Page 26 of Alpha's Hated Mate

“Like what?”

“Let me figure that out,” says Aydan. “Can we drop it now and get back to the visions?”

“I agree,” Yarra says, switching gears. “So, we’ve identified the woman in your visions, and it just so happens to be someone tied to the Alpha King. That means there has to be records of her somewhere.” She pauses, one finger on her chin in thought. “Let me talk to Jean about it. She knows a lot about royal history, and she probably remembers when the coup happened. Maybe she can tell us something interesting that never made it into the history books.”

Aydan and I both nod in unison, but we don’t say anything else to one another. God, I forgot what an asshole he can be.

“Aydan, try to find out more details about the coup. Maybe there are some clues there that you missed,” Yarra says.

“Right,” he replies stiffly.

“I have to get to class,” I say, standing up. “If I have any other visions or anything else odd happens, I’ll let you guys know.” I give Yarra a quick hug and add, “Let’s meet up later, okay?”

“Okay,” she says. I walk off without so much as a glance back at Aydan. I swear I’ve never met a more stubborn ass of a wolf. And the way he jumped to Nadia’s defense was . . . His loyalty to his sister is respectable. I can’t blame him for that, really. However, under the circumstances, it’s also a little off-putting. Maybe it’s just because I’ve never liked her. I don’t know. All I do know is that I don’t trust Nadia as far as I can throw her.

Chapter Twelve—Aydan

Iwent to my classes, half paying attention and half looking for my sister. The idea of her creeping around in the woods at night unsettles me, as well it should. Nadia’s not new here. Why would she do something so stupid? I’m sure there’s some nerdy explanation for whatever she was doing, like some personal environmental project. Nadia knows better than to go traipsing around in a dangerous forest in the middle of the night. If she was there, she must have had a good reason.

My last class is finishing up, and there’s still no Nadia. We’ve got at least three classes together, and she hasn’t been here for any of them. What’s going on with her?

“Okay,” the professor says as the class wraps up, “make sure to read chapters fourteen and fifteen by Monday. And don’t forget we’ve got a quiz next Wednesday.”

I’m barely paying attention as I walk past his desk.

“Mr. Vaultmore?”

I pause and look back at the professor, a slight man with wire-rimmed glasses. “Yes?”

“Just wanted to let you know that the faculty appreciates what your father did for the school during his life. He was truly a giant among men.”

“Thank you,” I say and give him a polite smile.That was random,I think as I walk out. I get about five steps from the classroom before I remember . . . today is the anniversary of Dad’s death.

That’swhy I haven’t seen her. I pull out my phone and text her.Hey. You okay?

It takes a few minutes, but she texts back,Yeah. I’m okay. You?

This is the problem with text messages. It’s so easy to hide your real feelings. I should be with her.Where are you right now?

A longer pause this time. I’m all the way outside now, looking down at my phone and waiting for her reply.

Spiral. Top floor balcony. I just need a little time away from all this.

That makes my heart ache a little. Nadia was close to our father. When he passed, she went into a depression so deep that we thought she would stay in her room forever.

I’m on my way, I text her.

The evening air is already starting to settle in around me when I reach Spiral’s top floor. This floor is strictly for studying. They even magically silenced the whole floor just to prevent distractions. I’ve always found it a little unnerving to walk across stone floors without hearing the sound of my shoes or the swish of my clothing. There are long wooden tables in rows with reading lamps on each of them. On all sides are bookshelves as high as the peaked roof above us.

Outside of the lamps, there’s no other lighting here. Whatever light there is comes in from the outside during the day. I can’t imagine what this place is like at night.

On the farthest end of the room is a set of double-doors leading out to the balcony and a reprieve from the room’s oppressive magical silence. I make a beeline for it.

As I step out onto the balcony, the sound of the world comes rushing back. It’s mostly just the wind, but it’s better than what I just left behind. Otherwise, it’s beautiful up here. The sun burns orange as it makes its way toward the horizon, and the blue sky looks like someone’s turned down the dimmer switch.

Nadia is sitting in one of two wrought-iron chairs near the railing and a few steps from the entrance. She’s sitting up straight with her legs crossed, her long blonde hair loose and catching the breeze. She looks like she’s watching a lecture in class, almost. Blue eyes alert, back straight . . . It’s hard to tell that she’s lost in thought.

“Hey,” I call out. She looks up at me and smiles.

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