My heart accelerated.Well, dreaming might have to do us for a while, considering what happened last time.
We would have been fine if I hadn’t sunk my teeth into you and then licked.
I wasn’t prepared for the pulse of heat that flushed through me. Matt inhaled again.You want that again, I can tell.
What we want means nothing until I can control what’s inside me.
Not nothing. Never nothing.But he sighed and pulled away. “I’m starving,” he said aloud, but the surge along the link stopped my breath.
“Well, we’ll have to be content with dumplings,” I said firmly, heading through the cafeteria door.
Stares followed us in, and met us from those already inside. We’d become a near-constant source of juicy gossip. So much for blending in.
Mari was already in line. Trix did her usual rude paws-first greeting, and the ogress grinned as she lowered a big hand to rub my dog’s head.
I cast my eyes to the Valkyrie table and saw Maddy and her guys. The female Dire had dark circles beneath her eyes. Considering how heavily we’d relied on her talent, I was sure she was exhausted.
“How’s Talakai?” Mari asked, her eyes searching behind us.
“He’s okay,” I whispered. “I’ll tell you about him when we’re seated.”
Her eyes widened, but she nodded. “I could eat that entire tray of dumplings,” she noted. “I had some chocolate, but I’m still ravenous.”
Students eyed Matt. How many actually figured out he’d been gone? He’d been in Xumi’s clutches for two days. The rumor mill was likely already going full tilt.
Other than fresh slices on his skin, he looked pretty much like the same guy he’d been before the Dragona got her clutches on him. But to those that could read energy, he had changed. I couldn’t put my finger on it, exactly. And as we passed a group of Dires, I saw a few noses elevate to sniff the air, as if testing his scent...
I didn’t care, one way or the other. It was amazing to be filling my tray beside the man who was also a part of me. But there were two more who I wished were with us.
We will find Sebastian,Matt offered.And Talakai just needs time. He’ll be back.
I managed a small smile.Are you just saying that to make me feel better, or is it your gift for optimism speaking?
I’m an Aussie. We are an optimistic bunch.
I raised a brow.Is that true?
He shrugged, offered a lopsided grin, and piled on another dumpling.Does it matter?
No, I guessed it didn’t. We wove our way to our table and sat down. With only three of us left, the space seemed empty.
“So, where is Talakai?” Mari asked.
My heart ached as I explained in hushed tones. She’d worked hard to rescue him too.
Mari merely nodded.
We finished our meals in silence, listening to the excited chatter all around us. Cara entered the room and came straight over to us, sitting down beside Matt and across from Mari and me. Trix wiggled under the table to poke the Watcher with her nose.
Cara leaned in. “Tyrez says Talakai is safely away. He has set him up to check in with Jacques on a regular basis.”
I swallowed. I might not be able to help Talakai, but we needed to find Sebastian. “Without his horn, how long can he hold on?” I asked.
Across the table from me, Matt stiffened, and Cara’s mouth pulled straight. “I don’t know, exactly,” she replied softly. “A lot depends on his determination. And you can bet he is motivated to discover where Galeran is holding him.”
“He’s as tough as they come,” Matt said.
The Watcher nodded. “That he is. Jacques will continue to beat the bushes, but he has been already doing so for months with no luck. We need to catch a break, and I’m putting my money on Talakai. If anyone can find new information, it will be him.” She managed a tired smile. “If you are finished breakfast, I would like to spend our special abilities class reviewing a few things that have happened over the last few days.”
