Mari seemed to be accustomed to references that went right over her substantial head. She ignored the Medusa comment and focused on her current concern. “It’s too tight,” she complained.
“It’ll loosen up,” I repeated. Then looked behind Matt. “Where’s Talakai?” I asked.
Matt shrugged. “Haven’t seen him since before we ate.”
Our encounter in the woods was hours ago. I bit my lip just as Matt swayed. Only a half-step, but the knot in my gut tightened.
“Do you want to take the elevator?” I asked him. Mari shot me a look—the elevator was pretty crammed for her.
“No, Angel. I’m fine.”
“Why wouldn’t he be fine?” The ogress frowned at me.
While I grappled with what to say, Matt answered, “Was feeling a bit stuffed earlier today. Not getting enough tucker. I’ve always had a fast metabolism, even for a shifter.”
For Matt, that was a remarkably clear conversation. It seemed to satisfy Mari. “We can take the elevator.”
“No way. It’s too slow.” Matt steered us toward the stairs. He galloped down them, although he watched his feet as he did so, and had a hand firmly on the rail.
The knot twisted tighter. I was pretty damned sure he wasn’t all right. Not by a long shot.
We joined the flood of students heading out the front of the academy building. I searched the sky for a distinctive winged form. Where was Talakai? He’d reassured me that my talent could be trained. Had he experienced second thoughts? Would he go to Amadeus without telling us?
I didn’t think it was the Dragon’s style, but then again, I really didn’t know him at all. And I was insecure about keeping this secret. Mostly because I wasn’t sure I should be keeping it.
Sebastian’s tall form awaited us at the base of the wide stone stairs. The black bodysuit hugged his lean frame and set off his pale eyes and hair. He looked incredible, like a fae warrior. Right down to the cold, emotionless expression on his face.
Lanterns sat on poles behind him, casting his shadow long toward the steps.
Not far from him stood a distinctive indigo-scaled shifter. Talakai wasn’t dressed in a bodysuit, but I figured his scales would work.
My relief at him being there was completely out of scale with what it should have been. The Dragon stood a little apart from Aaron and Darius. He glanced our way as we joined them, but his face remained as cold as stone.
The big shifter, Tyrez, was with Sebastian, along with three Sabres: Cody, Ryan, and Neil, as well as the lean redheaded Dire, Alex, and Bess, the Watcher.
The crowd of students fell silent as soon as Sebastian raised his hands.
“Welcome to your first Night Games,” he said. “Each exercise will be run as though you are on a mission, with full protocols in place. I realize you have yet to know those protocols. This be a learn-as-you-do scenario for tonight. I expect few of you will achieve your goal as a result.”
He paused and cast his pale gaze over us. When they got to me, they froze for just an instant before moving on. What would he think if he knew what I’d done to Matt? My gut twisted.
Sebastian continued. “You will be split into two types of teams—recon and strike. With one of each type combined, you will form a mission unit to complete your goal.” He gestured to his peers. “Each instructor will take a single unit with them. The missions will be conducted in other realms, and the targets be aware of the drill, but they will use nonlethal means to repel your efforts.” He tapped the cuff on his ear. “Most of your missions will involve gating. The crystal in your ear cuffs be vital to that ability—from now on, you shall never remove them. They be an essential piece of Shade-recruit kit, designed to stay in place through shifts as well.”
I shot a look to Matt, whose brows shadowed his eyes. I leaned close. “You’ll have to get over your gating thing.”
His only response was a low growl.
I had to admit I was nervous, too—this sounded challenging. Sebastian read off team names. Phoenix had been teamed with Valkyrie for our first game session, and Sebastian was our instructor.
Valkyrie was the team with the three male Dires and Maddy, their female alpha. I’d noticed one of her Dires in special abilities class—the big redhead.
I leaned toward Mari. “Is the redhead a Shaker like you?”
She nodded. “Yes. Wyatt’s not as strong as me, and he’s a pretty intense guy. Doesn’t talk much.”
As Sebastian led us away, he filled us in on more basics. “Valkyrie be the recon team, and Phoenix, the strike. Once at base camp, I will be giving each team half an hour to review the mission parameters, and then Valkyrie will head out. Once they’ve conducted their recon, they’ll return to provide Phoenix with the information it be requiring to reach its goal.”
His voice lacked any inflection at all—he could have been a robot reciting a pre-programmed speech. My heart accelerated. This seemed so real, and we were woefully unprepared. Our team was in pieces. We’d had no experience doing anything together. But maybe that was the point? To detect the holes and where we needed work?
