Page 20 of Power of Draken

"I found Cadet Lexington alone, unguarded and ill prepared for the situation,” Kai says with more than a hint of disgust. “I would hope that had others been present, at least one of them would have had enough situational awareness to make wiser life choices."

The two colonels beside my mother snort softly, and a fraction of my tension releases into the floor. Whatever is going to happen, Ellie and Trish won’t suffer for it. Though the way Kai phrased his words leaves me certain that he knows exactly who my co-conspirators are. Knowledge that he’ll no doubt weaponize in the future.

For today though, I’ll take the win.

Colonel Dra’ash rubs his long mustache, fighting a smile. “I think you may be giving twenty-three year olds too much credit, Commander Grayson.”

The commandant presses her lips together and turns to Kai. “The repercussions of this incident will set the tone for the rest of the year. I would like it made clear to all cadets that the Spire addresses all misconduct immediately and severely, with no special treatment afforded to anyone. The queen’s niece included. Set the punishment accordingly.”

Here we go. My body freezes on me, my eyes dropping to the floor. My breath halts.

“I agree with you completely, Commandant,” Kai replies, killing what little hope I had in my chest that Kyrian was right. Uncrossing his arms, he drapes them behind his back, his muscles rippling with even those small motions. “This incident is an important opportunity to clarify expectations for all cadets involved. Especially those in the positions of leadership.” He turns to face me, but then his gaze shoots right over my head. “Squad Leader Sorel.”

Wait, what?

Kyrian steps forward, effectively placing himself between Kai and me. The way he did at Wishing Well Inn. “Sir?”

"As Cadet Lexington’s squad leader, the responsibility for her whereabouts and actions falls to you. Your dereliction of this duty last night led to the endangerment of both personnel and property. As such, you will personally stand night shift watch outside her quarters every day for the next two weeks.”

I inhale sharply. Two weeks with barely any sleep, bar what he catches during the training day? That’s somewhere between barbaric and impossible.

Kai rotates back to the commandant and inclines his head. “Additionally, with your permission, I will now be requiring all squad leaders to submit daily written accountability reports of all cadets under their command, to be continued until such a time as I’m satisfied with their competence.”

The commandant’s brow rises. “That will be a very unpopular order, Commander Grayson.”

“I was unaware that being liked was part of my responsibilities, ma’am.”

“I see.” She leans forward. “And as for Cadet Lexington herself?”

“Cadet Lexington plainly has too much time on her hands and not enough discipline to use it wisely,” Kai says with a dismissive tone. “I’m confident Squad Leader Sorel will now find a more worthwhile activity to occupy her. For instance, Cadet Lexington may benefit from instruction on how to not get herself killed the moment she steps out of the school house.”

“Yes, sir,” Kyrian echoes smoothly, as if his own best friend hadn’t just sentenced him to two weeks of hell.

The commandant looks at the two colonels at her side, who nod their approval. Kai has read her perfectly, I have to give him that. He handed the commandant everything she wanted and then some: Accountability. Discipline. And nothing to mar her legacy. After all, what better way to ensure that none of my disgrace blows back on the commandant, than to shift the blame away from the Ainsley line entirely.

Best of all, in my mother’s eyes, Grayson punishing his best friend will strike terror in the hearts of all other cadets. I doubt anyone will dare to step out of line after this.

It’s vicious and brilliant. And it works out deceptively well in my favor. Which is one thing I know better than to expect from the azure twins. Something more is coming. It has to.

I keep my mouth shut as we are dismissed from the commandant’s office and clear the stairs back to ground level, Kai and Kyrian walking like sentries beside me. Then I turn to Grayson. “Well?”

Kai cocks a brow without breaking his stride. “Is there a sentence to go with that?”

“What do you want from me?” I ask, nearly jogging to keep up with their longer strides. “Because there is no way in hell you just got me out of trouble out of the goodness of your heart.”

“Out of trouble?” A chilly smile touches Kai’s lips. “Oh, you aren’t out of trouble by a longshot. What I got up there is license to do with you as I wish without anyone looking over my shoulder.”

Fuck.

I realize I said that aloud when Kyrian stifles a laugh. I still don’t understand why he isn’t more pissed, but maybe he is one of those people who doesn’t need sleep or something.

“Presumptuous,” says Kai.

Kyrian does laugh at that.

Kai punches his shoulder, which only makes Kyrian laugh harder.

Ignoring him, Kai returns his attention to me, all spots of humor disappearing from his face at once. It’s as if the sight of me reminds him of something unsavory. “I promised the commandant to find something worthwhile to occupy your time.”

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