Page 141

“Alex,” he said, surprised. “I was coming to find you.”

She blinked at him. “Really?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact,” he said. “Let’s go up to my office, there’s something I’d like to speak with you about.”

“Sure,” she agreed. “I need to ask you something as well.”

She followed him up the stairs and into his official headmaster’s office, pausing to take in the beautiful view through the window-wall. The academy looked like a winter wonderland, covered in the thick blanket of snow that still lingered from the previous weekend’s storm. It was simply magical.

“Why don’t you go first?” Darrius offered, drawing Alex’s attention back to him.

She took a seat at the large conference table opposite him before asking, “I was just wondering if you know anything about Zain’s disappearance?”

Darrius frowned in confusion. “He’s missing?”

“‘Missing’ might be the wrong word,” Alex admitted. “It’s just that I haven’t seen or heard from him since Monday.”

Darrius’s features relaxed. “I saw him after lunch today, Alex. Unless something has come up between then and now, let me assure you that he seemed to be perfectly fine.”

Alex was surprised. “Why hasn’t he been in either of my last two Combat classes?”

Darrius held his hands out as if to show his lack of understanding. “I’m afraid I don’t know the answer to that. Perhaps he had somewhere else to be.”

His answer didn’t sit right with Alex, nor did the Meyarin’s lack of communication. He usually updated her every few days with news about Aven. The last time they’d spoken had been on Monday night, when he’d told her about a promising new lead. The anticipation had been rolling off him, which was another reason why she was so concerned about his lack of presence. Surely he would have contacted her by now to update her on his progress?

“Where did you see him, Darrius?” Alex asked.

“Just outside the Arena,” he said. “He was speaking with Jordan while waiting for the Delta Combat class to begin.”

Alex thought back to lunch and remembered Jordan had left a good twenty minutes before the start of class. That checked out, at least. But it was strange that Zain would have been in the class directly before Alex’s and taken off straight afterwards.

“I guess it was a false alarm,” she said, though for some reason she didn’t believe her own words. “What did you want to speak with me about?”

“Something slightly less pleasant, I’m afraid,” Darrius said.

“Let me guess: Aven?”

“Indirectly, yes,” Darrius confirmed. “Aside from your off-campus interactions, he’s been remarkably quiet in his attempts to return to Meya. He hasn’t tried to breach the wards of the academy to get to you, and while he knows about our Lockdown protocol, that hasn’t stopped him before. Even with my added security measures, I know that if he wanted to, he could infiltrate Akarnae if that was his wish.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m troubled by his silence,” he admitted. “And I’m increasingly concerned because tomorrow I have to deactivate the wards so the students can return to their homes for the holiday. While the Lockdown may not have stopped Aven, it would have given us a little warning. If he decides to come after you tomorrow, we won’t know about it until it’s too late.”

Alex thought about his words and said, “Why don’t I leave tonight, then? Would that work?”

“That would be the ideal solution if the wards around Woodhaven were ready to go. But they need another twelve hours before they’ll be activated in time for your arrival,” Darrius said.

She looked at him with wide eyes. “Wards around Woodhaven? Are you kidding me?”

“Come now, Alex,” Darrius chided. “You didn’t honestly believe the king and queen of Medora would allow their only child to spend the holidays unprotected, did you?”

“I thought they were happy enough knowing that Bear’s dad is a Warden,” Alex said, somewhat sheepishly. Now that she thought about it, it did make sense that D.C.’s parents wouldwant extra protection for their daughter. It was ridiculous that none of them had questioned their easy acceptance of the holiday arrangements.

“You should also know that the wards King Aurileous has commissioned play a large role in my approving your stay with the Ronnigans, Alex,” Darrius said. “Had he not arranged their construction, I know you likely would’ve gone with or without my agreement. But at least this way I have more peace of mind about your safety.”

“That’s… kind of you,” Alex said. “A little overprotective, but kind.”

Darrius chuckled.