Page 54 of Legend

This consideration and discretion were probably more than I deserved. “The academy is cavernous, and more than one cadet had gotten turned around in the labyrinth of corridors. I doubt it is anything more than that.”

“Agreed.” Tivek allowed himself a breath, and he flicked his gaze around my quarters, landing for a moment on the two empty glasses. If he found this odd or if he believed I was secretly hiding the captain, he did not comment.

“We should search separately to cover more ground,” I suggested, knowing that Fiona would never forgive me if I left her in my room. “You take the main hall and the corridors and towers around his assigned quarters. I will make sure he has not wandered to the underground levels.”

Tivek gave me a curt nod and turned to go while I let the door slide shut. It had barely closed when Fiona strode from the bathroom.

“He’s missing?” She pinned me with a hard gaze. “You had nothing to do with this?”

“How could I? I have been with you since leaving the banquet hall.”

She rubbed a hand over her forehead. “Right. Of course. We saw him walking out with Britta together.” She snapped her fingers. “Britta!” Then she made a face. “Shewouldn’t have taken him back to her quarters, would she? I know she was taking one for the team, but I didn’t mean for her to dothat.”

“Chances are good he got lost. He did drink Drexian wine for the first time.”

She nodded. “I’m still going to check with Britta. Did I hear that you’re going to go to the underground floors?” Her expression darkened. “Please don’t tell me there are still beasts in the dungeons.”

“There are not, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t tunnels that are unsafe.”

She groaned. “This place is a death trap. Why did I think we’d be able to convince anyone from Earth that it’s safe?”

I stiffened at her comment. “The academy is only dangerous for those who do not heed warnings.”

“I don’t know if anyone gave Devon warnings.”

I disliked hearing her refer to him in such familiar terms, but I reminded myself that she was more concerned with the damage he could do with a bad report than she was for him.

She raked a hand through her hair. “I hope we find him before he gets into more trouble.”

“We will.” I eyed her disheveled hair and remembered her fingers tangling in my hair. As much as I wanted more of her, I did not trust myself. Not tonight. “It is late, and this search might take a while. I do not expect you to return here.”

I opened the door and stood to the side so she could exit first.

She glanced at me then quickly away. “Asyou wish.”

I hung back for a moment after she stomped out. The woman had no idea what I truly wished. If she did, she would have run.

Chapter

Forty-Two

Fiona

My face burned as I hurried from the commander’s quarters, and I didn’t dare look back. Why was I angry that he’d told me not to come back? I should have been thrilled, right? After all, I’d been outraged by his bet and by being forced to spend time with him. So, why had his dismissal irritated me when it should have made me cheer?

“It’s not because of that kiss,” I scoffed to myself as my feet thwacked the stone floors in a punishing rhythm.

He was hardly the first guy I’d kissed. Hell, he wasn’t even the first superior officer I’d kissed, which was not something I should be bragging about. But I was not some innocent flower who could have her head turned by a single kiss.

But he hadn’t kissed me. I’d kissed him. “And then he sent you away.”

My eyes burned as I tried to brush off the humiliation. It hadn’t been a bad kiss, so if Vyk wasn’t into me—or my kiss—then that was his loss. Still, my cheeks flamed as I made my way down one dimly lit corridor and then another.

I had never asked for any of this—the bet, the time with the infuriating Vyk, the blast-from-the-past visit from Gorman—but I was in too deep to get out now. I had to suck it up and move forward, which meant ignoring the fact that I’d kissed Vyk and he’d pushed me away, and focusing on finding Devon.

I welcomed the cold wind swirling around me as I crossed the open-air bridge and caught a glimpse of the moonlight bouncing off the tempestuous waves of the aptly named Restless Sea. The cool was bracing and banished any remnants of effects from the alien gin. By the time I reached the other side, I was completely awake. I was also fired up.

I’d built a reputation for being a tough badass. I could hang with the guys any day, and I’d never backed down from a challenge. It was why I’d adapted to the academy so well. The Drexians rejected toughness. So why had I forgotten that?

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