Page 48 of Obsession (Warriors of the Drexian Academy #4)

Chapter

Forty-Eight

Jess

T he stone stairs wound down into the bowels of the academy, the scent of freshly baked bread growing stronger with every step, making my mouth water despite my roiling stomach.

"I can't believe how furious Britta was when they wouldn't let her give blood," I ran one hand along the cool wall for balance as I followed my friend down the steep, worn steps.

“Did you see her face when they told her human blood wouldn't work?” Fiona let out a low whistle that echoed in the tight space. "I thought she was going to punch someone.”

"At least Volten stepped up." My voice caught. "And all those Blades lined up outside surgery. I've never seen anything like it."

Fiona wrapped an arm around my shoulders when we reached the bottom. "That's what family does, right?”

I nodded and smiled at the instructor then cocked my head. “Is it just me, or is Britta different?”

“It’s not just you. Something major happened in that simulation." Fiona ran her fingers through her blonde curls. "The Britta who went in isn't the same one who came out."

“I know it was traumatic to be trapped inside, especially with the safety protocols not working. And it must have been terrifying when Kann was injured.” I paused and wondered if I should say what I was thinking, or if I was reading things wrong.

"You think they banged?” Fiona asked as she led the way down the corridor and toward the pungent scent of bread.

My jaw dropped. “I wasn’t going to say it like that, but do you think they banged?”

Fiona grinned at me and then seemed to genuinely consider the question. “It wouldn't surprise me. A hot guy and a hot girl getting trapped someplace dangerous together, thrown into each other’s arms and forced to share a bed to survive…”

I gave her a playful shove. “Okay, now you sound like you’re reading off the back of one of your cheesy romance novels.”

Her eyes widened, and she gasped. “My romance novels are not cheesy. They’re amazing.” She quirked her lips to one side. “I might have read too many of them though, because all I can think about now is how Kann would be the perfect bad-boy hero.”

I groaned. “That’s the problem, isn’t it? Kann is known as a player, or whatever a Drexian version of a player is called. I just hope Britta knows what she’s doing if she did hook up with him. I hope she doesn't get hurt."

Fiona crossed her arms over her chest. “If he hurts her, we’ll make losing most of his blood the least of his worries."

I gave her an appreciative grin. "Remind me never to piss you off."

We both laughed as we continued walking toward the aroma of yeast like we were following the Pied Piper. When we reached the heavy wooden doors of the kitchens, I hesitated. "This feels weird. Usually, it's the guys sneaking down here."

"Who says we're sneaking?" Fiona walked through the open double doors with a confident stride.

I followed behind her, and as the heat of the kitchens hit me, it also occurred to me that I’d never actually seen inside the facility where our food was cooked. I stopped just inside the door to take in the massive, open space, which was jammed full of steaming ovens being opened, stovetops covered in steel pots, and high tables where dough was being kneaded by burly cooks.

The sound was almost as deafening as the scents were overwhelming—a symphony of clanking pots and sizzling pans and an aroma cacophony of seared meat and pungent spice. Racks of golden rolls cooled on metal shelves, while steam rose from bubbling pots of stew. My stomach rumbled even though I’d eaten not two hours earlier.

I was so busy watching the organized chaos that it took me a beat to realize that every cook had stopped and was staring at us.

Fiona cleared her throat. "I'm Fiona, and this is Jess. I know this is our first time visiting you, but can I say that you’re all doing an amazing job?”

No one moved or spoke.

Fiona took a breath and continued. “Our friend Kann is in critical condition, and we'd like to bring food to Britta while she waits for him to come out of surgery.”

“They might be a couple or they might just have hooked up,” I added, “but we don’t know for sure.”

Fiona flicked her gaze at me but resumed smiling at the kitchen staff.

Silence stretched for another few moments before the kitchen erupted into motion. Cooks bustled about, wrapping bread and filling containers.

A hulking alien with tattoos up his arms brought us a filled box and a paper sack jammed with bread. "Kann's been stealing food from us since he was a first-year. Always thought he was so sneaky about it too."

I blinked. "You knew?"

The cook snorted. "Of course, we knew." The other cooks nodded, chuckling. "But half the fun for cadets is thinking they're stealthy. And that boy could charm the scales off a zigtroll ."

"He still owes me for that time he convinced me to give him an entire tray of chidi berry tarts," another cook called out.

That sounded like Kann to me.

The cook put a surprisingly gentle hand on Fiona’s arm and then mine. “I hope he pulls through.”

We thanked them and headed back upstairs, my chest tight with unexpected emotion. The academy had become home in ways I hadn't expected, and the place still surprised me.

When we reached the top of the stairs, I decided to broach another subject. “Is it too early to start thinking about joining the rescue mission?” I swallowed hard. "I'm worried about Torq."

My heart ached thinking of him out there in Kronock territory. I hated not being by his side, even though staying for Britta had been the right choice. Especially seeing how fragile she seemed now.

"I miss Vyk too." Fiona's voice was soft.

"Any updates?" The captain was working closely with the admiral while Vyk was away, so if anyone would know, it would be her.

She stopped in the middle of the main hall, moonlight streaming through the high windows and sending light across the polished black floor. "The ship went radio silent when it entered Kronock territory. We won't hear from them again until..." She didn't finish.

My stomach lurched, but I forced myself to focus on the warmth of the bread in my arms, on the fact that we'd gotten Britta and Kann back, and that Volten had returned safely.

"At least Britta is back," I said, as we climbed the wide staircase that swept up to the second floor, empty at the late hour.

“So far, we’ve been lucky.” Fiona managed a smile as we passed the remaining Drexians waiting to give blood and entered the surgery waiting area.

But Britta wasn't there.

The empty room made my stomach drop.