the guys—not to mention, my general exhaustion—my brain is on serious overload.
I half expect to have nightmares, but instead, I don’t dream of anything at all.
Chapter 19
Inspectors from the local Circuit are called in to investigate and search the campus the next day, working in conjunction with the campus security, so we’re all given the day off from classes. The guys and I are brought in for questioning about Roman, and as far as I know, we all stick to our story. I know I do, and the authorities don’t drag Roman away in handcuffs, so I guess the guys must’ve as well.
We meet up once they’re finished with us, out on the main lawn.
“Any plans for the day?” I ask. I’ve got too much on my mind to sit still, and I’m almost sad we don’t have classes. I could use the distraction.
Things are still a bit awkward after last night. We all seem to have privately come to the same decision, which is to just not talk about it. But it’s making our conversations a little more stilted than usual.
“Asher and I are going into town,” Dmitri says, his tone short. “We’ve got shit to take care of.”
“Godspeed then,” I reply dryly.
Cam shrugs. “I was hoping you’d want to go on a hike with me?”
We’ve been running together through the woods every morning, but a hike suggests something a little longer. And physical activity sounds good. “Where to?”
“Up the ridge,” he says with a grin. The school grounds are massive and include a section of sharp rises almost like foothills. But we’ve never gone there since it’s a little too intense for a morning run. “What do you say?”
Well, it’ll be one way to work off my anxiety. I haven’t seen Roman all morning, not even while I was being questioned, and I can’t help but worry about him, although I internally berate myself for being so concerned. The whole atmosphere at the academy isn’t helping, either. Everyone’s tense and freaked out, so people are either getting off campus or staying in their dorms. It’s freakishly quiet around here.
“Sure.” Can’t hurt, right?
“We’ll see you later then. Have a good hike,” Asher says, giving me one of his sweet smiles. Dmitri just turns and starts walking away. Dick.
“Thanks.” I grin back at the brown-haired mage. “Have fun in town.”
After they leave, Cam and I return to the dorm to suit up in some proper workout gear, then head for the woods.
“I’ve always loved the outdoors,” he admits as we walk down the path. “Asher and Dmitri aren’t big fans, so I’m glad you like going out with me.”
“No problem. Helps me work off some steam.”
Cam laughs. “Yeah, and you’ve got a hell of a lot of steam to work out, Sin. I’ve seen you in Combat class; you’re ruthless.”
“Old habits,” I reply, breathing deeply as we leave the curated part of the campus grounds behind and head into the trees. The forest is peaceful, welcoming, and colorful in the fall. It makes me feel like schoolwork and everything else, all my fears and responsibilities, are far away.
“What, were you a boxer in a previous life?”
“No. Just got used to defending myself.”
He glances sideways at me from the corner of his eye. “Sounds intense.”
I shrug. “It is what it is. As a bartender, you can get unruly customers. Especially if you’re a girl.”
“I get that. When you’re all alone, you’ve got to learn to depend on yourself and no one else.”
It sounds like he speaks from experience, and that takes me by surprise. “Um… yeah, exactly.”
Cam chuckles lightly. “What, you thought my life was all sunshine and roses just because I’m not brooding all the time like Dmitri?”
I feel like crap, because that’s exactly what I thought. “Maybe.”
Slowing down our speed a little, he casts his gaze up to the sky. “I’m…” He blows out a breath, his blue eyes darkening. “My parents died when I was sixteen. They were scientists, always doing experiments with magic. Seeing how far we could push our powers, what we could do with them, looking at the line where magic ended and science began, and how we could combine them. They were running some tests in the lab one day and—I guess they pushed a little too hard. I still don’t know exactly what happened, but…”
He shakes his head. “Nothing more fun than a Circuit representative coming to your school to pull you out of class and tell you that your parents are gone.