Page 75 of Legend

He spun around again, his brow furrowing. “Actually, no. The human captain contacted me directly. He asked for a way to reach me before we arrived on Drex. He said that he hoped to achieve results quickly so he could return to Earth.”

Achieve results? Hadn’t he been at the academy to observe and assess? What kind of results did he mean? Unease tickled the back of my neck and even the nodes running along my spine prickled.

The Drexian pilot might be legit, and the human envoy might also have been on a genuine mission from Earth, but something felt off. As a pilot, I operated on plenty of gut instinct, and my gut was screaming at me that something was wrong.

“Do me one favor, Prax,” I said as I took a step back.

He met my gaze and inclined his head. “Ask it.”

“Do not depart until you have received authorization from me directly. No matter what anyone else might tell you. I am the senior Flight officer at the academy right now, and this shipyard is under my command.”

He gave me a curt nod. “Understood.”

I spun on my heel and strode off the ship toward the looming black towers. It was time to get answers.

Chapter

Fifty-Eight

Vyk

Iheld my shirt in one hand as I stepped into the corridor and glanced back at the climbing wall that was now empty. Fiona had slipped out first, and I had given her ample time to leave the School of Battle before I’d followed. It had not been long enough for my heart to stop pounding or the sweat to cool on my skin. Every time I started to steady my breath, I thought of Fiona and my heartbeat went into overdrive. At this rate, I would never cool down.

Not that I wished to rid myself of the heat that being with the woman provoked in me. I had never felt as alive as when I was with her. Not when I’d been in Inferno Force battles. Not when I’d interrogated enemy combatants. Not when I’d risked my life by going into Kronock space. Nothing made me feel as electrified as beingwith Fiona.

“You don’t have the captain in there with you?”

I jerked at the voice from behind, pivoting to see Kann grinning as he approached. “The captain?”

“The human?” Kann raised a brow. “You didn’t challenge him to the wall like you challenged him to the gauntlet, did you?”

I barked out a laugh with such unnatural force that he jumped and glanced uneasily at the door to the climbing wall.

“You didn’t, did you?” Now his voice wasn’t teasing.

“I did not.” I evened my voice, sweeping an arm wide. “But you may check if you wish.”

Kann shook his head and laughed. “I trust you.”

I grunted and resumed walking down the corridor toward the main hall with Kann by my side. At least the Drexian did not suspect that I had anyone else with me on the wall. But who would ever guess that Fiona had been pressed against it only minutes earlier?

“I did not know you were a fan of the wall,” Kann said to break the silence of our walk.

“There is nothing like the wall for focus.” This was true, and it had been the reason I had been climbing. “It helps center my thoughts.”

“I am still surprised that you were not a Blade.”

“Irons and Blades are not always as different as we seem. Both require discipline and focus.” I cut a glance to the Drexian. “I would have been proud to be a Blade.”

He puffed out his chest as we walked under the stone arch with the curved blades carved into it, but the sight of his friendVolten stopped him from saying more about our schools. “Volt!”

The flight instructor was taking long strides with his head down as he crossed the main hall, but he stopped when he heard Kann call out.

“You look like you are on a mission.” Kann eyed his friend. “What has happened?”

“Nothing has happened.” Volten scowled. “At least, not yet. It might be nothing, but it might also be something…”

Kann grabbed his friend by the sides of the arms. “You are not making sense.”

---