Page 39 of Shadow Weaver
Good. Hold it for a minute,Madam Latrou said in my head.Good, very good, Miss Justice.
My stomach quivered with the need to cave, but I held strong. I was in control. I wouldn’t allow it to control me.
Refuel, just take a little. Now shut it down.
I drew in power, refueling in the heat that coursed through me.
Shut it down now.
I imagined a set of steel doors in my mind and slammed them closed.
The power cut off, and my eyes snapped open to Madam Latrou’s satisfied smile. “Well done. Next, we work on utilizing your caster ability while monitoring your use of the weave.”
“I want to learn to carry people without passing out.”
“One step at a time, Miss Justice. Let’s get you proficient at carrying yourself without draining your energy reserves first. Shadow casting uses a lot of energy, and it seems your shadow knight gene has allowed you to remain standing after each leap. But as your connection to the weave grows, it will demand a higher payment each time you draw from it.” She walked back toward the front of the class. “By the time a regular weaver has matured, he would have an amulet to protect him, allowing him to form a controlled circuit with the power, allowing him to refuel directly from the weave. You do not have that luxury. Amulets do not work for shadow casters. You need to learn to create this circuit by force of will. So, we will work on this.”
“And when do we start?”
“I have time after class.”
Normally, staying after class would have made me groan, but this was important. This was an ability that could benefit the shadow knights. I needed to hone it and fast. The fomorians were getting bolder right under our feet, and even though the knights had held them at bay for centuries, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something awful was about to happen. That something was going to go wrong.
* * *
The one-on-one sessionwith Latrou would take place in an hour. I’d popped in to see Payne, but he hadn’t been in the lab. No point trying to head back to the barracks. I considered going to the shadow cadet dorms. Maybe I could bug Larkin. In the end, Joti intercepted my loitering and steered me back to the weaver wing and into their lounge.
I’d never hung out in this part of the Academy before. It was plush, carpeted, painted, and plastered. The lounge had huge, cushy leather sofas and massive crimson floor cushions. Weavers sat around, sipping tea from china mugs, and there was even a silver serving trolley that was laden with cakes and sandwiches.
Nice.
Joti threaded an arm through mine and led me to a window seat past the curious gazes of weavers I’d yet to meet.
“Sit,” she said. “I’ll get some tea. How do you like it?”
“Two sugars and milk.”
“You got it.”
She left me to look out the window, down into the silver-tinged grounds below. The hothouse was visible from up there, and there was a tiny figure coming out of it, probably Master Herman, the herbs and toxins master.
“Is this seat taken?”
I groaned inwardly and then looked up at Kash. “Yeah. My invisible friend has it right now.”
He smirked and then sat down. “Your invisible friend has a comfortable lap.”
Why was he sitting with me? Was this some kind of Fiona trick? “What do you want, Kash?”
He pressed a hand to his chest, acting all wounded. “Ouch. I was simply wanting to keep you company.”
“I don’t need you to keep me company.”
His gaze was suddenly serious. “Then maybe I’m the one who wants some company.”
I arched a brow. “Then shouldn’t you be with Fiona? Won’t she get mad if she sees you with me?”
His jaw clenched. “Fiona doesn’t own me.”
