Before he’d met his mate.
And before I’d met Xumi.
I pulled loose and banked, heading for the plateau. I’d had enough dragonplay. Was ready for some answers.
I was already half human as I landed. Haki hated flying in the halfway state, so as usual, he waited until he was firmly on the ground.
“Not that I am unhappy to see you,” I stated, “but you risked a lot by coming here. And Sebastian is both suspicious of me and resourceful, so if you have a reason for coming, it is time to confess.”
Haki seldom ducked a direct question, and this time, he straightened, and told me. “Kala is carrying my child.”
It shocked me. They’d said nothing of this when they’d rescued me. But we’d been rather busy at the time.
“Congratulations!” I slapped him on the shoulder. “Not sure the realms are ready for another Haki, though.”
He grinned, but it seemed a little weak for such news. “So you came to tell me that you are going to be a father?”
“I’m here to tell you that you are going to be an uncle.”
The thought pleased me more than I would have expected. I smiled.
But he wasn’t done. “And to warn you that Xumi might know you are here.”
My smile vanished. “I knew it would only be a matter of time,” I admitted.
He shrugged. “She won’t come after you on council grounds.” But he still wouldn’t meet my eyes.
I said, “I’m thinking of departing, anyway.”
His brows rose, and now he finally looked at me. “And go where?”
“I’d have to keep mobile—to keep one step ahead of her,” I stated.
His eyebrows danced, which was Haki speak for “Are you crazy?” But instead of saying so, he asked again, “Where would you go?”
I didn’t answer. Which was enough to make me reflect that I’d become far too suspicious a person to not trust my closest friend.
“I might have found a way to buy myself out of this,” I finally admitted.
I stared out across the forest. Thought of my two main reasons for staying, both of which involved females determined to control my destiny.
It was time I controlled my own.
I gritted my teeth and told him about the twins.
46
Anna
Sebastian excused all three of us from the scheduled runs, which effectively left us with nothing to do.
I was so exhausted that I was actually restless. Matt, Mari, and I sat beneath the tree near the lake and watched the last of the strike team leave the academy grounds via the meadow gate. Most had gone through much earlier in the day.
“Strewth,” Matt cursed. “Watching them head off while we just sit here is driving me bonkers.” His gaze slid to where the Dire instructor, Alex, sat on the front steps. “Haven’t tested his fighting abilities yet. Maybe I’ll give him a go.”
Mari regarded him with disgust. “Is fighting all you think about?”
Matt’s eyes gleamed at me. “Not all, no.”
