I had problems so much bigger than Rob-the-teenaged-Trainee, I found it hard to muster a care. “Will I?” I began to jog backward away from him. “I’m not the one returning to campus with a giant hole in my pants. ”
I was in a grand mood as I headed to Watcher Priti’s class. I passed Tracer Otto on the path and bit my lip not to smirk at the sight of his bandaged throat. Mei-Ling had stabbed the guy with her violin bow as he abducted her. I hadn’t fully believed Ronan when he told me, but the proof was right in front of me.
“Is there a problem, Acari Drew?” Otto’s German accent was thick when he was angry.
“No problem,” I quickly replied, darting my eyes down.
Getting myself back under control, I kept my head down the rest of the way. I’d endured quite enough interaction with my peers for one day—there was no need to go looking for any more.
Expeditionary Skills Training was held outside, on a stretch of sandy beach, and by the time I reached it, I’d pulled myself together. I’d handled the Masha incident. I’d investigated a murder scene and put some boneheaded boy in his place. I’d even gotten in a bit of roomie bonding. Maybe this was how normal college girls felt.
I hadn’t yet found any clues to the actual identity of the murderer, but I’d taken the first step, and first steps felt good. First steps were empowering.
I was in a halfway decent mood for the first time in a while, but it did a nosedive when I felt him. When I saw him.
Carden. Standing next to Priti on the sand.
And he looked ready to teach.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Carden spun his head, his eyes fixing on me the moment I stepped from the rocks onto the beach. Instant longing thrummed through me at the sight of him. The gnawing in my belly became hot fingers, twining and teasing through me enough to falter my step.
He looked about as pleased to see me as I was to see him.
My feet carried me toward him. It was stupid, but I couldn’t help myself. Like breathing, it was something I couldn’t have stopped if I wanted to.
Every muscle in his body seized taut, the evidence of which was obvious—not only was he super-buff to begin with, but he wasn’t wearing a jacket over his tight white T-shirt. I’d have sworn his pecs actually cast their own shadows. It did nothing to help my addled state.
Sand had spilled into my sneaker, and I concentrated on the cool, damp grit. “Hi,” I said, my voice impressively calm.
He gave me a tight nod. “Acari. ”
His voice echoed through me, and all my hard-won calm of a moment before shattered. “I didn’t know you’d be here. ” The words spilled out of me. Anger, desperation, relief—competing emotions made my voice crack. Oh God, had I really just spoken like that to a vampire in front of everyone? I quickly tried to amend it by saying, “That is, it’s a pleasure to see you again, Master McCloud. ”
The silence around us seemed infinite as I felt people’s shocked stares boring into me, though it was probably only a moment that passed before Watcher Priti said, “Acari Drew, are you well?”
I forced a neutral expression. “I…Yes…I’m sorry. I have a headache, is all. I missed lunch,” I added quickly, lying to explain it away.
That seemed to mollify her. She peered hard at me. “How many meals have you missed? You look pale. ”
“Just the one. ” I fisted my hands to stop the trembling. “But I’ve been working out more. ”
“You know how important our meals are,” she said with equal concern and scold in her voice. I was a Watcher Priti favorite. She really, honestly liked me.
I liked her, too. But just then that meant nothing to me—all I was able to register was how close she was standing to Carden.
It was jealousy to the nth degree and it felt like madness, like acid was searing a hole through my insides. I feared the throbbing in my head would make my skull shatter. I fought to keep my face bland.
Thankfully, Priti seemed clueless as to my sudden, overwhelming urge claw her eyes out. “I gather you met Master McCloud on your mission,” she said. “I’ve asked him to be our special guest today. He’ll be taking us rock climbing. ”
“Yes, we’re acquainted. ” I smiled, sure it looked more like a teeth-baring.
Carden’s eyes were on me, intense and unreadable, like they might peer into my soul. Was he paler than usual, too? I thought he might be. I had to look away.
My gaze went to the horizon, gray and vast, interrupted only by the gigantic pillars of rock that rose from the sea like chimney stacks. Here, the sea churned, black water and white froth that pummeled and roiled, powerful enough to have punched ruts into the ancient granite over the centuries.
One thing reassured me: At least we weren’t going to have to go in the water. People didn’t go into this water.