Page 28 of Radiant Shadows

“I will do that,” I agreed, “but let’s go to my room. The things we have to discuss are too sensitive for the lobby’s audience.”

He nodded, and as I led the way back to my room with long strides, I pulled out my phone and dialed Celeste.

“Good evening, Caesar,” she replied after two rings. “Did you find what you were hoping for?”

“No, not yet, but that’s not why I’m calling,” I said quickly. “Have you had any visions about an impending attack on the school?”

“No,” she answered, her voice lilting questioningly. “Why do you ask?”

The first signs of relief began to settle the tension in my muscles, but I wasn’t completely reassured yet. “Have there been any signs of proximity, either in the lake or at the subway?”

“No, none of our radar or senses have detected anything alarming,” she said, concern raising the pitch of her voice. “Do you have reason to believe there will be an attack?”

My shoulders relaxed, and suddenly, I felt both foolish and guilty for causing Celeste to worry unnecessarily.

“No,” I sighed. “I guess I’m just uneasy being away from the school. Paranoia is getting the best of me.”

She hummed in understanding. “I know it’s been a while since you’ve gone on any extended trips, and with the recent dangers, it makes sense that your fears might run away with you. But let me assure you that I’ve foreseen no such threats tonight—or tomorrow, for that matter. Enjoy this time away, Caesar. If anyone needs it, it’s you.”

“Thank you,” I said. “I’ll try.”

I hung up as we got to my room, then pulled out my key and unlocked the door. Pushing inside, I made my way to one of the armchairs and collapsed into it, letting out a heavy breath.

Julian closed the door and came to sit in the opposite armchair. “Is it just my imagination, or is it very cold in here?”

I groaned, the chill coating my face as if inspired to do so by Julian’s reminder. “Yeah. I left the window open while I went out for a flight.”

“Then it’s a good thing I brought this.” He set an expensive-looking glass bottle filled with brown liquid on the small coffee table between us. “That should warm you up quickly.”

“Where did that come from?” I asked, leaning forward to pick up the bottle and inspect it. Thirty-five-year-old Glen McKenna.

“I snagged these from the bar downstairs before I headed up here,” he replied, pulling two glass shot glasses from one of his jacket pockets. “I was of the same mind that we shouldn’t talk in the lobby, and I figured I could extend this as a peace offering for the conversation to come.”

“I didn’t even see you holding it,” I mused as he set the two glasses on the table and began to fill them with the scotch.

He held one of the brimming glasses toward me.

“I shouldn’t,” I protested with a shake of my head.

He sighed. “The mermaid told you to enjoy your trip. And do you really want to have this discussion sober?” He arched a dubious eyebrow at me.

I rubbed a hand over my face. He had a point. If we were really going to hash this out, I’d need more than one shot.

Chapter 11

Caesar

“You’re not trying to poison me, are you?” I asked as I accepted the glass, mostly joking at this point.

“Not today,” he replied with a smirk, picking up the other glass. “Besides, if I wanted to kill you, we both know I wouldn’t need poison.”

I chuckled. “You seriously think you could beat me in a fi—”

Before I’d even seen him move, a blurred and powerful hand whipped across my cheek, causing me to spill a few drops of my drink onto my pants.

“You asshole,” I barked, trading the glass to my other hand to shake off the wet one.

He shrugged, wearing a sly grin. “I was merely proving a point.”

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