Page 80 of Harbinger

“This is serious then,” Vorzyr worried.

“All the more reason for you to stay out of it.”

“You mean, stay away from you, because you’re upset with me?”

“No.I don’t need you to stay away from me. We can hang out. The other night was fun. Besides, Kai admitted that he didn’t influence as much as I thought he did. And he wouldn’t lie about that. He likes taking credit for his puppet mastery.”

“No doubt,” Kai agreed. He winked at Vorzyr. “You’re welcome.”

“Us connecting is what’s caused issues in the first place,” Vorzyr pointed out.

Kai waved his hand. “Back to the matter at hand. If I’m going to do you a favor, I want something in return.”

“Of course you do.” She screwed up her face. “I’m not giving you sex for payment.”

Kai was the one looking disgusted then. “I’d hope not. You’re not a hooker.”

She frowned. “What is it then?”

“During the class we have together next, we all need to partner up in pairs. I want you to partner with Vorzyr.”

“What? Why?”

“It’s just what I want.”

“And that’s it?” she asked, skeptically.

“That’s it.”

“Fine,” she agreed. “So, don’t teleport out of class right away once it’s over like you usually do. Stay behind and then we’ll discuss what I need your help with.” She eyed me. “You too, cutie pie.” With that, she rose to her feet, then strode on out of theCafeteria, her little black skirt swaying with her hip movements, and her thick heels clacking on the floor.

“She called me cutie pie,” I told the guys. “She likes me best.”

Kai gave me a withering look.

“Well, that couldn’t have gone worse,” Vorzyr grumbled. “I thought she was taking time to process what had happened between us. Apparently, I couldn’t have been more wrong. She thinks I was just using her the entire time.”

“Not to worry. Things will turn around sooner than you think.”

“How? She just cut me out.”

“And I pulled you back in. Class today, remember?”

“Pairing us up, yeah. What was that all about?”

“Just let it play out. If I explain it, you’ll get all up in your head, when your reactions need to be natural.”

As Vorzyr frowned at him, trying to figure it out despite what Kai was saying, Kai took a bite of his éclair, then asked me, “So, how about we discuss how you’d like me to punish Sorin and his acolytes?”

“It’s been dealt with. It’s fine.”

“I strongly disagree.”

“As do I,” Vorzyr said. “They came at you. That can’t stand.”

“Ariana took care of it.”

“She took care of it nicely,” Vorzyr countered.

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