Chapter 6

Chapter

Six

Fiona

“ W hat was that about?” Ariana was waiting for me when I emerged from the heavy doors guarding the entrance to the Stacks.

I blew out a breath, releasing some of the tension that I’d been holding when I’d been around Vyk. Then I noticed that Ariana’s mate wasn’t with her. “Where’s Volten?”

“He and the other guys wanted to sneak down to the kitchens for a snack.”

I allowed myself a grin. That didn’t sound too bad, although my stomach was still in a knot from talking with Vyk. “He wants us to play nice.”

A look of outrage flicked across my friend’s face. “ He wants to play nice? After everything he’s done?” She huffed out a breath. “Typical guy. As soon as they get called out for being a dick, they want to be forgiven.”

“Exactly. Does he actually feel regret, or does he just regret getting caught and having all of us hate him?”

Ariana eyed me as we walked down the empty corridor. “I hope you didn’t forgive him so easily.”

I slid my gaze to her and tilted my head. “Does that seem like my style?” I shook my head. “I challenged him to a card game.”

Her eyes flared. “You did? Does he have any idea how good you are?”

I twitched one shoulder up. “Who knows? I doubt it. I don’t get the feeling he’s spent much time learning about the talents of the humans who joined the academy.”

Ariana stifled a laugh, sneaking a final look behind us as we rounded the corner. “Good point. I’m sure he has no clue that you wipe the floor with the rest of us when we play.”

We approached Jess, who was talking with Britta, whose silver hair was pulled high in a tight bun, and Morgan, who looked like she’d just woken up. All three women pivoted to us.

“Sorry I missed the meeting.” Morgan swiped a blond curl from her eyes, revealing a sheet mark on one cheek. “I planned to lie down for five minutes.”

Jess elbowed her playfully. “Famous last words. At least you didn’t sleep through the night.”

Morgan poked out her bottom lip. “It sounds like I missed a lot. ”

“It sounds like we all missed something.” Britta slid her gaze between me and Ariana. “Are you talking about how Fiona beats our asses in cards?”

“I don’t beat you that badly.” I swung my gaze from woman to woman but they all stared at me. “Okay, I might win most games…”

“Try all ,” Jess said, with a pointed look.

“It’s only because I’ve practiced more.”

Britta eyed her. “And being a famous strategist doesn’t hurt.”

Ariana threw an arm around my shoulder. “We’re just teasing you. Don’t feel bad about being good at something. That’s why you’re going to beat Vyk and shut him up once and for all.”

Britta’s and Jess’s mouths gaped.

“You’re going to play against the security chief?” Britta’s words were barely a whisper.

Jess blinked at me. “Are you sure about this? That guy does not seem like the type to play games.”

I resumed walking toward the female tower, forcing the rest of the women to follow me. “It was my idea. I want to beat him and prove that humans—especially females—aren’t weaker or less capable than Drexians.”

“You challenged the academy’s security chief to a game of cards?” Britta looked at me like I’d lost my mind.

We all went quiet as the Academy Master and his adjunct swept by us with silent nods in our direction .

When the two Drexians had passed, I gave a shrug. “He told me to pick a way so he could prove that he’d changed, and I knew he was going to be at the staff card game.”

“So you picked cards?” Jess rubbed a hand across her forehead as we continued through the main hall. “Why didn’t you make him clean the latrines or be your personal servant?”

I hesitated. Now that she mentioned it, those did sound like pretty good options.

“She’s an Assassin,” Ariana said, before I could respond. “Of course, she’s going to pick some kind of game or puzzle that she can win.”

I wasn’t sure if that was a compliment or not, but it was accurate. My mind instinctively went to strategic challenges, not mental tasks, although the idea of Vyk in a ruffled apron did bring me more happiness than it should have.

“It’s not like I’m guaranteed to win. We are playing Drexian cards, and you know that’s harder than poker or blackjack.”

“Drexian cards,” all the women murmured at once.

That sent a shiver through me, and for the first time I had some misgivings about the challenge I’d accepted.

“When is this game?” Britta asked.

“It’s part of the staff card game that he’s joining. I challenged him to play me there.”

Morgan inhaled sharply. “So, it’s soon.”

Jess jogged ahead and waved for us to catch up. “Hurry up, then. We don’t have much time.”

I exchanged a glance with Ariana. “Time for what? ”

“Time for you to get in more practice against us.” Jess walked backward a few steps. “I know we aren’t the best players to hone your skills against, but we’re all you have.”

A figure stepped from an intersecting corridor to block our way. “That is not necessarily true.”