Page 3 of Obsession

He pivoted as he passed. “You have someone waiting for you outside the sparring rings.”

Before I could ask why that sounded ominous, the commander ducked into the door leading to the gauntlet. I frowned, wishing I had the seniority to be running upperclassmen through the challenging course, instead ofhaving the first years for basic sparring. But I hadn’t been at the academy long, so I was still paying my dues.

Not that I minded first-years. Last year’s entering cadets had proved to be an intriguing class, especially the humans who’d held their own against bigger and stronger Drexians. I thought of the females in my intro class, the ones who’d become friends over the course of the year, the ones I now worked with as colleagues in the effort to rescue Sasha. Would any of this year’s females be as strategic in their fighting as Morgan and Jess, or a clever as Britta?

Britta.

I hadn’t run into her since I’d made her a foolish promise. What had I been thinking when I’d offered to teach her how to seduce the visiting Taori? Not only did I not know how to teach a female how to seduce a male, but I was also certain it was knowledge I should not be imparting to a cadet.

I didn’t have time to dwell on yet another impulsive action that I’d come to regret, because I could see the Drexian waiting for me in the doorway leading to the sparring rings.

“Tivek.” I couldn’t keep the relief from my voice as I greeted the Academy Master’s adjunct. Then I was instantly struck by the fact that he must be there on Admiral Zoran’s behest, which couldn’t be a good thing for me. “Does the Admiral need to see me?”

I cut my gaze to the open door and the cadets gathered inside. They were all wearing their academy uniform, but I could see that there were several humans mixed in with the Drexians, and, like the year before, a few females. Was this about the incoming class?

I hadn’t read the briefing about the new crop of cadets, and I mentally kicked myself for ignoring the information sent to all the instructors. I’d put it off, telling myself that I could handle anything a bunch of first years could throw at me.

I jerked my head toward the cadets. “Is this about them?”

The Drexian shook his head. “I am only here to relay some information about the rescue team.”

Tivek and the admiral had not been involved in every aspect of our research into the Kronock prisons and black sites, but it did not surprise me that the academy master’s most trusted advisor would still know what was happening. Tivek had an uncanny ability to know everything that went on in the school—and often beyond its borders.

“Has Sasha been located?” I pivoted from the doorway. If her location had been pinpointed, there was no time to waste.

Tivek’s gaze was unwavering. “Not to my knowledge.”

I exhaled then tried to cover my disappointment with a quick question. “Then why come now? Why not send me a briefing?”

The adjunct tilted his head to one side in a non-answer. “It is better to convey it in person.”

Unease made the hair on the back of my neck prickle. What was so important and so secretive that it could not be included in a briefing?

Tivek rocked back on the heels of his boots. “You have agreed to lead the ground team when Commander Vyk launches the rescue.”

It was a statement, not a question, but I still gave a curt nod. “I have. Volten is my closest friend, and Ariana is his mate. I would never let either of them go without my help.”

“Your loyalty is to be admired, although it is no surprise.”

Was that a compliment? The enigmatic Tivek was not known for flattery.

“Commander Vyk told me that he is deferring to you when it comes to the ground assault on the Kronock. That is why I wanted to ask you in person.”

“Ask me what?”

“I formally request a spot on the rescue mission.”

I blinked at him for a few moments. “You?”

The admiral’s adjunct wasn’t a Blade. As far as I knew, he hadn’t finished his time at the academy. He’d washed out and been taken on by Admiral Zoran, who’d clearly seen something in him. I didn’t disagree with the academy master. From what I’d seen, Tivek had proven himself to be a shrewd advisor who appeared to know every secret swirling around the ancient school.

The Drexian squared his shoulders and lifted his chin a fraction. “I believe I could be valuable, especially in regard to the Inferno Force fighter who has gone missing in search of Sasha.”

Regret gnawed at my insides. “You know about that?”

Tivek met my gaze, his own eyes locked onto mine. “I do.”

I released a breath. “I don’t know how you could help. Both Vyk and I are former Inferno Force, so if anyone would have an inside track to the missing warrior, it would be us.”

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