Page 33 of Legend

“The Assassins were once deadly assassins. The Irons long ago forged creations and weapons from iron, although our engineers now work with more sophisticated tools.” I did not expect a human to understand the long and glorious military history of my people, but I would not tolerate him laughing at it. Not when Drexians had been protecting Earth since before he was born.

“Interesting,” the captain said, his voice telling me he thought it was anything but. He turned his attention to Fiona. “I had no idea you were so into military history.”

This made me frown. He must not know Fiona very well. Even I knew that the instructor favored ancient battle strategies and taught them often to her cadets. It was one of the things about her I had approved of, even when I did not approve of her presence at the academy.

I cleared my throat to draw his attention back to me. “I am sure you are eager to get a tour of the academy and learn about thesecurity measures that have been put in place to protect the humans under the academy’s protection.”

The officer opened his mouth, and I wondered if he was searching for a reason not to agree with me. But if he was truly at the academy to inspect it and assess the success of the integration of humans into the school, there was no way he could.

I suspected that his visit to Drex had just as much to do with Fiona as it did with his purported mission, which was why I was determined to thwart him. Fiona might not be mine. I might not have any claim on her. But that did not quell the jealous haze that had settled over me like a heavy blanket that prickled my skin and quickened my pulse.

I did not care what claim this man might have on her. If she had ever been his, she was not his now. That much was clear from the way she avoided his gaze. And if I had anything to do with it, she would never be his.

It took considerable self-control not to flatten the man to the ground or, at the very least, challenge him to a battle of honor. I inhaled deeply and reminded myself that he was an envoy from Earth—a guest of the Academy—and the Admiral would be severely displeased with me if I bloodied him. That was fine. There were other ways to make him suffer.

“Come.” I motioned to him with one arm. “I will give you a tour and tell you every detail of our security protocols.”

“I don’t want to impose—”

I slapped the man hard on the back, sending him stumbling forward and then catching him before he fell. “I insist.”

I glanced back at Fiona as I steered the captain from her office. She did not look angry, but she did not look pleased.It was a mystery to me which of us had irritated her more. I would usually have guessed that it was me, but I got the sense she was glad I was taking the man from her presence.

I hoped so, because I intended to keep the human much too busy or too exhausted to bother her again.

Chapter

Twenty-Seven

Fiona

Istood in a state of shock after Devon and Vyk left. Had that just happened? I’d been glad for Vyk’s arrival, since it saved me from a very awkward conversation with the captain, but I had not been comforted by the look in the commander’s eyes as he’d led Devon away.

I sat on my desk and released a long breath. Should I go after them? Should I join the tour of the academy’s security systems to make sure the two guys didn’t end up in some kind of standoff? No, my presence definitely would not help with that. Besides, Vyk had no reason to flex his authority over Devon. It wasn’t like I was anything to him, after all. And Vyk wasn’t a brute.

I winced at that thought. He had been Inferno Force, and he’d been known for ruthless interrogations. Not that he had anyreason to interrogate Devon. Keep telling yourself that, I thought.

“He wouldn’t do anything to the man,” I said out loud, more to convince myself than anything. Would he?

The sound of steps in the hallway made my pulse quicken. Were they back so soon or had Gorman managed to escape? Then I realized that the footfall wasn’t heavy and determined, it was light and quick.

“There you are, hon.” Reina’s towering blue hair popped around the doorframe before the rest of her appeared. Her snug fuchsia dress hugged her angular frame and reached below her knees, which explained her short stride. The contrast between her hair and dress was striking, and seemed even more dramatic since everyone else in the school wore dark uniforms. “I thought I might find you here. I did check the female tower, the staff dining room, and the Stacks before coming here, so it wasn’t my first guess, but here you are!”

I managed to return her bright smile even though my heart was still hammering from the appearance of first Gorman and then Vyk. “What can I do for you?”

“Not a thing, hon, but I thought you might have seen the Earth envoy.”

“Captain Gorman?”

Reina nodded her head and her vertical swish of hair bobbled. “That’s the one. I heard that

you know him.”

“Barely,” I said, the words rushing out so quickly that the Vexling’s eyebrows shot skyward. I tempered my voice. “I mean, I do know him but not well.”

“Then you haven’t seen him yet?”

“Actually, I have.” My cheeks warmed. Why did I feel like I was on the receiving end of a

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