Page 20 of Shattered Veil
The hair on my arm lifts.
I force my face to remain impassive, but my mind reels.“Which families?”
Azareon stands and stokes the fire in the hearth with a long poker.“That’s something we’re trying to find out.”
“How long?”
“Years. Decades. Ever since they sent the Raven King packing.” Azareon sits back down and picks up his mug of tea, taking a sip.
I lean back, processing.“Why tell me this?”
“Because you’ve recklessly involved yourself. Did you think your poking around wouldn’t get noticed?”
The hooded man speaks.“We’d rather have you on our side than against us. But if you betray us, we’ll slit your princely throat from ear to ear.” One of the shifters chuckles.
I stand abruptly.“I think we’re done here.”
As I move to leave, his words stop me cold:
“They’re after the girl.”
I freeze, hand on the doorknob. Brigid. Of course, it all comes back to her.
It’s colder than an ice mage’s tit and I curse at not being able to portal back to my room. The moon is high in the sky and there’s a frost ring around it. As I’m looking at the moon, I think of Rory. After I relay the information I learned tonight to Tiernan and Lochan, we need to focus on getting our friend back—alive and in one piece, preferably.
As I approach the academy gates, I feel a sense of being watched. Something’s off. The shadows seem to thicken and grow.
I freeze mid-step as a figure emerges from the darkness. Marius. His eyes glitter as he blocks my path.
“If it isn’t the little princeling, skulking around like a weasel.”
I allow myself half a second of picturing Marius’s head sliced off and rolling down the hill behind me. But the name of the game tonight is not drawing attention to myself, so I resist the urge to end him.“Just enjoying the night air.” I force a casual tone.
Marius steps closer.“Don’t play dumb. Though on second thought,” Marius examines his tattoo-covered hand,“You’re probably not playing.”
“What about you, Marius? What the fuck are you doing out here?”
His eyes narrow.“My business is my own. Stay out of it if you know what’s good for you.”
“Is that a threat?” I ask, my voice dangerously soft.
“Consider it friendly advice,” Marius sneers.
I step even closer, nearly nose to nose with him now.“When were we ever friends? Fuck off.”
For a moment I think Marius might actually take a swing at me.
But he just melts back into the shadows, like a fucking wraith.
I shake my head. The further that asshole stays away from Brigid, the better. I make a note to discuss how to make that happen with the guys when I get back to the suite.
I watch the spot where Marius vanished. Fucker thinks he can play mind games with me? Amateur hour.
As I make my way into the building, I notice that the academy hallways feel colder tonight. Darker. Like the shadows are watching me. Judging.
My feet carry me down familiar paths. Before I know it, I’m in Brigid’s hall.
Shit.
