Page 78 of Into the Isle

“Ah. You’ve heard the rumors.”

“Rumors?” I said, a bit too loudly. When I noticed a couple students glance over at us, I leaned forward. “Yes, I heard what happened last year. They told me—”

“I don’t eat people, little sneak.”

His words made my heart beat faster. Crazy, that my fight with Astrid kept me calm and in control, yet merely talking with this massive brooding man brought out emotions inside me I hadn’t felt before.

Maybe because I so badly want to trust him. I so badly want the rumors to be untrue.

I breathed deeply. “Fine. We’ll talk more tonight.”

He showed a rare hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth. “As you say,” he grunted, and then stomped off with his measured, heavy gait.

Class ended after the sparring was complete. I knew I had a lot of training ahead of me with Magnus and Randi on my team. I was thankful class ended so I could gather my thoughts and nurse my aching chin and arm.

Astrid was merely an afterthought at this point.

I had spoken with Arne, Magnus, Grim—three of the men who intrigued me—and had come away with more questions than answers. In some ways, they all infuriated me.

Yet none of them infuriated me more than the fourth man who piqued my interest, who I stared at now across Tyr Meadow. The one man I hadn’t gotten a chance to speak with after my bout.

Sven Torfen seemed to sense my glare, and he looked over his shoulder at me. His eyes narrowed, a look of wickedness falling over his gorgeous features.

I shuddered, knowing I’d made my first true enemy today . . . and was alarmed that I felt more excited than scared about it.

Chapter 24

Ravinica

DURING LUNCH, I SCOOTED off to the nearest mess hall close to the garrison. Randi joined me, and we quickly found Dagny and sat at her bench table.

She was biting into a sandwich when I unceremoniously sat down next to her with my tray clacking on the tabletop. “What do you know about Magnus Feldraug?”

Dagny blinked, put her sandwich down mid-bite, and pushed her glasses up her nose. “Hello to you too.”

My cheeks filled with color. “Sorry. Hi, Dagny. This is Randi.”

Randi gave Dagny a wiggling wave and beaming smile. Dagny tilted her head to stare askance at her.

I was glad to have at least two girlfriends already, both different from each other. Having people to confide in, especially women, was paramount.

“Magnus Feldraug, you said?” Dagny asked. “Never heard of him.”

“Makes sense. He’s an initiate.”

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