Page 137 of Veiled

Even though I ran it barely three days ago, I still have to fight the reflex to veer onto the course when it comes into view, muscle memory tugging at me like an itch I can’t quite scratch.

I’m surprised when I see Korr, sweaty and shirtless, on the second wooden wall climb. I must look ragged based on the way he disapprovingly looks me over. We exchange nods as I pass, but I feel his eyes tracking me until I turn off to another running path.

“Who is he and what did he do?” Tyr growls.

“What do you mean? He’s my combat instructor.”

“Uh huh…Now the rest of the story.”

Clearly, I’m not getting away from this conversation that easily.

“I just flirted with him a few times before Aiden and I were together. He seemed to return the affection, which was great until I learned he was a slimy bastard who was cheating on his girlfriend. So now I just try not to think about it, or him, even when I’m in his class—which is made even easier by him turning into a gigantic asshole ever since.”

I add a few extra turns through the forest—nothing crazy, just enough to know I’m not being followed.

“Want me to kill him? His bonded is a Beta, and I’m sure she’ll be mad, but that’s a fight I’m willing to have.”

“No, now that I know he’s just a shitty person, his bullshit remarks just fuel me to work harder in class.

“Oh, and please don’t tell Matt you offered to cover up a murder for me. He’ll get way too excited and will try picking up the Lucas assassination plans again,” I plead.

“On the condition you put some effort into this and actually sprint.”

Thanks to his push, I make it to the vault with fifteen minutes to spare. Aiden is already waiting for me at the top of the steps leading down into the vault.

“Tyr, I’ve got her now,” Aiden says a little louder than necessary with Tyr’s dragon hearing, then he gives me a soft kiss on my slightly sweaty cheek and leads me down into the hidden room.

We’re only a few steps in when Captain Lin approaches us, “Wells and Corvin, I need you to see me after class.”

“What do you think that's about?” I ask Aiden.

“No idea, but I guess we'll find out after class,” he shrugs as I take the seat next to Matt. Soon after, Antonio and Sasha walk in, holding hands, and slide into the open seats on the other side of Aiden.

Since becoming official, they’ve practically been inseparable. Their permanent smiles and giggles are the cutest to watch! Her bubbly personality pulls him from being so quiet, and his adventurous side has her trying all kinds of new foods and activities—some Aiden and I hear when she forgets to move her speaker by the wall.

“Did you find it?” I ask Aiden, holding my breath for his answer.

“No, sorry, Sweetheart. I checked everywhere.”

Tears fill my eyes as I turn to Matt.

“Lee, what’s wrong?”

“Is there any chance you’ve seen my anklet? I swear I was being careful with it,” I sniffle, trying not to cry in class. “But it’s just gone. I put it on my jewelry tray before we went to the beach, and I haven’t been able to find it ever since.”

“Hey—it’s okay. You were probably due for another one anyway. You’ve worn it more than most people probably ever wear theirs.”

“But I still want to wear it, Mattey.”

He leans over in his chair, hugging me from the side. “I’ll look through my stuff and see if it got caught in there, okay? And if not, we’ll get you another one.”

“No, you can’t do that.”

“I can, and I will…if we can’t find yours. Okay?”

“Okay…” I concede before Antonio starts recalling stories from the beach while we wait for the rest of the class to arrive.

“Attention, everyone,” Captain Lin says once everyone is seated. “Rather than teaching the same thing twice, we decided to bring in both companies for a joint lesson. Today you’re going to be working on the ins and outs of logistics planning. While most of your missions have the details worked out for you, not everything can be planned in advance, and everything will not always go according to plan.