“I was just about to graduate when everything happened. Unless the school expelled me for the incident, there’s no reason to think my records aren’t there, and I could get my diploma,” Raphael answered. “Why?”
I groaned. “Cassius has always wanted to go to a modern human college but work and his family keep stopping him.”
“A place of higher learning beyond my fae education? Of course I want to go.”
“It’s not all that great,” Raphael said with a chuckle. “A lot of studying, a lot of hard work.”
“What did you go to college for?” I didn’t check when I looked into him. I only knew he was going to be going into the military as an officer when he was done.
“Law,” he answered with some chagrin. “I was going to be a lawyer.”
“You were almost done with law school at twenty-two?” I asked, frowning. “I don’t know much about human education, but that seems young.”
“No, I was leaving for Harvard in the fall. I was fast tracking my way through school, but I had to keep my grades up to keep the Navy’s promise to pay for college when I was done,” he said, looking at me, his eyebrows coming together.
“Fuck, how did I miss that?” I asked, looking at Cassius. “He’s smart.”
“Miss…did you look into me?” he asked.
“How do you think I knew your real name the night we met? I knew you had some sort of deal to join the military when you were done with school. I just assumed you were going to ship off to boot camp, or whatever they call it, the moment you graduated.” Shrugging, I dismissed my mistake. “Not like it matters. I don’t ever plan on going to a human college.”
“Neither of you have ever been to a school?”
“You’re the only person on this property who has gone to a traditional school the way you think of schools,” Cassius answered. “Except maybe Terry. He was once human, but that was seventy-five years ago.” Cassius sat down next to Raphael and checked his watch. “Since we’re still waiting on Imani, we can keep talking.”
“Oh, joy,” I muttered.
“Most supernaturals are homeschooled in the basics—reading, writing, arithmetic, and supernatural history. We’re taught survival knowledge, magical knowledge, and how to blend in, which is very important.”
“We’re taught what to know and to know when we need it,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Like don’t move to a country before understanding the country and its people. Know its landmarks and its politics if you’re interested. Anything that can help you blend in.”
“We receive less formal education as we get older, but we’re expected to educate ourselves. Some supernaturals choose to look at human schooling, but most of us do private research and teach ourselves skills as time goes along.”
“Can we find something less boring to—”
Cassius’s phone rang before I could finish my complaint. He looked down and nodded.
“It’s her,” he informed us.
21
Chapter Twenty-One
I found a seat as Cassius picked up and greeted Imani, chuckling softly. I knew she must have hit on him the moment the conversation started.
“I’m engaged, Imani. You’ve missed your chance,” he said with enough grace to make him seem irresistible without being conceited. “Has anyone told you why I’ve been trying to reach you? I’m worried about the safety of one of the vampires in your nest, Carter.”
He frowned as Imani spoke. I wished I could hear what she was saying, but my hearing wasn’t sensitive enough.
“I believe Sinclair is currently a threat to him, yes,” Cassius said, looking up at me. “Does it matter…Yes, Kaliya is involved. So am I. This is a matter of importance…”
I sighed, leaning over to let my head hit the counter. Fuck me sideways, she was giving Cassius an attitude. This was my fault.
“Let me remind you of something very important,” Cassius whispered dangerously. I knew the tone. Something Imani had said upset him and Cassius was hard to upset like this. “Carter was only part of your nest because Kaliya led him there, even though you had failed in your duty to keep rogue vampires in check in Phoenix. It was your mistake that led him to be turned. We entrusted his safety to you, but you know as well as I do, Kaliya and I both like to check in on him. If he voluntarily agreed to help Kaliya, that was his rightful decision, regardless of being in your nest. Find him and protect him like you promised me you would.”