Page 61 of Shadow Caster
He rubbed his bottom lip with his index finger, drawing my eyes to his mouth. “Your genesis isn’t exactly a conventional one. Leave it with me. In the meantime, keep your newfound ability to yourself.”
“Why?”
“Trust me, being special can often end up biting you in the ass. You’ve got enough on your plate right now as it is.”
His tone was reflective, the gruff edges somewhat softened.
“You sound like you speak from experience.”
“You don’t get to be Trial Master at the age of twenty without special skills.”
Okay, now I was even more intrigued. “What kind of special skills?”
There was an amused twinkle in his eyes now, and oh, God, was that a slight smile to accompany it? My heart beat a little faster, and heat bloomed in my chest and up over my collarbones.
“Uh-uh.” He wagged a finger at me. “You need to knock me down before I reveal my secrets.” He grabbed his sword holster off the ground and strapped it to his slender hips.
His biceps flexed through the thin material of his shirt as he worked, and I took a moment to appreciate his form. The deep V of his shirt offered a glimpse of his hard pectorals and molded to his body like a second skin, lovingly caressing his eight-pack.
“Justice?” His baritone teased my senses.
I snapped my attention to his face, need brimming in my eyes. He sucked in a breath as our gazes collided. His lips parted, and his eyes churned with an indecipherable emotion.
We remained locked like that for long seconds in which every ounce of my will urged me to bridge the gap between us. To touch him. To taste him, and the way he was looking at me screamed that he wanted it too.
He broke eye contact first, his jaw hardening. “Go grab a shower and some breakfast. Official training starts in an hour.”
Twenty
Afive-minute shower and I was hovering outside the Nightwatch dining room. The clink of cutlery and the hum of conversation swelled to fill the large space. I’d barely had a chance to speak to Minnie last night. If I could grab a half hour now …
I spotted her when a tinkling laugh drew my attention across the crowded room.
Harper Bourne—golden-haired, bubble-gum-lipsticked Harper.
Laughing.
And sitting opposite her, with her back to me, was Minnie. Minnie must have said something funny because Harper laughed again, eyes twinkling. A hot needle stabbed at my chest, and my breath caught.
Damn.
Is this how Harper felt when she’d seen me and Minnie together?
It was at that moment that Harper glanced up. Her gaze locked with mine. I raised a hand in greeting, but she was already looking away, back to Minnie—smiling and nodding and continuing the conversation as if I wasn’t even there.
And maybe I wasn’t. Maybe I shouldn’t be.
I was a shadow cadet now. I couldn’t be there for Minnie, not like Harper could.
I turned and walked out of the dining room.
I had training to go to.
* * *
Despite my best intentions,I found myself swinging by the med bay. Maybe I could get some info on the second victim? Maybe I just needed a mental distraction. I stepped onto the foyer and peered into the quarantine room. Lottie wasn’t alone; a young man was sitting up in the bed beside her, and they were deep in conversation. He wasn’t anyone I recognized, though.
Maybe Master Payne would have some answers. I went to knock on the lab door, but voices stalled me—male and female.
