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Cole scoffed, but he couldn’t hide the way he shrank back from the teacher’s stare.
Razai walked forward and stopped only inches away from his student. “Think about the type of person you wish to be,” he challenged softly. “What do you want others to feel when you walk into the room? How will you inspire them?”
Cole spluttered, but before he could reply, Razai’s smile snapped into place. “While you’re thinking on that, you’re paired with Ishmael.” He clapped Cole on the shoulder like they were old friends. “Listen closely to instructions, everyone! And remember, killing blows are strictly prohibited. I didn’t think I’d have to remind you, but I just wanted to make sure…”
He spent the next ten minutes walking through blocking techniques and grappling strategies. When he was done, he found me.
“What the fuck were you thinking?” I hissed. I’d kept all my tension in thus far, but now it was steaming out of every crack and threatening to blow.
He lifted a brow and showed me a tiny little bouquet of yellow flowers. The miniature ones you find growing from grass weeds. “That these looked very pretty, and I wanted them.”
“What? No, not that. The fight! Why did you let him use lethal force?”
A brow lifted. “Did you think I’d lose?”
“No—yes? I don’t know? I’ve never seen you fight before this.”
He studied my face and my hair, then reached toward the rubber band holding my bun. After a couple seconds of wrestling, he let go with a satisfied nod. “Yellow looks good with your hair.”
I touched the band and found the soft petals and leaves tucked in. For some reason, I fought back a blush. “Answer the question.”
Razai sighed and said, “You inspired me.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you. You were all reckless and scolding people all over the place. You made things exciting, and I got a little swept up. There was no way he’d be able to hurt me, and maybe I bruised his pride a little. Not that you’re actually complaining about that.”
“No,” I admitted. “He deserved it. That doesn’t mean it’s going to stop him long-term, and now I wonder if he is the killer.”
“Could be,” Razai pondered with wide, innocent eyes. “He is a little violent and unrestrained.”
I nodded. “For someone who limits themselves to one brutal attack every month. Plus, you’d think the killer would be more careful about their image.” That’s why Clave made more sense. He seemed all tidy and perfect on the outside, but control freaks had an underside to their need for order.
Not that I’m one to talk with my own control freak tendencies. Who knows what I’m capable of.
Razai clearly thought the same thing, if the are-you-serious look was any indication.
I nudged his arm. “Shut it. I’ll be in the weight room. Try not to start any more sparring wars while I’m gone.”
“They only happen when you’re here.”
I shook my head while walking away, which is why I allowed myself to smile. Then, I caught myself and stopped in my tracks.
Why had I smiled? That hadn’t even been a comforting reply from Razai. Why had it made me… happy?
Chapter Twenty-Nine
The following day, my intuition pulled me toward three different things. Well, people, I should say. Cole, Nathaniel, and Sydni.
At seven different times in my workday, my magic yanked my eyes toward the window right as one of these students walked by. That left me no other choice. I had to talk to one of them.
That evening, after his last class, Razai walked in through my balcony door.
“Stop!” I yelled, jumping up from the couch.
Razai paused mid step, eyes wide as saucers. “What… what the fuck is this?” He flicked his gaze around the room, taking in the colorful decorations.
“These are my sticky notes,” I explained. “They are helping me solve this stupid fucking puzzle. My magic… uh, I have a feeling that there’s another clue in these files. Can’t really shake it.”
