That made sense. Gabi nodded and turned back to Elena.
Kal bussed her tray. She was nearing the exit doors when another student intercepted her. Petra from Brock Hall. She was tall and quick-witted with a dry sense of humor and a weakness for licorice candy.
“I’m not making a run tonight,” Kal said in a low voice. “I don’t know when the next one will be, so keep your money.”
“It’s not that,” Petra whispered back. “Lara is looking for you. I saw her twenty minutes ago. She was crossing the quad and I heard her mention your name.”
“Lara Lenormand?”
Petra cocked a brow. “You know any other Laras? I think she might be onto your little side business.”
Kal’s heart stuttered. “Did she say that?”
Petra just shrugged. “She wasn’t alone. She had a cypher with her, and a man. He’s a real looker.”
Kal swallowed bile. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah, he had black hair and?—”
“I don’t mean the guy,” Kal snapped.
Petra looked annoyed. “You better get your story straight. Just a heads up.” She quickly walked away.
Kal pushed through the doors into the rainy dark. Every instinct screamed run for the hills, but she needed her stones to get past the wards.
And her Bluekiller pistol, just in case.
Once she got away from the dining hall, Kal broke into a sprint. The dormitory loomed ahead, windows glowing yellow in the gathering darkness. She was almost there when a figure stepped into her path.
“Hey, Kyra.” It was Manij, the teacher who had found Kal on a park bench and brought her to the Lenormand School. She stood under an umbrella, her glasses fogging in the rain.
Kal smiled, hoping she didn’t look as guilty as she felt. “Hi, professor. Just turning in early to study.”
Manij smiled back. “I’ll walk you to the dorm. We can share my umbrella.”
“Oh, no, I don’t want to hold you up.”
“Don’t be silly.” She stepped closer, forcing Kal to shelter under the umbrella. It was too small, and rain pelted her back.
“What a night!” Manij said cheerfully. “Of course, we need the rain. Everything’s been so dry. So, are you getting on well with your roommates? Making friends?”
Kal wanted to scream. “They’re all so nice.”
“And your cosmetology studies? I’m glad to see you’re working hard. Assessments are coming up soon.”
“Oh yeah, I love it. I decided I want to be a hairdresser. Um, I’m sorry but I have a test tomorrow, actually. So I can just, you know, run over to my dorm, it’s right there . . .”
“Don’t let me keep you.” Manij finally moved aside. “Good luck!”
“Thanks,” Kal mumbled, hurrying past.
She glanced back once she reached the Zayla Khan Residence Hall. Manij still stood there, staring after her.
Kal took the stairs two at a time. The halls were empty—everyone was at dinner or in the common rooms. The triple she shared with Gabi and Elena was the last door on the left. She paused, listening. Silence on the other side.
Hopefully, Lara had already checked and saw she wasn’t there.
Kal cracked the door, ready to bolt, and was relieved to find it empty. She slipped inside and hurried to the wardrobe. Carefully pressed skirts and blouses hung in a row. She shoved them aside to reveal the heavy peacoat hidden at the back. The kaldurite stones were hidden in the lining. The pistol was under her mattress, along with all the money she’d earned from her contraband shopping trips.
