“No,” he says, then turns but stops after a step or so. “You probably should put pants and shoes on, though.”
“Fuck,” she mutters, racing toward her room. In the blink of an eye, Kyzen has all our shoes gathered and is handing them to us.
“What kind of trouble are you in?” Creed asks.
Lambrit rubs the back of his neck. “None. Yet.”
“Damn, Lam-the-man. It’s not like you to get into some shit. That’s usually our thing.”
He cringes and turns from us.
“I know. We’ll be waiting on you all outside.”
Without another word, he stalks out our front door, and we all stare at each other.
“What in the realm has he done?” I ask.
They all shake their heads until they whip toward the racket coming from Thayla’s hall.
“I’m ready. I’m coming,” she hollers as she trips trying to put her shoe on while running. “Fuck.”
“Good thing you’ve already come, angel. I don’t think we have time for that now,” Riven teases and she scowls as she approaches us. Then her features morph into worry.
“Where did he go?”
“Outside. Come on.”
She laces her hand with Creed’s outstretched one and we race out our door. Sure enough, Yemi and her entire Valtrue are out here, plus Rose and Havar. All look like they were startled out of sleep.
It is well past bedtime.
No wonder Thayla came and distracted me.
“Everyone, starshoot outside the Athenaeum.”
“The Athenaeum?” We all repeat, and Lambrit huffs.
“Please, guys.”
I catch the concerned glance Yemi, Rose, and Thayla share, but nonetheless, we all nod. In seconds, we appear in front of the double doors, and he holds them open while we all pile in.
“I hope that same god I knocked out isn’t here,” Thayla whispers.
“Shit, I forgot you told us about that.” Riven laughs and we all glare at him as the sound echoes far and wide through the space.
“There are no guards here tonight. Follow me.”
For a fleeting second, we each gawk at Lambrit’s back, then sprint to catch up with him. My heart pounds louder in my ears the closer we get to where I know he’s going.
Valories, don’t let it be.
What has he done?
Sure enough, he slings the doors for the restricted hall open without a care in the realm. Kyzen and I glance at one another as he prepares his power.
“Lambrit, what the hell?” Thayla asks.
“Look, I know, just…just come on.”
