Page 38 of The Hunt of Night

I appreciate that he didn’t saynoand went withnot yetinstead.

“I don’t care if you live or die, Miss Prissy,” Tora shouts, giving her a pointed look before turning his attention to the rest of the group. “Buckle up. We’re off to Glacial Lake.”

16

ADRIANNA

The ground shifts beneath my feet, transforming the blades of grass and warm sun into a thin layer of compact snow, with thick clouds slowly drifting across the sky.

I shiver, instinctively drawing my cloak tighter around my body as Cassian steps in closer. He presses his front against my back, attempting to shield me from the icy air.

“Why would you even bring us here?” Vallie whines, stomping her foot in disbelief as her teeth chatter.

“Why would you even bother attending the academy if you’re just here to ask dumb questions like that?” Professor Tora retorts with a cock of his brow, and it takes all my effort to smother my grin, but the chuckle that slips between my lips doesn’t go unnoticed.

Vallie’s laser-sharp gaze snaps my way. Her lip curls in disgust at the mere sight of me, and the promise of war burns in her eyes. How fun. Her mouth parts as her finger aims in my direction, but before she can utter a word, Tora continues.

“For all those actually interested in making a difference to the Floodborn Kingdom, I’ve brought us to Glacial Lake today because it is a part of what matters. Every town, every city, every inch of this kingdom matters, or it should, to the heir.” I feelhis gaze cast my way for what feels like a split second longer than everyone else, but I shake it off, not inflating my own ego that much so early in the day. “Take a look around, we’re just on the outskirts, but we’ll press forward, farther into town in a few moments. I recommend staying in pairs at a minimum. The snow beneath your feet is covering ice, and if that breaks…let’s just say the cold you’re feeling now will pale in comparison.” A wicked smirk tugs at his lips as he turns away from everyone, muttering with a woman beside him as he taps away on the device in his hand.

“How funny is it that Kryll and Tora are brothers, made from the same DNA combination, yet they’re so different?” Cassian murmurs, his lips brushing against my ear with every word, making me shiver at the contact.

I hum in agreement, unable to find my tongue.

Focus, Addi.

Dammit.

Clearing my throat, it takes every ounce of my strength to take a step forward, putting some distance between us. Thankfully, he doesn’t follow, giving me a little space as I take in the area, as Tora advised.

I keep my movement steady and my feet shoulder-width apart, acutely aware of the ice that lies beneath me. Emptiness surrounds us, except for a tree line in the distance with a clifftop peeking down at us from the west.

Everything feels still, quiet, calm. Only the chatter from our class fills the air.

A flurry blows, whipping soft flecks of snow into the air, and it dances majestically around us. It’s mesmerizing. A stark contrast to the weather we’re used to. I’ve never been here, to Glacial Lake. Not that I can remember, at least, but my father has spoken of it many times in his bid to educate me.

I recall mentions of battles that took place here, but nothing specific comes to mind, and if I’m right, the main origin to inhabit the area is mages. The cold keeps the brain alive, and the calmness allows the mages the ability to think uninterrupted.

“It’s magical, isn’t it?” The whisper is one of awe, and I tilt my head to Brody, who stands shoulder to shoulder with me as he gapes at our surroundings.

“It’s something,” I answer honestly, not overly keen on the cold chill that’s starting to cling to my skin, but it is breathtaking. The snow glistens in every direction, offering a whimsical feel to the air despite the hidden sun.

“I grew up here,” he offers, making my eyebrows rise in surprise.

“You did?”

“Yeah. Until my father was accepted onto The Council, at least. Then everything changed.” The thought seems to cast a haze over his eyes, the brightness dimming as he relives whatever seems to plague him.

“The forming of The Council seems to have changed a lot of things for a lot of people,” I admit, earning a hum of agreement.

“I know one of my best friends is a vampire, but they’re no good for the kingdom either, not when they’re running rampant as they are.”

My brows furrow. “It’s strange. Since we joined the academy, I feel like I’ve heard nothing about it, seen nothing worth noting, or even felt the fear and panic like I used to when trolling the streets of the city,” I admit. He turns to me with a soft smile, but before he can speak, Kryll appears.

“I said the same thing. I can’t decide if it’s simply because we don’t have access to the media outlets like we usually would or if it’s something the academy is purposely keeping from us. There’s no denying that it still has to be going on. We’veexperienced enough of it. It can’t have simply stopped altogether because they created the academy.”

“I wouldn’t be shocked if it had stopped exactly for that reason. It would only create the illusion that the idea of an heir is working already,” Raiden muses as he decides to join us too.

Fuck…that wouldn’t be the case, would it?

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