There’s a pause. My heart is beating so loud I swear it’s on the outside of my chest. I look down just to check. It’s not.
‘No. Not at this stage,’ Nicks replies.
‘And the others? Have we got a list yet?’
Another muffled response.
‘Fucking traitors!’ With a loud curse, something crashes against the door.
I jump back. My hands cover my mouth, but the small yelp has already escaped and there’s nothing I can do to take it back.
Shit.
‘What was that?’ one of them asks.
Double shit.
I don’t freeze this time. I bolt. My heart lodges itself in my throat as I sprint for the exit and yank the door open.
I push my way out of the building and continue sprinting across the manicured lawn, pumping my arms and legs as hard as they can go, but then I hear it. The slam of a door behind me – the pounding of boots against the earth.
Fuck.
The Grand Hall looms in front of me like a gargantuan shadow. My pace picks up as panic spears through me and I run faster. I just need to get inside and find someplace I can hide. Could I be quick enough to get into Malachite? What will happen if I’m caught? I don’t look over my shoulder to see who it is. I know it’s him. I can feel it – the weight of his gaze burning between my shoulder blades. The skin at the back of my neck prickles with awareness.
I reach the Grand Hall, slamming my palms against the doors and pushing my way inside. I can’t help but wonder who Nicks and Sebastian were talking about.Traitors?Were they referring to someone within these walls? Or did it concern what lies beyond them, further north?
Stars, just the mere thought of the north sends a shiver crawling down my spine. A vivid picture of the creatures my father once described to me plays across my mind. Shadow walkers. Mindless beings, with twisted limbs and skin that stretches over bone, stained black by the shadows they emerge from. Clawed hands that can rake through flesh like knives. No one knows how many there are over there or how they’re made. Only that every now and then, clusters of them will crawl throughonto our side of Valmora and tear through our people. It’s why our war camps are posted along the entirety of The Veil. It’s why we’re here in this very academy. To prepare for when The Veil eventually falls, because one day it will, and then and only then, will we finally know what we’re up against.
I shake the thought of the shadow walkers out of my head as I hear the Grand Hall doors slam, just as I reach the Malachite gate. I fumble for the stone in my pocket, my fingers shaking a little, but I’m too late.
‘Nocthare!’ he shouts.
I whirl around to find Sebastian storming toward me, boots thudding against stone like a war drum. My feet carry me back until I hit stone and can’t retreat any further. Sebastian’s green eyes are full of contempt as his wide frame crowds me against the wall beside the gate.
‘Did you really think you could run from me?’ he growls and it hits low in my stomach.
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ I lie, lifting my chin. I won’t cower under the weight of his gaze. So he can follow me, but I can’t do the same? Hypocrite.
His nostrils flare. ‘Don’t bullshit me. I saw you. Now what did you hear?’
‘That depends.’ I shrug. ‘How long haveyoubeen sneaking around with Professor Nicks? Hm? Does anyone else know about these secret meetings you have after dark?’
I don’t know why I’m riling him up about this. I’d told myself I was going to keep quiet until I knew more … but the look of panic in his eyes is priceless.
‘You have no idea what you’re talking about,’ he seethes, though there’s a spark of uncertainty in his eyes. ‘So keep your mouth shut.’
‘Or what?’ I challenge.
His eyes darken to the point where only a sliver of green on the outer ring of his iris is visible. ‘Or I’ll make your life a living hell.’
I’d laugh if I had the energy for it. ‘Too late for that, Zain. It already is one.’
‘It’s cute that you thinkthisis hell. It proves just how naive you are. Now hurry up,’ he orders, walking past me.
It takes me a second to process what he’s saying, and when I do, the look I give him is one of disbelief. ‘I’m not going in there with you.’ I scoff. ‘I’d rather sleep out here on the floor.’ Does he not remember the last time he ‘helped’ me through the gate? Hell, my knees are still aching from the collision.
‘You’ll get inside, acolyte, or I’ll drag you in there myself.’ The deadly calm of his threat makes my legs shake a little.
