Amber's sentiments were clean and simple. Concern, worry, and genuine care for Dylan. It was a different affection than I'd expected. Almost like what you'd have for a sibling or friend.
"We don't have a choice," he muttered.
She placed a hand on his arm. "We should act like we're doing what they want."
Jagged frustration jolted through him and he pulled away.
Shoving hands into his pockets, he headed back to the main campus. Tendrils of anger and helplessness continued to snake off him.
Amber's expression shifted and her shoulders dropped in a silent sigh. After a few moments, she followed, worry and determination trailing behind her.
Unnerved by the encounter, I reeled in my magic and slowly continued up the dirt road toward the bluff.
Why did Dylan say they had no choice? Redavi didn't answer to anyone. Both Amber and Dylan's immediate relatives sat on the Governing Council. They were the darling heirs of their families with big inheritances ensuring a trouble-free future.
But emotions didn't lie.
And what my magic sensed left me uncomfortably considering the possibility that maybe Amber wasn't a total self-involved, Grade-A bitch.
But more disturbing was Dylan. He suppressed things he didn't want to think about. Things he wanted to forget. Desperately trying to control them so they wouldn't control him.
I shivered at the idea that he and I might have something in common.
" Viens-tu du ciel profond ou sors-tu de l'abîme, O Beauté? " a smooth, male voice said.
Moonlight draped across sexy features and unwavering confidence shone through dark blue eyes. Instead of his usual jeans and casual attire, Julian was dressed in a dark grey coat and elegant clothes that hugged his toned frame.
The warm, provocative scent I associated with him wrapped around me.
"What?"
He motioned to the battered copy of Baudelaire's Fleurs du Mal tucked under his arm before translating. "Do you come from the Heaven or rise from the abyss, Beauty?"
His tone was annoyingly seductive.
"You're back."
"Missed me?"
I ignored the question. "Anything new?"
He shook his head, but didn't say anything. Impatience coursed through me.
"Where did you go?"
"Can't tell you."
"Did you find any leads? Anything to follow up on?"
"Can't tell you."
"Can't or won't?"
"Does it matter?"
Frustrated, I narrowed my eyes.
"Why were you at Nexa's?" There was nothing else up here.
He looked highly amused. "I needed to talk to her about something. But she wasn't in."
Now that was interesting.
Given the bits and pieces I'd gotten out of others, I was convinced Nexa was a super-spy doing covert work for elementals. Like Julian, her unexplained absences sent my curiosity into overdrive.
Maybe the two of them were working together.
"A talk about your latest trip?" I asked casually.
His smirk made it clear I hadn't fooled him. "Classified information, darling. Way out of your league."
This was ridiculous. If he shared what he knew, I could help him.
Those nasty demons were crawling around taking people. Selling and turning them. Killing them.
I wanted…no, I needed to go after them. Whatever it took for me to get to the Shadow and do my job.
"Why can't you tell me?"
"Because you're a student and not a chevalier." His lazy smile ratcheted my irritation up another notch. "Unlike me."
"All that matters is I'm the sondaleur ," I countered. "Finding the Shadow is my business."
"Until you're officially inducted, you're not allowed access to security issues. When I have more information on the identity and location of the Shadow, you'll know."
God, I wanted to wipe that self-satisfied look off his face.
I tried a different tactic. "I'll eventually find another way to get the information I want. So you might as well tell me."
"You know what I find interesting?" His voice lowered, its lilt almost hypnotic. "You're always asking me to share things with you. And yet you don't extend me the same courtesy."
"What do you mean?"
"Did anything new or
"We don't have a choice," he muttered.
She placed a hand on his arm. "We should act like we're doing what they want."
Jagged frustration jolted through him and he pulled away.
Shoving hands into his pockets, he headed back to the main campus. Tendrils of anger and helplessness continued to snake off him.
Amber's expression shifted and her shoulders dropped in a silent sigh. After a few moments, she followed, worry and determination trailing behind her.
Unnerved by the encounter, I reeled in my magic and slowly continued up the dirt road toward the bluff.
Why did Dylan say they had no choice? Redavi didn't answer to anyone. Both Amber and Dylan's immediate relatives sat on the Governing Council. They were the darling heirs of their families with big inheritances ensuring a trouble-free future.
But emotions didn't lie.
And what my magic sensed left me uncomfortably considering the possibility that maybe Amber wasn't a total self-involved, Grade-A bitch.
But more disturbing was Dylan. He suppressed things he didn't want to think about. Things he wanted to forget. Desperately trying to control them so they wouldn't control him.
I shivered at the idea that he and I might have something in common.
" Viens-tu du ciel profond ou sors-tu de l'abîme, O Beauté? " a smooth, male voice said.
Moonlight draped across sexy features and unwavering confidence shone through dark blue eyes. Instead of his usual jeans and casual attire, Julian was dressed in a dark grey coat and elegant clothes that hugged his toned frame.
The warm, provocative scent I associated with him wrapped around me.
"What?"
He motioned to the battered copy of Baudelaire's Fleurs du Mal tucked under his arm before translating. "Do you come from the Heaven or rise from the abyss, Beauty?"
His tone was annoyingly seductive.
"You're back."
"Missed me?"
I ignored the question. "Anything new?"
He shook his head, but didn't say anything. Impatience coursed through me.
"Where did you go?"
"Can't tell you."
"Did you find any leads? Anything to follow up on?"
"Can't tell you."
"Can't or won't?"
"Does it matter?"
Frustrated, I narrowed my eyes.
"Why were you at Nexa's?" There was nothing else up here.
He looked highly amused. "I needed to talk to her about something. But she wasn't in."
Now that was interesting.
Given the bits and pieces I'd gotten out of others, I was convinced Nexa was a super-spy doing covert work for elementals. Like Julian, her unexplained absences sent my curiosity into overdrive.
Maybe the two of them were working together.
"A talk about your latest trip?" I asked casually.
His smirk made it clear I hadn't fooled him. "Classified information, darling. Way out of your league."
This was ridiculous. If he shared what he knew, I could help him.
Those nasty demons were crawling around taking people. Selling and turning them. Killing them.
I wanted…no, I needed to go after them. Whatever it took for me to get to the Shadow and do my job.
"Why can't you tell me?"
"Because you're a student and not a chevalier." His lazy smile ratcheted my irritation up another notch. "Unlike me."
"All that matters is I'm the sondaleur ," I countered. "Finding the Shadow is my business."
"Until you're officially inducted, you're not allowed access to security issues. When I have more information on the identity and location of the Shadow, you'll know."
God, I wanted to wipe that self-satisfied look off his face.
I tried a different tactic. "I'll eventually find another way to get the information I want. So you might as well tell me."
"You know what I find interesting?" His voice lowered, its lilt almost hypnotic. "You're always asking me to share things with you. And yet you don't extend me the same courtesy."
"What do you mean?"
"Did anything new or
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