38. Kryll

THIRTY-EIGHT

Iwasn't expecting the most joyous of greetings, but slamming the door shut in my face is not necessary, is it? I've been cordial. I think.

Maybe I've been too nice? Maybe I haven't been nice enough? Maybe I don't care.

Wiping a hand down my face, I head back down the stairs. Reaching the communal area on the ground floor, I'm greeted with nervous stares as they watch me with a level of uncertainty you only ever get from a fae.

I step outside without acknowledging anyone, simply because doing so would only stress them out more than they already are. My presence rolling through like mist will offer them more peace than a friendly wave or smile.

Pursing my lips, I take a few steps back as I look up at the building. It takes me a moment to locate the window I know belongs to her room. If my excellent orientation skills weren't working their magic, then the lack of life coming from that glass square reflects it, too.

I barely got a glimpse inside her room—or lack thereof—and I can't decide if I'm surprised by it or not. Irritated that I'm thinking so deeply about this stuff, I shake my head and focus on the task at hand.

Get Addi to the dining hall.

Luckily for me, her window is slightly ajar. Just enough for me to get up there and get in. She won't be able to slam it in my face then.

Rolling my shoulders, I let my magic dance through my veins. The telltale flapping of wings thrums in my ears, bringing me to life as I shift. Hitting the ground, I launch into the air and take to the sky. My lungs feel full for the first time in forever as I let my inner beast take flight, both in the sky and inside of me.

I give myself a few minutes to enjoy the moment, letting every worry and stress float away as my mind clears. There's something about my shifted form that completes me in a way I can't even begin to explain. With a mental promise to do this again soon, I set my sights on Addi's window.

My claw hooks around the window pane, swinging it open as I transition back to my human form. My feet hit the floor with a thud. At the same time, an almighty scream rings in my ears, but before I can find the source of the sound, my body is sailing through the air. The tugging sensation ripples through my body as I'm launched with raw force. My back slams against the wall, leaving me dazed as I slump to the floor. I've never been more relieved that shifting didn't leave me stark naked when I turned back.

I quickly push on my palms to sit up, using the wall behind me to keep me propped up as I try to process what just happened.

"What the fuck?" I groan as I take stock of where I am. "How am I back here?" I grumble, noting that I'm in the hallway outside Addi's room. Her bedroom door is open and she stands at the threshold, gaping at me while I rub at my head.

"Apparently, Brody's ward actually works," she muses, unable to hold back the smile curling her lips.

"Wait, you have one of Brody's wards up?" I clarify, and she nods. "Fuck, no wonder it hurts," I grunt, feeling the ache from the impact throughout my body.

"What does that mean?"

I shrug, and it fucking kills. "It means I'm going to give him a beating for this when I see him."

Pushing through the pain, I stand, brushing off invisible lint from my jeans as an excuse to brace myself for a moment. When I look back up, it's to see Addi giving me a pointed look with her arms folded over her chest.

"What is it you want so badly that it has you climbing through my bedroom window, Kryll?"

"Technically, I flew in," I retort, and her eyebrows rise a little.

"Your shifter has wings?" She seems slightly impressed, but I brush it off. I'm not getting distracted.

"That doesn't matter."

That earns me an eye roll as she takes a step back, reaching for the door. "Okay, then, as I already said, thanks, but no thanks."

She goes to slam the door again and I panic.

"Wait!"

I'm not expecting anything at all, but to my surprise, she pauses.

Shit.

What am I supposed to fucking say?

Clearing my throat, I give her a pointed look. "Do you really want Cassian or Raiden to come find you instead?"

She shrugs. "It seems to me that they're not going to be able to get in here. So I'm good with taking my chances."

She's so smart, but sometimes she's too na?ve.

"And when you finally leave your little shoebox, you don't think they'll be waiting?"

The way she gulps confirms that she understands the truth. She knows they're relentless.

She sighs, folding her arms over her chest again. "Why is this necessary?"

I'm wondering that myself right now as pain continues to cling to my limbs from the force with which I was launched from the room. "It's all about status. Especially since you're technically Cassian's?—"

"I'm not Cassian's anything," she interjects, wagging her finger at me.

"Okay," I reply with an eye roll. It's clear she doesn't want to get into that right now, which is cool and all, but there's also the other fact. "Besides, we heard a rumor that they're assessing groups and considering who to place together for the battles. If you're not in the dining hall at all, you may be an afterthought when decisions are made."

Her lips twist and I bite back the surprised smile threatening to take over. It was Raiden who said to bring up the battles and teams, and it seems he was onto something.

"Fuck, fine," she grumbles, turning away from me. I watch as she grabs her cloak from the floor, draping it over her shoulders before patting her hands over her hair. The braids are intricate and make her look way too pretty for how fierce she actually is, but I suppose that's part of her charm.

A beat later, she steps out into the hallway and clicks the door shut behind her.

"My friends?—"

"Are not on my list to collect," I interrupt, heading for the stairs without glancing back.

"But—"

I spin on the balls of my feet, cocking my brow at her, and she growls under her breath.

"You're an ass, you know that?"

"Yup," I reply with a wide grin before heading outside.

I sense a few double takes from the fae in the communal room, certain they've already seen me leave once, but none of them utter a word in my direction.

A somewhat-comfortable silence washes over us as we take the pathway that leads toward the academy building. We make it to the fountain that joins all of the pathways when I spot my brother walking toward us.

"Kryll."

"Asshole," I retort, smirking at him, and he grins, leading me into a false sense of security before he has me caught in a headlock. Fucker always moves too quick.

A bubble of laughter escapes Addi's lips as she gapes at us, and my brother proceeds to rub his knuckles over my skull.

"Do you want me to embarrass you in front of your girl?"

"Not his girl!" Addi hollers quickly with a shake of her head.

"Yet," I say with a wink, and I watch in amusement as her cheeks heat.

It was a joke, but maybe there's some truth to those words that I'm not ready to address yet.

Thankfully, my brother releases me, pulling me from my thoughts as I rub at my hair.

"Mom said you haven't called," he states, raising his eyebrows at me, and I frown.

"To tell her what?"

"Anything."

"There's nothing to tell." I rub at the back of my neck nervously. I know I should probably just call to say hi, but it feels like a harder task than I'm willing to admit.

"She heard about the battles through the news. She seemed upset by that."

"That sounds like a you issue since you knew before me. It seems you're not the one giving anyone a heads-up," I retort, feeling my defenses rise, but the way his brows furrow tells me there's more to it than that. He doesn't leave me guessing, though.

"I didn't get one, asshat."

Concern overwhelms me as I sense it pour from him. "Is everything okay?" I ask, acutely aware that Addi is still present so he's probably not going to say much, but I need to ask anyway.

"It's fine." He pats me on the shoulder, a smile that doesn't quite meet his eyes stretching across his face. "Go and make an appearance in the dining hall. They have eyes everywhere and they're watching interactions," he adds under his breath, and I nod. Fun. The rumors are true. Waving me away, he turns to Addi. "Nice to meet you again, Miss Reed. I should probably warn you away from him," he states, pointing my way, and she rolls her eyes.

"He's not taking the hint."

My brother chuckles. "He never does." With one final wave, he stalks off without a backward glance.

Addi falls into step beside me as we continue toward the dining hall. An awkwardness shifts between us, forcing me to glance her way. The second my eyes lock on hers, she speaks.

"Is it weird? Your brother working here?"

Shrugging, I consider her question. "Not really. We love each other, of course, and I have his back just as much as he has mine, but really, we're quite independent. He leaves me to my devices and I don't overstep with him, so everything should work out fine."

"I can't imagine a sibling that doesn't want to know anything and everything," she states before clapping her hand over her mouth as if she instantly regrets the words slipping past her lips.

I could delve deeper, but that's not my place. If she wants to talk, I'll listen. I can't say that I'll care, but I'm not one to pry unless it's necessary, and this doesn't feel like one of those moments.

The silence between us shifts to a different kind of awkwardness that I can't quite put my finger on as my mind drifts. We're about to step in there, and the need to put on a show of some kind feels expected, but completely unnecessary in my opinion.

It's hard to decide whether to give them nothing to see or everything to watch. The fact that my brother didn't know about the battle details prior to the announcement doesn't sit well with me. He's the combat professor, which only confuses me more. Unless he's been prepped to go full force anyway. No matter which way I look at it, it doesn't sit well with me.

Nothing here sits well with me.