Page 9 of Crime & Punishment
“Yes, well, Lera got caught,” Arisha told Gavriel, her voice hard. “Master Coal is punishing her as we speak—at River’s orders. I little need to tell you what those two do to new cadets.”
“Hmm.” Gabriel made a sound that was more intrigue than repentance. “That may work out in our favor quite nicely, in truth. And byourfavor, I mean the entire human race’s.”
Arisha’s brows narrowed. “Because the Protector needs extra experience in misery?”
“Because Leralynn must get those young men out of her thoughts so she can focus on the task at hand,” Gavriel said, leaning forward. “The girl insists that Tye, Coal, River, and Shade are all fae as well, the five being part of a Lunosquinttogether. Mates, in fact. According to Leralynn, a magical artifact she broke caused the men—males—to absorb the properties of the veil amulets they wore. The four believe themselves human.”
“Coal. River. Tye. Shade.” Arisha felt like a damn parrot, her understanding of the world spinning on its head. Her already fast pulse jumped again. Those names… They were an integral part of the Academy. Aninfluentialpart, whose actions could have a ripple effect through the entire Continental Alliance.Stars,River and Coal were in direct line of command of King Zenith’s daughter. And here Gavriel was, trying to put a bit into Lera’s mouth—which would inevitably affect her mates’ actions too. Did Gavriel not understand he’d be put to death for this? No, of course he didn’t. Uncle Gavriel was brilliant and kind and as disconnected from reality as his books.
Taking off his glasses, Gavriel wiped them on the corner of his robe. “I confess that Lera’s excursion last nightmighthave been motivated by a desire to find the broken artifact as much as my explicit instruction on a Protector’s duties, but it’s better to stay optimistic, don’t you think?”
“Optimistic?!” Arisha checked her voice. “You are trying to direct the Protector to do your bidding, and youroptimisticversion of events is that she obeys you blindly and stops fighting for her mates’ memories?”
“Lera is very young and easily distracted by amorous escapades,” Gavriel said defensively. “I’ve no nefarious agenda. I just wish to help her grow in her destiny and save as many lives along the way as possible.”
“No, Uncle. You want to help Lera grow into your vision of her destiny.” Arisha stood, her heart pounding against her ribs as she started to collect her books, her thoughts spinning too wildly to keep up with. Moving Gavriel’s papers aside, Arisha felt her hand brush against an odd disc, its runes unfamiliar but plainly fae made. She frowned, recalling River’s complaint of a missing pendant, and felt a cold shiver run down her spine. “What is that, Uncle Gavriel?”
8
Lera
Ican’t breathe. The icy water running over my face never stops, never lets up no matter how much I spit it out. I’m cold and I’m wet, and it feels like I’ve been so for days and years. The coarse wet fabric of my uniform rakes over my skin each time I move, sending shots of pain where it rubs over abrasions left by the branches we’d run through. At least the pain breaks up the freezing numbness.
Through it all, Coal’s blue eyes watch me with unwavering intensity, his whole body repeating a single word:leave.
“No.”I shout it into his face at first. And when I’ve no more energy to spare for that, I shout it in silence.
No.
Go to hell, or bring hell here.
I’m bloody staying.
When, some eons into the torment, I first hear a wolf’s howl, I think the noise is inside my mind. An exhausted wet body playing tricks on its sluggish mind. When the howl calls a third time, the familiar notes—along with Coal’s hands hauling me to the bank—shake me from my trance. The return to awareness is so harsh, I can’t hold back a choking sob that Coal pretends he doesn’t see.
“A stroke of fortune,” Coal says, his voice as cold as ever. “We’re going back indoors for now.”
I blink at him. I didn’t quit. Why—
“A storm is coming.” Coal points to the sky in answer to my silent question.
He’s right, I realize, still not moving. Sometime in the past hour, the wind has picked up and now screams through the pine branches, the gray skies already leaking rain. Theplop plop plopof fat drops hitting the stream sends a stab of fear through me, though I can’t quite understand why.
“Leralynn.” Coal’s chiseled face and blond hair fill my vision. A moment later, he grabs my shoulder, shaking me roughly. “Leralynn!”
I blink at him.
Coal’s gaze surveys me once, then stays on my eyes. When he speaks, his voice is as certain and commanding as the storm itself. “Listen to me. Can you walk?”
A wind-curled swirl of spray from the stream hits my face.Wind. Rain. Storm. It finally hits me then, the reason why the rain sent the shock of fear through me. Soon, maybe already, the tablet and my tracks—my only hopes of getting the males’ memories back—will be gone. Washed away.
“No,” I whisper. My halting breath and racing heart now have nothing to do with the chill. I struggle to my knees, my numb hands giving way, though Coal stops me from falling. Even as he does, I seek my landmarks. Plot my course.
“On your feet, Cadet.” Coal wraps his warm, muscled arm around me. “I will help you.”
No.I push away from him, landing myself right back in the stream.
Coal curses. Reaches for me again.
