He arched a dark eyebrow, his tawny eyes flat and hard. Hunter eyes. They assessed me like I was new and interesting prey, but the goosebumps that brushed over me had nothing to do with fear and everything to do with anticipation.
“Don’t worry,” he continued. “There’ll be plenty of time for you to eye-fuck me in class if you’re permitted entry to the Academy.”
Perfect, he was one ofthoseguys—gorgeous and completely aware of it. Totally off-putting.
My fascination with this stunning male faded. “I have a policy againsteye-fuckingarrogant assholes.” I expected him to make a cutting or smart remark back, but he simply stared at me as if he could see right through me, and my stomach trembled. I didn’t need this shit. “Where’s Old Vitra? He’s expecting me.”
