Page 57 of Shadow Warrior
Eighteen
“And when was the last time you saw Larkin?” Brunner asked.
I gnawed on my bottom lip, fake-thinking. “I think it must have been the day before the official end of term. I spoke to him briefly.” I shrugged. “After that, I went to Mirage Hills with Kash. I wanted to know my weaver side. They have a ball, you know?”
“Yes, I’ve heard,” Brunner said. “But you came back before the ball.”
“Right.” I rubbed my forehead. “I guess I wasn’t feeling well.”
“You guess?” Brunner looked speculative.
“Honestly, my head’s a little fuzzy on the topic.”
“Yes.” Brunner tapped a pen on her desk. “I spoke to Kash and his grandmother. She confirms you were feeling ill and that Kash brought you home. She also asked me to let you know you’re welcome back at any time. She said it doesn’t matter which weaver sired you, the Raj family will happily take you in.”
Of course they fucking would. They wanted my ability, my genes. Brunner’s words also reminded me about the alteration in everyone’s memory. I was tempted to mention my dad, to say Carter Payne out loud just to see her reaction, but the thought of a blank look on her face made me bite back the urge.
“I’m sorry. I wish I could help more.” I offered her a small, confused smile, and her stern expression softened.
Damn, my acting today was on point.
Brunner exhaled wearily. “That’s fine, Justice. If you see or hear anything, please let me know. Classes start tomorrow, and we’re going to need a new dorm master for the cadets. Can you pass this to Master Hyde, please?” She handed me an envelope. “I’m sure you’ll see him sooner than I will.”
Panic gripped me. Did she know about us? “What? Why would you think that?”
She frowned. “You are headed back to cadet duty, are you not? I was led to believe all cadets would be working in the mists until the new batch is unveiled.”
“Yes. Right.” I stood quickly and took the envelope. “I’ll pass it on.”
She gave me a wary look and then nodded. “Good, oh, and this arrived for Mr. Stonewall.” She handed me a brown padded envelope. “Brady Stonewall. He’s a second-year, do you know him?”
I nodded.
“The port showed he arrived an hour ago. Can you pass this to him?”
Brady was back? I took the package, eager to get away now. “I’ll get it to him.”
“Thank you, Miss Justice.”
I slipped quickly from the room and headed back to the cadet dorms. The halls were filled with voices, cadets returning from the break. Excitement fizzed in my veins as I pushed past them all and broke into a jog, keen to get to barracks five.
Brady was back.
* * *
Brady wasin the kitchens when I got to the barracks, and the unmistakable smell of cocoa filled the air. Nostalgia and all kinds of homey feelings flooded me. He had his back to me, joggers molded to his tight ass, tee stretched across his powerful back.
Mine.
He paused while reaching for a mug, then grabbed another.
He knew I was here.
“We have the place to ourselves, it seems,” he said. “Why don’t you change out of the armor, and we can talk.”
Unease stabbed at my chest. There was something in his tone. Something … wrong. “Brady?”
“Indigo … please.”
