Page 5 of Legend

“Where is Torq?” Ariana narrowed her gaze at Jess. “I thought he would be with you.”

“He’s coming from a session in the holo-chamber with your guy.”

Ariana bobbed her head slowly, as if just remembering where Volten was, as well. “I’ll never understand why they think it’s fun to pretend to be attacked by various alien monsters.”

“Like I said, too much testosterone.” I cut a glance to the table with our research. “They can catch up when they get here.”

Jess took a seat and pulled out her tablet, tapping her fingers on the surface. "We've managed to narrow down the long list of places they could be holding Sasha to a few sites. Vyk's intel on Kronock territory has been invaluable."

Ariana breathed a sigh of relief, and I couldn't help but groan inwardly at Vyk's name. "Speaking of Vyk,” I was unable to suppress the shudder that ran through me, "he may not be so eager to share more if I’m around.”

Both Ariana and Jess turned to me.

Heat flushed my cheeks. "I might have barged into his office and demanded he get rid of the last monsters in the dungeons." My hands balled into fists at the memory of our heated exchange. "I might have lost my temper…and raised my voice."

"Good.” Jess’s voice carried unexpected steel. "After what I saw down there, someone needed to say it."

"Your request wasn't unreasonable, Fiona.” Ariana’s hand found mine in a comforting squeeze. “Not after the trials.”

"Maybe, but diplomacy isn't exactly my strong suit, and I shouldn’t have lost my temper at a Drexian we need for this mission.”

"Vyk terrifies me," Jess whispered, as if he might be lurking nearby to overhear her, “even if he did help save me last term.”

“He’s pretty intimidating,” I admitted.

“But I thought he was your type." Ariana nudged me, laughter dancing in her eyes. "Hot silver fox?"

"Please.” I rolled my eyes. "Vyk might be easy on the eyes, but his disdain for humans is a colossal turn-off. He wants us gone from this academy—how could I possibly see past that?"

"True," Ariana frowned "No woman wants to be with someone who thinks she’s beneath him.”

"Exactly," I agreed, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks once more at the thought of being romantically linked to a Drexian who saw women, especially human ones, as inferior. "I could never be with someone like Vyk—” My sentence cut short as movement caught my eye, and a figure emerged from behind a monolithic bookshelf.

Vyk.

The man was a fortress of muscle and scars, his presence commanding the air itself. Gray streaked his dark hair, silver scruff framing his tense jaw. Fuck fuck fuck.

“Commander Vyk.” My voice cracked as the tension around us snapped. His expression, unreadable as ever, gave nothing away.

I exchanged a quick glance with Ariana, who had stiffened. Jess shifted uncomfortably beside me, her earlier smiles dissolving under Vyk's steely gaze.

"Apologies," Vyk rumbled, his voice deep enough to resonate against the Stacks' old stone. "I did not mean to intrude."

Sure, like a Drexian battle commander ever 'intrudes' unintentionally. But I wasn't about to call him out on it—not when the possibility hung heavy in the air that he'd heard every word of my outburst against him.

"Um, we were just discussing the plan to find Sasha," I managed, forcing my tone to steady.

"Indeed," he replied. His gaze briefly locked with mine—a flash of something there, something unreadable, yet intense.

Why did this gruff warrior make me feel like a misbehaving child, and why did a deep dark part of me want him to punish me?

Chapter

Four

Vyk

Ihovered at the edge of the meeting around the table, my arms crossed tightly as I listened to their voices blend into a buzz of strategy and concern. Fiona's words sliced through the hum, sharp and clear, displaying intelligence and shrewdness. My previous declarations about human females had been brash and arrogant, but now they tasted like ash in my mouth, especially since Fiona was proving them to be so wrong.

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