Page 68 of Obsession

The floor trembled just before a squad of armed Drexians rounded the corner, and panic clawed at my throat. All my fears about the simulation flew out the window. None of that mattered because the one thing I did know for sure about the program was that there were no safeties. There was no way to stop the approaching Drexians from hurting Kann even more.

Realization settled over me like a cold shroud as a chill slid down my spine. We'd failed. We hadn't saved Kann. We wouldn't be able to help rescue Sasha. It was all over.

I threw my arms around Kann, pressing my lips to his clammy cheek and kissing him one last time. "I love you," I breathed into his ear, not caring if he was too far gone to hear me. I had to say it, just once.

Then I braced myself for hands to pull us apart, for shouts to order me to release him. But instead, everything vanished.

The Drexians charging toward us disappeared. Tov and Zokren winked out of existence. Even the stone walls of the academy evaporated like mist.

The remaining three of us stood in an empty holochamber, the scent of burning tallow evaporating as swiftly as everything else about the old academy. But we were still standing.

Volten released a cracking breath. "It worked."

Before I could release a breath of relief, my gaze fell to Kann's blood still dripping steadily from his leg. Now instead of landing on the stone floor, it was falling on the shiny, holographic panels beneath our feet.

The doors slid open with a hiss, and Zav rushed in, with Reina fluttering behind him. I had expected to see him. I had not expected to see her. Still, I was glad to see anyone who was not a holographic creation.

“Thank the heavens, you made it!" Reina's hands flapped excitedly. “I knew they could do it.” She patted Zav’s arm. “I knew it would work. Didn’t I tell you? I knew Nina and Vekron could help, and—"

I didn’t know who Nina and Vekron were, but at the moment, I didn’t care.

"Kann needs help." I locked eyes with Zav. "He's lost too much blood."

Zav took all of a single heartbeat taking in Kann, who was still leaning on Volten. Then the Taori scooped Kann up like he weighed nothing and strode out, Reina scurrying after him and chirping about getting to the surgeon.

Volten stumbled forward to follow, the weariness from carrying Volten through the academy clearly hitting him, but I grabbed his arm. "Thank you—for risking everything to save us, to save him.”

“You do not need to thank me. I would do it a thousand times.” He drew in a breath. “But he's not saved, yet."

He walked off, leaving me standing in the holochamber. Before I could absorb the impending shellshock, Fiona and Jess rushed inside and cocooned me in a hug, their arms wrapping around me from all directions and holding me up as my legs threatened to give out.

"We were so worried,” Fiona said, her voice huskier than usual

Jess squeezed me tight without speaking, and I suspected she was fighting back tears like I was. I might not have known the women for long, but they had become my family since I’d come to the academy. Being held by them made me truly know I’d come home.

"Let's get you cleaned up." Fiona started steering me toward the door. "You probably want a hot shower—"

I shook my head. "I need to be with Kann."

They exchanged a look but didn't argue. "We'll walk you to the surgeon."

As we made our way through the familiar corridors of the School of Battle, profound relief washed over me. The real academy. My friends.

"I missed you both so much." My voice cracked. "You know I love you, right?"

“Did you drink a lot of Drexian wine in the simulation?” Jess teased.

I shook my head. “It’s true. We might not share blood, but you are both family to me.”

Fiona laughed. "What happened in there?"

Everything, I thought. Everything happened, and everything had changed.

Chapter

Forty-Eight

Jess

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