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The Academy of Blood & Shadow

Page 262

by Océanne Rhéaume

Patrol. Partner looked away. Twenty seconds. Nyra circles one word beneath each. SEPARATION.

I frown. "Jonas wasn't alone."

"Not when you saw him."

"No."

"But we don't know what happened afterward."

Cassian leans forward. "So that's not confirmed."

"Correct."

Nyra writes a question mark beside Jonas. "Elara? Alone. Lysa? Briefly."

Caelen's expression tightens. "What are you suggesting?"

Nyra sits back. "Maybe the pattern isn't who."

She looks at us. "Maybe it's when."

"When they're alone." I say.

"Or isolated enough." Nyra corrects.

"Briefly unwatched." Cassian's humor is completely gone.

"Opportunity." Nyra nods.

The word chills the room. Not target. Opportunity.

"That means everyone." Cassian says.

"No." Nyra shakes her head. "It means potentially anyone who becomes accessible."

"That's everyone."

"Yes." There is no comfort in semantics.

I look toward Lysa's name. Twenty seconds. That's all it took.

"Does Neris know?" I ask.

"She will." Nyra answers.

"What about the Council?"

Cassian is already thinking ahead. "They'll make buddy restrictions mandatory."

"Probably." I nod.

"More patrol oversight."

"Probably."

"Students will panic."

Nyra looks toward him. "They're already scared."