scanning it for any sign of life, but there was none. It would be impossible to find her again since we were in different levels and different course studies. They didn’t put off-worlders in the kinds of strategy classes she would be in with her higher ranking bloodline.
She wasn’t there.
I crossed the empty space, skirting the fountain at a distance toward the direction of my building. There had to be a way to find out who she was and “accidentally” on purpose run in to her. I was determined not to let her slip through my fingers. I knew I would never meet anyone like her again.
A flicker of red caught my eye as I neared the mouth of the street leading away from the square. Would one of the Red Stars have followed me? I stopped in place and turned. But it was all wrong. Instead of a hint of red on the jacket this figure wore a full red cloak. It brought a distant image to my mind, but I couldn’t place the significance of it. I watched as they approached, sliding my cold hands into my pocket where I kept the weapon I’d been given.
When the person was a few feet from me she used both hands to lower the hood. There wasn’t enough light to make out her features, but I knew it was Jocelynn. I closed the distance between us and hesitated. She reached out for my arm and stepped into my body.
“I was about to leave.”
“I’m so sorry. I was held up.” I slid my arms around her waist feeling how the cold had seeped into her clothes.
She leaned into my warmth. “Any glancing eye can see us from a window. Let’s get off the street.”
“Where do you want to go? There’s got to be a tea shop still open.” I looked around, having a good grasp of my bearings in the city now.
“They will close soon. Your room?”
I stifled my surprise. “Sure…” Heat stirred in my gut.
She looked up at me, blue eyes gleaming. “Lead the way.”
Chapter Fourteen
Jocelynn
“Where were you last night?”
The words pulled me from the illusion of his arms. I clung to the warmth of his memory, as the hangings around my bed were thrown open, spilling bright light into my dark cavern.
“Fuck,” I groaned. “What are you doing up so early.”
“It’s after first bell.”
I bolted up. “What?” I rolled out of bed nearly taking Jacob out.
“Yeah.” Jacob brought a mug to his lips. “I was up before you were with that horrid female you helped the Baron push on me while you lay abed.”
I stared at him for a moment before ducking behind the screen to change. I threw on my guard uniform and stepped back out.
“She is sweet, just not the correct gender.” I tucked my sword under my arm and glanced at the mirror. I had no time to apply makeup before the conference. I would have to leave it until they did me up for the opening ceremony. I hooked the formal sword to my belt and pushed my hair up into a tie.
“Where did you go last night?”
I looked back at him, scrabbling. “I was at dinner while you ditched out.”
“See there is the flaw in your plan. Dear Aubrey told me how you had an early morning, so how shocked would I be to find you here, still abed, after the first bell?” He gripped his bicep with his opposite hand.
We never lied to each other. “I went out.” I gave up on my hair and stood before him.
“With the scab?”
“Jacob!”
“What do you want me to call him?” He set his cup down and pushed both hands into his hair.
“Call him by his name.”
“That was a test. This is becoming a thing, isn’t it?” His eyes searched mine.
I looked at my feet. “It’s not a thing. It’s me enjoying something that is just mine. It’s nothing more.” It was a thing. I was scared to admit it out loud, but I could think of nothing else. I wanted Jacob to leave so I could check to see if he’d messaged me this morning.
“Why do you insist on lying to me?”
I wouldn’t look at him as I scoured the room for my cloak. I couldn’t find where I had tossed it. “Because
She wasn’t there.
I crossed the empty space, skirting the fountain at a distance toward the direction of my building. There had to be a way to find out who she was and “accidentally” on purpose run in to her. I was determined not to let her slip through my fingers. I knew I would never meet anyone like her again.
A flicker of red caught my eye as I neared the mouth of the street leading away from the square. Would one of the Red Stars have followed me? I stopped in place and turned. But it was all wrong. Instead of a hint of red on the jacket this figure wore a full red cloak. It brought a distant image to my mind, but I couldn’t place the significance of it. I watched as they approached, sliding my cold hands into my pocket where I kept the weapon I’d been given.
When the person was a few feet from me she used both hands to lower the hood. There wasn’t enough light to make out her features, but I knew it was Jocelynn. I closed the distance between us and hesitated. She reached out for my arm and stepped into my body.
“I was about to leave.”
“I’m so sorry. I was held up.” I slid my arms around her waist feeling how the cold had seeped into her clothes.
She leaned into my warmth. “Any glancing eye can see us from a window. Let’s get off the street.”
“Where do you want to go? There’s got to be a tea shop still open.” I looked around, having a good grasp of my bearings in the city now.
“They will close soon. Your room?”
I stifled my surprise. “Sure…” Heat stirred in my gut.
She looked up at me, blue eyes gleaming. “Lead the way.”
Chapter Fourteen
Jocelynn
“Where were you last night?”
The words pulled me from the illusion of his arms. I clung to the warmth of his memory, as the hangings around my bed were thrown open, spilling bright light into my dark cavern.
“Fuck,” I groaned. “What are you doing up so early.”
“It’s after first bell.”
I bolted up. “What?” I rolled out of bed nearly taking Jacob out.
“Yeah.” Jacob brought a mug to his lips. “I was up before you were with that horrid female you helped the Baron push on me while you lay abed.”
I stared at him for a moment before ducking behind the screen to change. I threw on my guard uniform and stepped back out.
“She is sweet, just not the correct gender.” I tucked my sword under my arm and glanced at the mirror. I had no time to apply makeup before the conference. I would have to leave it until they did me up for the opening ceremony. I hooked the formal sword to my belt and pushed my hair up into a tie.
“Where did you go last night?”
I looked back at him, scrabbling. “I was at dinner while you ditched out.”
“See there is the flaw in your plan. Dear Aubrey told me how you had an early morning, so how shocked would I be to find you here, still abed, after the first bell?” He gripped his bicep with his opposite hand.
We never lied to each other. “I went out.” I gave up on my hair and stood before him.
“With the scab?”
“Jacob!”
“What do you want me to call him?” He set his cup down and pushed both hands into his hair.
“Call him by his name.”
“That was a test. This is becoming a thing, isn’t it?” His eyes searched mine.
I looked at my feet. “It’s not a thing. It’s me enjoying something that is just mine. It’s nothing more.” It was a thing. I was scared to admit it out loud, but I could think of nothing else. I wanted Jacob to leave so I could check to see if he’d messaged me this morning.
“Why do you insist on lying to me?”
I wouldn’t look at him as I scoured the room for my cloak. I couldn’t find where I had tossed it. “Because
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