Page 226 of A University of Betrayal

The way he spoke to him was more than odd. Had he ever seen Adrian in the training hall? He was a real fighting machine. Andyes, damn,it made me jealous.

“In two weeks, I’m stocking up the clan. The Ruinouveaux we turned in Sacramento will be arriving, and I don’t want things to get out of hand here.” New staff? Ruinouveaux? “Think of it as your chance to get better and prove you’re part of the most powerful and darkest lineage in history.” Nicolaj’s conspiratorial tone sent a shiver down my spine. “And, regarding the plan, I have much to prepare. I hope you know that this is your chance to prove your willpower to me.”

I heard Nicolaj move closer to the open window and automatically pressed myself closer to the wall.

“Yes, sir,” I heard Adrian speak for the first time.

Sir. Who was this man to Adrian? I almost giggled, but then I heard footsteps.

“I’m counting on you. As always.”

Fuck. His voice was right above me. He had to be standing by the window.

When he continued, his voice was deeper, darker, almost menacing.

“I’ve waited far too long for this, and now it’s going to happen.”

“Don’t you think the Quatura are getting suspicious about the high level of activity in our territories? And the Senseque. They sense something like that.”

Adrian sounded more toneless than usual.

Nicolaj just laughed.

“Bastien will handle this.”

What did he mean byhandle this? And what were they even talking about? Did it have something to do with their spy organization? This DUIO?

“But he...” Adrian began, but the head of the clan interrupted him and finally stepped away from the window.

It was a mystery to me how he hadn’t heard my heartbeat. Yes, it was quieter and slower. But Nicolaj was powerful and certainly trained accordingly.

“He won’t. Bastien doesn’t question my command. Besides, we don’t always have to hide our dominance from our enemies. Let them know we won’t just stand by and watch them bring more scum into our town.”

Silence.And a lot of question marks above my head, that if they were really there, would have led Nicolaj to discovering me by now.

“Now leave. I need time to contact my men in Sacramento.”

I listened to Adrian’s footsteps as he left the room. Then a door clicked shut. The next thing I heard was Nicolaj dialing a number. Agonizing seconds passed as he stepped closer to the window again, and I tried to slow my heartbeat.

“It’s all going as planned.”

I almost flinched, so frightened I was by his proximity. He was silent, seemed to be listening to the person on the phone. And I had the feeling that I shouldn’t have been here for a long time. All I had wanted to do was find out more about Adrian. I hadn’t been able to make sense of anything from the conversation, and I had a bad feeling.

What if the DeLoughreys were also keeping secretsfrom each other? In my opinion, Bastien was a person of respect for everyone here. But now the head of the clan was planning something behind his back? Why? Could Bastien perhaps not be trusted? Uncertainty gnawed at me, making me wonder if I could trust anyoneat all.

Then I pressed my hand over my mouth, because otherwise I would have made a startled sound when Nicolaj responded to the person on the phone.

“It’s time for the Receptum to become the place it used to be.”

Suddenly, he moved away from the window, and I heard a door open and close again.

He was gone.

It was about time I left too and put this strange conversation out of my far too curious head as quickly as possible.

Chapter 41

Emely

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