Page 42 of Shifting Tides
“Mr. Dracul!” Ms. Tanis was out of breath as she came up behind me.
“I know, I know,” I said, slowing my pace just a little. “I’m heading straight back.” I tried not to sound annoyed that she apparently felt the need to tell me twice.
“No, it’s not that,” she said, holding a hand out to stop me. For someone so petite, she certainly made me feel about a footshorter in certain circumstances. Like this one. Just like Arthur did.
“Is it about what happened last week? Because Brett—”
“It’s not about Brett,” she interrupted and squeezed her eyes tight. She exhaled and then smiled.“Your father spoke to me today.”
Like I hadn’t seen them right in front of me. I crossed my arms over my chest. I didn’t like the tone in her voice.
“He informed me of thetaskhe assigned you.”
I resisted the urge to snort in derision, instead biting my lip. Arthur assigned a task master? Faking a friendship with Arya wasthatimportant?
“He told you,” was all I said.
“Clearly, your father was wrong.” She hooked a thumb back toward the kitchen. “But he wanted me to convince you of the importance of…fulfillingyour assignment.”
Assignment? Really? I wasn’t in the damn military! Well, not yet. But I didn’t like thinking about that.
I didn’t grace my distant relative and Dragon Mastery teacher with a response.
“But I can see that you haven’t wasted any time,” she said, pride shining behind her glasses. “Perhaps I’ll shirk my responsibility in checking the kitchen the next time I’m on curfew duty.” She winked.
I couldn’t help the scowl that narrowed my eyes.
“Look,” she said, putting a hand on my still-folded arm, and it was all I could do not to angrily shrug her off for the intrusioninto my personal space. “You don’t have to fall for her. He didn’t ask you to do that.”
“I know what my father asked,” I ground out.
“Okay.” She let go of my arm, nodded once, and then clomped down the hallway in the opposite direction. Running off to send back a report toLord Draculabout my obedience, no doubt.
I raced up the stairs to the second floor and barreled into the avian common room. I wanted to crash face-first onto my bed and sink into unconsciousness. I wanted to be alone.
“Don’tyoulook bright-eyed this evening?” Brett teased from the couch, ruining any hope I had of sneaking into my room unnoticed. He was shooting zombies on the large flat screen. Sneaking off to bed usually didn’t take any effort with the pseudo-apocalyptic distractions.
Niko was snoring in the chair next to Brett. His controller lay loosely in his hands.
“Did ya find the teacher’s stash of espresso to go with your midnight snack?” Brett asked. “Or did you corner Cora in one of the greenhouses again?” He winked just like Ms. Tanis had.
I wanted to punch him in the face.
“You’re the only one banned from the espresso,” I deadpanned. “And since when do you even notice my sneaking by your virtual bloodshed? Seriously, Brett, haven’t you beat this game yet?”
“Three times, actually.” He grinned wide.
“You’re adragon, Brett. How is that game at all entertaining? Slow humans shooting dead guys?”
“You’re changing the subject,” Brett said, then uncharacteristically turned off his game. And the TV.
“No, I did not corner Cora,” I said, rolling my eyes at his idiocy and moving to head to my room.
“Nope. Not done talking.” Brett stood and stretched but then sobered and looked me in the eye. “What did Lord Dracul want?”
“It doesn’t matter,” I replied flatly, pointedly keeping my thoughts miles away from a pair of bright eyes.
Brett raised an eyebrow. For speaking as slowly as he sometimes did and fronting the persona of a washed-up surfer, Brett was surprisingly observant.
