Kann cocked his head. “Do you mean the Iron who was working on the holo-chamber?”
“Britta?” She had told me that she’d been helping to update some of the holo-chambers in the School of Battle.
“It looked like you were working closely with her.” Torq eyed Kann with his arms crossed.
Kann shook his head. “I assure you, Britta and I are only friendly colleagues.”
“Actually, you are her instructor,” Volt reminded him. “She is only a cadet.”
Kann blinked rapidly as if just remembering that fact. “Whatever she is, we are not involved. We agreed to be friends and nothing else.”
Volten’s brows jerked up. “Was that something she decided, because that doesn’t sound like a decision you would—”
“Yes,” Kann cut him off. “I might have suggested a friendly drink, but she insisted on remaining friends, which we have.” He tapped one finger on his chin. “She might actually be my first ever female friend.”
Volten put an arm around his friend’s shoulders. “I am proud of you, Kann. This is a big step for you.”
Kann jammed an elbow into his gut. “Very funny. Now are we going to raid the kitchens or not?”
Volten blew me a kiss as the three Drexians backed away, laughing and shoving each other like they were children. I spun back toward the looming doors to the Stacks, grateful to have a moment alone, even though another part of me wondered how much longer I should wait for Fiona before going in after her with metaphorical guns blazing.
Chapter
Six
Fiona
“What was that about?” Ariana was waiting for me when I emerged from the heavy doors guarding the entrance to the Stacks.
I blew out a breath, releasing some of the tension that I’d been holding when I’d been around Vyk. Then I noticed that Ariana’s mate wasn’t with her. “Where’s Volten?”
“He and the other guys wanted to sneak down to the kitchens for a snack.”
I allowed myself a grin. That didn’t sound too bad, although my stomach was still in a knot from talking with Vyk. “He wants us to play nice.”
A lookof outrage flicked across my friend’s face. “Hewants to play nice? After everything he’s done?” She huffed out a breath. “Typical guy. As soon as they get called out for being a dick, they want to be forgiven.”
“Exactly. Does he actually feel regret, or does he just regret getting caught and having all of us hate him?”
Ariana eyed me as we walked down the empty corridor. “I hope you didn’t forgive him so easily.”
I slid my gaze to her and tilted my head. “Does that seem like my style?” I shook my head. “I challenged him to a card game.”
Her eyes flared. “You did? Does he have any idea how good you are?”
I twitched one shoulder up. “Who knows? I doubt it. I don’t get the feeling he’s spent much time learning about the talents of the humans who joined the academy.”
Ariana stifled a laugh, sneaking a final look behind us as we rounded the corner. “Good point. I’m sure he has no clue that you wipe the floor with the rest of us when we play.”
We approached Jess, who was talking with Britta, whose silver hair was pulled high in a tight bun, and Morgan, who looked like she’d just woken up. All three women pivoted to us.
“Sorry I missed the meeting.” Morgan swiped a blond curl from her eyes, revealing a sheet mark on one cheek. “I planned to lie down for five minutes.”
Jess elbowed her playfully. “Famous last words. At least you didn’t sleep through the night.”
Morgan poked out her bottom lip. “It sounds like I missed a lot.”
“It sounds like we all missed something.” Britta slid her gaze between me and Ariana. “Are you talking about how Fiona beats our asses in cards?”