Page 93 of Shadow Master
Kash grabbed a mug and poured coffee before planting a kiss on my cheek.
The troop ambled in next, taking their usual spots, and breakfast was truly underway.
* * *
With breakfast over,no one wanted to move. We lounged on the sofas in our PJs, enjoying the quiet time.
“Lessons start tomorrow,” Devon said with a groan. “I don’t see the point.”
Neither had the rest of the cadets, but Brunner had been adamant and allocated them all dorm rooms in the main Academy. She’d capitulated to me, though, allowed me and the guys to keep the shadow cadet dorms. She hadn’t commented on the fact Hyde was staying with us. Everything was fucked up because technically the shadow cadets were graduated. Done. Hyde was no longer our tutor. But now … Everything was up in the air.
“I guess they’ll want to train us as Nightwatch agents now,” Aidan said.
“We would so kick ass,” Devon said.
The thought of sitting behind a desk for five hours a day studying made my head ache, but there was no need for shadow knights any longer. The militia had mostly retreated to Fomoria; only the wounded remained, and Harmon was helping Abram and the league take care of them. We’d housed them all in barracks for now.
“We’re stuck here until the port is opened from the other side,” Hyde said. “When Orion got here, he told me that they’d given a special key to the head weaver. Once the threat is clear, she’ll unlock the port from that side. The weavers here will sense that and bring down the wards.”
But there was no way of knowing when that would happen. Not everyone was trapped, though. Larkin and Payne had gotten out, not into our world, but into another reality. Staying here was too dangerous for them both, but they’d be back. I was sure of it.
Meanwhile, we’d play the waiting game.
The intercom buzzed, and Hyde arched a brow. “Anyone expecting visitors?” he asked.
There was a chorus of no.
Hyde left his seat to get the call, and then Orion’s voice filled the room.
“Hyde. I’d like a word, please,” he said, his tone clipped and businesslike.
I tensed, and Brady sat forward in his seat.
“I’ll be right down,” Hyde said.
“I’m coming with you.” I stood and tucked my feet back into my slippers.
“No.” Hyde looked to Brady. “Keep her here. Keep her safe.”
He walked out of the room quickly, leaving me breathless with panic. “Orion can’t hurt him. He can’t do anything right now, not without it being obvious he did it, right?”
Brady stood beside me and put an arm around my waist. “No. Hyde will be fine.”
Then why had he asked Brady to keep me safe?
Kash headed to the exit. “I’ll go check.”
I nodded gratefully.
Long minutes passed, and then the door slammed, and the sound of footsteps approached. Kash entered first, his expression unreadable.
I stared at him. “What? What happened? Where’s Hyde?”
Hyde entered the room, looking shell-shocked.
“Hyde?” Brady prompted.
“He released me,” Hyde said. “He released me from his bloodline.” He let out a small, incredulous laugh. “I’m no longer a Hyde.”
