As I swept past, he raised his hand to his ear, as though to rub his temple. I thought he muttered something, but I was already pushing through the doors to the staff quarters.
As I did so, I glanced back. Past Aaron to the coliseum hallway. And saw Talakai staring after me.
The expression on his face was difficult to read, but then I was through the door, and I focused on the task at hand. The Sabre triad’s quarters were down a side access aisle off the main one. Walking fast, I came around the corner and almost ran right into Darius.
Astonished, I skidded to a halt.
“What are you doing here?” he demanded, his alpha energy sweeping over me as he stepped in close. Way too close.
I stiffened. “I could ask you the same thing,” I retorted.
He inhaled, long and slow. “I don’t report to you,” he growled, his eyes sparking bronze with his beast as he pushed right into me.
“Right back at you,” I said. I’d moved away without thinking, and now my back was to the wall. What in the world was this about? First Aaron, now him. I had a very real reason to be in the staff section. This aisle led to the triad’s quarters on one side, and another across the way. I wasn’t sure who lived in that one—but none of the Sabres were home. Why had he been down here?
His lips twisted into a sneer. “Had something to discuss with Constance.” His eyes glowed. “Now there’s a bitch who understands what I can offer.” His eyes dropped to my breasts. “Have you ever been taken by two men at once? Human women are so fragile, but you might be different. Aaron and I could make you scream...”
My pulse pounded, but I struggled to hide my fear as my face twisted in disgust. “You’re an asshole.”
“That is Aaron’s preference, but I am flexible.” He leaned closer, and inhaled.
“You”—it upset me how much my voice shook—“will never touch me. Certainly, not like that.”
“Well, that’s shortsighted of you. Because you’ll never cut it as a Shade unless you have a talent. Being the team whore is a talent. I could put a word in for you if you change your mind.”
“Never.” I put my hands on his chest and shoved hard. He rocked back, just enough for me to slip away.
“Don’t be so sure about that, Babydoll,” he snarled after me, and the conviction in his tone turned my blood to ice. “Iwillshow you what you’ve been missing.”
Shaking with adrenaline, I ran to the Sabre’s door and unlocked it. When I glanced back, he was gone.
The bag sat where Kitani had said, and I grabbed it, locking up behind me. Neither Darius nor Aaron were in evidence as I jogged down the stairs and back out to Kitani.
Trix was racing in circles around the girls in beast form, who tried to catch her.
Kitani sat on the steps and shook her head at me. “Thanks, Anna. I don’t know what I’d do without your dog. Look at them! Usually, the twins are scrapping like mad, but add the dog, and they just run and giggle until they drop.”
Still unsettled from my weird altercation with Darius, I almost blurted it out to her. But the entire situation was embarrassing as hell, and I needed to solve it on my own. I did, however, want to check on something.
“Who lives across from you?” I asked.
She didn’t even bat an eye. “Constance. She helps me with the twins from time to time.”
So Darius was likely telling the truth—he must have been there to see the headmaster’s assistant. What could the woman see in that asshole? I guessed she must get off on the alpha thing.
I checked my watch—I had to get moving. So I handed Kitani the pack.
“I’ll see you in a few hours,” I said with a smile as I headed back into the building.
* * *
My determination to achieve something in special abilities class did not translate to results.
By the end of it, Zeke was lifting palm-sized rocks and even a startled lizard or two. And I still hadn’t moved a single golf ball.
Dani smiled at me as Zeke took his leave, but I saw the doubt in her eyes.
My stomach clenched. “I don’t think this is tapping into my talent.”
