My frown deepened into a scowl as I scolded Axton for not speaking up about his maybe-injuries. By the time we reached Master Akai’s office, I’d worked myself up, and only that horrible breathing kept me from launching myself at him.
I yanked the ferrule from my pocket and jabbed at the tiny pictures and boxes that lit up. It took only a few seconds to send a message to Master Akai, but less still for the door to click. Had he been waiting on us? Perhaps staring at his ferrule in worry? Confusing asshole.
Trace pushed the door open, glanced around, and stepped inside, his hand low at his side as he wiggled his fingers. Axton, apparently happy with the signal, jerked his chin down and followed.
I really need to learn those signals. There’s always something else to do, isn’t there?
I rolled my shoulders and floated through, dipping my head quickly before turning to close the door behind me. I stayed there, palms pressed against the cool, hard wood as I simply breathed. Shadow’s cold raced up my leg and back as she rushed to curl herself around my neck, but I couldn’t focus on her.
Once we finished here, I would need a quiet period to organize my brain and come to terms with things. Our hurry didn’t allow me to be neat about stealing the Reapers’ memories, and it made my head pound. It also let stray thoughts slash across my mind, like the one I’d had when I saw Master Akai at his desk.
I’ll kill him, it had screamed in a distinctly female voice, one I’d heard nowhere except in her visions. She’d hated Master Akai almost as much as I had, and apparently, just seeing him was enough for her memory to escape. Yes, I will need to lock them away in a better box.
“Zella, was that blood I saw on your cloak?” Master Akai asked, disapproval thick in his tone.
Shadow rubbed my cheek as I spun, straightening my spine as I endeavored to project a strength I didn’t have. We might have had a change in our relationship since he’d helped us, but it wasn’t one I trusted, and I knew what his thoughts were on weakness. He’d taught me that meant time to pounce.
“Never back away when your target is down, Zella. This is when you press down harder until, finally, you shatter them into so many pieces that even their soul leaves their body damaged,” he’d said as he demonstrated exactly what he meant, stopping just shy of killing me.
Another of his lessons taught, “Faking weakness can be a useful tool, but only if it is pretending. When they push, they’ll expect little resistance. Give them what they expect until they are so close that you feel their breath on your neck. That’s the moment you turn, dagger in hand, and stab them in the chest.”
Inside my hood, I shook my head, trying to dislodge all the memories and voices and images that kept creeping into my thoughts. We couldn’t afford them here.
“It is, Master Akai,” I answered, hoping he wouldn’t ask me to elaborate.
My gaze cut to the left, taking in Kian laid out on the couch sleeping. His arm covered his eyes, and his breathing seemed even. Grace sat on the floor beside him, her legs tucked neatly by her side. She watched us closely, but when she spotted Axton, her eyes narrowed, concentrating on him. Her fingers curled like she was trying to keep from reaching out.
Master Akai’s chair squeaked as he leaned backwards, and my gaze snapped to him. He stared at Axton as well, clearly scrutinizing him.
“Liaison Grace, if you wouldn’t mind, I believe they require your assistance,” Master Akai said, gesturing towards the wavering Axton.
She didn’t say anything. Instead, she leapt to her feet and rushed to Axton, pulling him over to a chair. While she worked on him, Master Akai turned his attention back to me.
“And who’s blood is that?” he inquired, making a sweeping gesture towards my cloak.
Of course, he asked the one question I didn’t want him to ask. “It’s mine,” I answered tersely.
Grace paused in her ministrations and leaned back, taking in the evidence stiffening the entire lower half of my cloak. She couldn’t see it, but my pants were also stiff. Even without that, she gasped and jumped up, hands outstretched.
I waved her off, but of course, she ignored me. When I took a step back, she just