Page 65 of Shadow Caster
He blinked, and his pupils widened. The atmosphere went from playful to menacing.
Panic gripped my chest. “It’s not like that. It was an accident.”
“Youaccidentallywalked into his room?” He tapped his chin with a claw. “Let me see. Oh, Principal Brunner, Iaccidentallywalked into Master Hyde’s bedroom and then stayed in there for a good ten minutes.”
Annoyance mingled with the panic swirling in my chest. “You were spying on us?”
“It’s my job to keep watch on the occupants of this dorm.” Larkin’s drawl was less relaxed now. “Now, tell me why I shouldn’t report you?”
This was what Hyde had been worried about. I couldn’t let Larkin report us. I was the student. I’d get a slap on the wrist, but Hyde … Hyde could lose his job. His place here. Oh, shit.
“Fine. The truth is that I phased into his room by accident. It’s a thing I can do. I broke curfew and had to get back quickly, but I got my location mixed up and ended up in Hyde’s room.”
He blinked slowly at me. “Oh.”
“Oh?”
“I thought you were going to say you were in love with him or something, which would be fine. I mean, the hunk of a man deserves some action, and the way the administration has treated him …pffft, fuck them. But I like your version better.” He slid off the sofa in a catlike, sinuous way and sidled up to me. “Tell me about this shadow phasing.”
I filled him in on the training incident and then the curfew and how I’d ended up in Hyde’s room.
“How exciting. What did Brunner have to say?”
I winced. “Yeah, I’m not telling her. I just … I want to get a grip on it first. To understand it. I mean … I’m a nightblood female with a shadow knight gene and now this weird ability? I need to get my head around it.”
“Hmmmm.” Larkin moved closer, his eyes huge and compelling. “Yes, you certainly are a nightblood, but more … so much more.”
I shuffled away from him. “Has anyone ever told you, you have issues with personal space?”
“I have no problem with personal space.” He grinned. “I love it. It’s Hyde who has issues. The man has been alone for too long. Doesn’t even take portal leave to stick it to the ladies.”
Oh, God. “Are you seriously having this conversation with me?”
“I don’t know? Am I? Or maybe you’re asleep, and all this is a dream, in which case you can ask me anything, and I would be compelled to answer.”
I had no idea what game he was playing, but like hell was I going to pass up the opportunity to find out more about Hyde.
“What happened to Hyde. How did he lose his leg?”
Larkin gave me a sly look. “Surely this is a question you should be asking him.”
“Probably, but I’m asking you.”
He considered for a moment and then shrugged. “It got eaten, just like they say. Snapped right off in the mist when he was hunting for hounds. Came as a shock it did, considering they called him the hound whisperer. It was his special skill. Hyde could mesmerize a hound and bring it down easily. It was why he got the gig of Trial Master in the first place. But something went wrong that fateful day.”
“Wait … so, he didn’t carry someone back while missing a leg?”
Larkin stared at me. “Are you listening to yourself?”
Okay. He had a point, that sounded ridiculous.
“Redmond found him when he didn’t return to the barracks,” Larkin said. “He carried him back, bleeding and unconscious.”
“And the scars on Hyde’s back?”
Larkin smirked. “Those came way before. Courtesy of the Hyde family, and thatisArcher’s story to tell.”
Was that what Hyde had meant when he’d mentioned the training Hydes went through. This was why Oberon had been so devastated when he didn’t get the mark. He’d said he’d failed. It was obvious the Hyde family put a lot of emphasis on becoming a shadow knight.
