Page 19 of Tear of Destiny

“You should be able to spot a powerful spirit. I mean, that’s the reason you wound up here.”

“You sound like my father,” Alessandro sighs.

I raise my eyebrows inquiringly. “Am I about to finally find out what you did?”

The blond hunter presses his lips into a thin line and flashes me an icy look. I doubt I’ll get anything out of him. But fortunately, Alessandro is more laid back.

“Oh, what’s life without a little risk?”

“Uh… really long and safe,” I retort.

Alessandro dismisses my comment with a wave of his hand. “More like boring and tedious. I never shy away from risk, and I have loads of fun.”

“That’s kind of cryptic.”

“And stupid,” adds Thomas.

Alessandro waves his hand again and says, “Anyway, that’s ancient history. At first, I figured this was going to be some kind of punishment for me. But now I realize it couldn’t have turned out better. I’m surrounded by key spirits, and I can keep pursuing my passion here.”

“Then watch out that your passion doesn’t land you in trouble again,” I say.

Alessandro laughs. “Do you always have an opinion about everything? I’m guessing that doesn’t exactly make you popular with everyone.” His tone is amused, with a hint of appreciation, maybe even fascination.

His hunter buddy groans. He’s obviously tired of this conversation. To him, I’m just a nobody student who’s a waste of his time and has no business talking to hunters.

I studiously ignore Thomas and reply to Alessandro, “Where’s the fun in life if you always follow the rules?”

He laughs again and shakes his head. “It’s definitely worth keeping tabs on you. You’re a feisty one.” His gaze wanders to Yoru. “There’s obviously more to you than meets the eye.”

“I could say the same to you,” I reply.

Alessandro regards me for a moment longer and then says, “Well, we should keep moving.” He raises his hand in a wave, and I watch him go. Such a peculiar guy.

I turn, about to head to my room when I see a person coming toward me down the corridor. Ayden. He’s already seen me and seems to be weighing up how to deal with this encounter. He’s dragging his feet and looks totally exhausted. It’s a shock seeing him like that, and I have a creeping suspicion. I go to him as if in a trance.

“You’ve just come from the trials, right? You don’t look so good.”

“I’m okay. Don’t worry,” he says.

I gulp and give a short nod. I know he doesn’t want to talk to me about it. But I’m worried about him. He leans against the wall and studies the side of my face. Even his eyes look restless and jittery.

“I still don’t understand why you do it to yourself. Especially when nobody knows the long-term side effects.”

“Tess, it’s not your concern. Even less now that we’re not together.”

His words sting, and I swallow before saying, “But I still care about you.”

He sighs. “I care about you too.”

I look up in surprise and intercept his gaze, but the usual warmth in it, and the overwhelming feeling I associate with that, is missing.

“What was Fabrici doing here?”

I raise my eyebrows. “Who?”

He jerks his head in the direction Alessandro and the other hunter just went. And then the name Ayden just mentioned rings a bell. Fabrici – one of the most influential families in the Tempes world.

I catch my breath as it dawns on me. “You mean Alessandro? He’s a Fabrici?” I can’t believe it. Why didn’t he say anything?

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