Chapter 30

Chapter

Thirty

Fiona

I let out a long breath as I reached the archway leading into the School of Strategy. That did it. I’d made a complete circuit of the academy, and there was no sign of Vyk and Devon. I hadn’t gone to the maze, but I’d convinced myself that the commander wouldn’t drag a visitor out there. Not after what had happened and his involvement. Especially since Devon was at the academy to assess the human exchange, and that had been a black mark on the attempt to integrate the school.

“No, they aren’t there,” I muttered to myself.

Then where were they? The bigger question was why I cared so much. I’d been anxious about Commander, check that, Captain Gorman visiting, but now I was searching for him like he was a long-lost relative .

It was the look in Vyk’s eyes that had me dashing about like a madwoman. It hadn’t taken an empath to see that the Drexian didn’t like Devon and really didn’t like that I knew him. He’d been much too eager to take the man on a tour of the school, and I did not trust his motives. Since I’d been hunting for them for hours, my concern seemed warranted.

But Vyk wouldn’t actually harm the guy, would he? My stomach did an uncomfortable flip flop as it hit me that I didn’t know. I didn’t know enough about the Drexian to know whether he was truly dangerous, or if it was all hype.

It was true that the warrior had a reputation for being fierce, but he hadn’t so much as touched me when I’d been in his room. He’d made a scandalous wager with me, but then he’d promised he would never force me. So how scary could he be?

I put my hands on my hips and rapped one toe on the stone floor. “Scary enough to vanish a military officer from Earth.”

“That does sound scary.”

I spun at the high-pitched voice to find that Reina had come up behind me. Somehow the willowy Vexling floated around the academy without making much noise, since she didn’t wear heavy battle boots like everyone else. Even though she surprised me, I was glad to see her.

“Don’t mind me.” I tried to wave away my words. “I’m talking to myself.”

Reina big eyes were unblinking as she nodded thoughtfully, her blue twist of hair quivering. “I do that all the time, hon. Sometimes I think I’m the only one who really listens. ”

I laughed. “I feel that.”

“Did someone truly vanish?” Reina asked, placing a bony hand on my arm.

“Not really. At least, I don’t think so.” It wasn’t fair to dangle something like that and not explain. “The envoy from Earth arrived this morning. We used to be stationed together before I left for the Academy, so he stopped by my office to say hi. That was the last I saw of him, and I’ve been looking everywhere.”

“Young fellow with light-brown hair and different-colored clothes?”

I thought about the uniform of black pants and a khaki shirt that he’d been wearing. “That sounds like Devon. Have you seen him?”

Reina bobbed her head, smiling brightly. “Not too long ago.”

I exhaled loudly, my entire body relaxing. I’d been ridiculous to worry so much about the guy. I was embarrassed that I’d suspected Vyk of doing something bad to him. Had I really believed that the Drexian security chief would get rid of the visiting envoy? Now that I knew Devon was fine, my fears seemed crazy.

“Were you worried he got lost?” Reina patted my arm. “The Academy can be confusing if you don’t know the layout.”

“Not really.” No way was I going to admit what I’d actually thought. “Commander Vyk took him on a tour and then I couldn’t find either of them. I guess I wanted to make sure the captain was settling in okay.”

Reina nibbled the corner of her lip. “I don’t know about settling in, but the tour must have been quite comprehensive.”

“What do you mean? ”

“When I saw the human, he was with the admiral’s adjunct and they were near Zoran’s office, so I assume…”

“Tivek?” How had he ended up with him when he’d left with Vyk? The back of my neck started to tingle, as if sensing that I wasn’t going to like the rest of what Reina had to say.

The Vexling nodded, but her gaze darted to the floor. “He was escorting the human, who looked like he had been through some kind of battle. Perhaps he came from a battle on Earth? He is a warrior, right?”

I thought about Devon and wondered the last time he’d been in an actual fight. “He did not come from a battle on Earth. When I saw him this morning, he looked fine. His uniform didn’t even look as rumpled as mine does.”

Reina glanced at the clothes I’d slept in and still hadn’t changed out of, and she shook her head. “Oh, no. His clothes were sweaty, and one side of his face was slightly bruised.”

“Bruised?” My embarrassment at thinking the worst about Vyk quickly morphed into fury. Had he attacked Devon? “How did he get bruised during a tour of the school?”

Reina giggled nervously. “I’m sure there’s a perfectly logical explanation, hon. He might have tripped or—”

“Or our security chief punched him,” I finished Reina’s sentence for her, the sharp words bursting from my lips.

Reina reared back. “Why would he do that?”

“Don’t ask me! Ask the maniac who tried to sabotage the maze and who’s had it in for humans since we stepped foot in this place. Why wouldn’t he do something to Devon? It’s totally on brand for a human-hating grump like Commander Vyk! ”

Reina glanced around as if the Drexian might appear from the shadows. “I don’t think that’s true, hon. Sure, the Drexian made mistakes, but he’s changed since the trials.”

I pulled away from her. “Has he? Well, I guess I’m going to find out when I ask him what the hell he did to our guest.”

Then I stormed off, with Reina’s voice calling after me. I didn’t care what I’d wagered, Vyk was going to regret messing with this human.