Page 49 of The Sundered Realms

Liris went still, her stomach turning. Was she relieved or mortified?

Because that was Vhannor’s voice, advancing from behind.

Did he often join teams in the field? Or had someone told him she’d gotten on a field mission, and he’d come to observe what she could do?

Liris pulled her hands clearly in front of her, her heartbeat thundering.

Surely that was mortification.

Okay.

Liris took deep breaths, trying not to drown in embarrassment that he’d see her like this.

Her first day without him by her side, and she’d fucked it up after all.

But as Jiechit stalked over, Vhannor reached Liris’ sphere.

His lavender eyes met hers, and Liris would have sworn her heart turned upside down.

Until he scowled. “What are you doing in there?”

“My call,” Jiechit said.

“I meant,” Vhannor said, meeting Liris’ gaze with a challenge in his, “I’m surprised you haven’t broken out.”

“What?” Jiechit sputtered.

Liris narrowed her eyes and stood, revealing the lines underneath her in the sand, and Jiechit froze.

“I know all about biding my time,” Liris said.

“What in the realms?” Jiechit looked between them. “I thought you said you were a first-day student?”

“As it happens,” Vhannor said, “she’s also a genius. Liris, that modification is sound—go ahead and finish. Jiechit, what were you doing, trying to trap a human caster inside this? The only reason it works on demons is they can’t use magic.”

Jiechit shrugged. “Those are the expendable spells I had on me. If she didn’t know about demon portals, I assumed she wouldn’t know anything else.”

“A mistake,” Vhannor said in a low voice.

“I’m a field caster, Lord Vhannor. My priority is the mission, not education. If you’re taking charge of her and don’t have further information for me, I’ll get back to it.”

“Do,” Vhannor said in a tone that could have frozen the air between them. “I’ll look forward to your report.”

Jiechit paused at that, like it had finally occurred to her that she could fail a test too. But then she nodded sharply and walked away, and Liris dissolved her prison, and then Vhannor shoved a crinkling paper at her.

Liris took it, revealing strange dark green sheets.

He glanced away. “It’s a snack Thous’ seaside towns are known for,” Vhannor muttered.

Liris’ eyes brightened, her anger momentarily derailed. “Seaweed?”

“I thought you might not have tried any, so I snagged a package on my way through.”

He’d thought of this specifically for her. Still thinking of her, even when she was out of sight. Liris didn’t know what to make of that, let alone what to say.

“Go ahead,” Vhannor said. “It’s roasted and salted—“

Easier to eat than speak. It started dry on her tongue, then melted.

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