Page 55 of The Stone Secret
I squeezed his fingers. “And you can stay here, in the dorm. This room can be yours now.”
He looked over his shoulder at the bed. “I sleep here?”
“Yep.”
“And train with Mr. Yarrow?”
“Right.”
“Will Cam be there?” He looked up at me hopefully.
“I’ll try, but I might have other lessons.”
“I’ll come with you if Cam can’t,” Shar said. “Consider me your orientation buddy for the next few weeks.”
Derek tensed, then leaned in toward me to whisper, “She too pretty.” Only problem was, his whisper was more a stage whisper, but when I looked over at Shar, I found her studiously looking out the window, the twin spots of color on her cheeks the only evidence that she’d heard.
I patted Derek’s shoulder. “Maybe, when you feel braver, you can tell her that. I’m sure she’ll be flattered.”
“We’ll need sheets for the bed,” Shar said quickly. “And do you eat?”
“I need no sustenance,” Derek said almost regretfully.
“Okay, but you can still come hang out at mealtimes with us.”
Derek looked to me for permission. I shrugged. “Your choice, Derek.”
“My choice…” He smiled. “I would like that.”
“How about I show you around the dorm house while Cam goes to training?” Shar said.
Once again, Derek looked to me for permission. I guessed it would take time for him to break away from needing my say-so and instruction. “Would you like that, Derek?”
He seemed to consider it for a moment. “Yes. Yes, I would.”
“Okay, so I’ll see you guys for supper.”
“You’re not eating with the elite tonight?” Shar asked.
“They eat late, so I can come and nibble with you guys first.”
“We’ll see you later, then,” Shar said.
I dropped a kiss on Derek’s shadowy head, then headed out, leaving him in Shar’s capable hands.
* * *
This time,when I walked into the gym, I was ready for Serath’s presence, but my mate wasn’t there. Instead, Selas and Orix stood chatting on the mats, but they broke off their conversation as soon as they noticed me.
I guessed they didn’t want me overhearing their business. Fine by me. I wasn’t officially elite yet. “Where’s Serath?”
“He’ll be along shortly,” Orix said. “But we should get started.”
I rolled my shoulders. “I am so ready. Let’s do this.”
Orix’s smile was undoubtedly wicked. “Don’t you want to know what we’ll be doing today?”
“Not when you say it like that, I don’t.”
