I consumed my breakfast in which dumplings had an alarming prevalence and picked up my tray. “Have to drop Trix, I’ll meet you guys in class.”
Mari and Matt both had full mouths, but they nodded. Talakai lifted his fork, which I took as his acknowledgment.
Trix and I walked out of the cafeteria and took the stairs down to the staff quarters on the third floor.
As soon as I exited the stairwell, I ran into Cody and Ryan. They had large bags of gear slung over their shoulders—I assumed for the weapons class coming up after special abilities and the run.
“Hey, Anna. Kitani and the twins are already out the back. Can you meet her out there? I was going to take Trix to her, but we’re behind schedule. We have targets ready in the field—just need to get the coliseum prepared for the theory part of the class.”
“Yeah, no biggie,” I agreed with a smile, turning around. They continued on to the coliseum entrance while I reentered the stairwell with Trix.
As I pushed through the back door, I noticed the long line of targets set up at the far end. And the twins, standing at their mother’s feet and arguing. It was a rather unique mix of stilted toddler sentences and Sabre hissing and growling.
It all vanished with our emergence, altering to squeals of excitement. But Kitani appeared a trifle flustered.
As I let Trix off her leash and the girls shifted to beast to romp, she shot me an apologetic smile. “I forgot our pack upstairs. Can you watch them for a minute?”
I surveyed the tumbling mass of snarling, hissing, and barking fur and decided I’d rather do the fetching. “I can get it.”
Her lips twitched, but she handed me her key. “It’s on the counter. Can’t believe I forgot it.”
“Be right back.” I checked my watch—I had time. Just.
I raced up the grand staircase and took the stairwell back up to the third level.
Which is where I ran into Aaron and Talakai.
This level had an open railing that enabled you to look down upon the expansive front foyer. The beta leaned over it, staring down. Talakai was just turning away from him as I emerged through the stairway door.
The Dragonshifter’s stride hitched when he saw me. His eyes flared a wild, metallic blue. And then they shuttered, and he nodded to me before heading toward the coliseum entrance and the students milling around the doorway.
Aaron leaned on the rail in the section of hall that led to the staff quarters door rather than the one that would take him to the coliseum. He stared down into the foyer.
Until, that is, I showed up. The moment I turned toward the staff entrance, he stepped into my path.
“Wrong way, bitch.” As usual, his eyes didn’t rise past my boobs.
I resisted the urge to drive my fingers into them and settled for a glare. “I have business in the staff quarters.”
“What kind of business?”
“Something that is no business of yours.”
“You’re my teammate. Everything you do is my business.” He snorted. “If you’re hoping that your Sabre friends will vote to keep you in the academy, you’re dreaming. If you don’t have any worthwhile abilities, you shouldn’t be here.”
The words were like arrows to my heart, but I raised my chin. “I will make it, or not, without any outside help. And teammate or not, who I’m friends with is none of your business.” I arched a brow at him. “So why aren’t you reporting to class?”
The question seemed to disconcert him. His heavy brows lowered, and his eyes finally rose to meet mine. “I’m just hanging out.”
“Well, you’re being a serious pain in the butt. I don’t have time for this.” I went to step around him, but he moved into my path again.
“Get out of my way, Aaron.” I was starting to get pissed off. He was lucky Matt wasn’t with me.
That thought—that I might need Matt’s support—only added to my anger. A surge came from deep inside, and when I spoke, my voice didn’t sound like me at all.
“Get the fuck out of my way. Now.”
I sensed it pulse from me, and Aaron’s eyes bulged out of his head. He snarled, but shuddered, and then stepped aside.
