Page 4 of Revenge (Warriors of the Drexian Academy #6)
Chapter
Four
Tivek
T he door hissed shut behind Deklyn, his departure leaving the room suddenly quiet. I stood there for a moment, still processing my brother’s blunt questions about the unauthorized rescue mission, before turning back to face Morgan.
She was sitting up in my bed, the gunmetal gray sheet pulled up to her collarbone, her pale hair tousled and catching the light from the artificial sunset streaming through the slit of a window.
Her eyes were wide with a mixture of amusement and concern as she watched me standing there in nothing but a towel.
“I’m sorry about my brother,” I said, running a hand through my damp hair. “Deklyn has always been hot-headed. He charges into situations without thinking about subtlety or timing.”
Morgan’s laughter was rich and genuine. “It’s okay. He’s clearly obsessed with Sasha.”
I tilted my head, studying those intelligent eyes that seemed to see straight through every facade I’d ever constructed.
“I’m curious how you know that. It’s no secret that my brother romances plenty of women and never sticks around long enough to get attached to any of them. You’re very good at reading Drexians.”
Her smile turned mischievous. “I’m good at reading you too. Like how I know you’re completely head over heels for me.”
The boldness of her statement made me grin, even as heat flooded through me at the casual confidence in her voice. “You are good,” I admitted, moving closer to the bed and letting my gaze drop to the swell of her breasts beneath the sheet.
Then her expression grew more serious, vulnerability flickering across her features.
“Things happened so fast between us. We got together under such intense circumstances during the rescue mission that...” She trailed off, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of the sheet.
“Part of me worried that maybe our feelings weren’t real.
That it was just adrenaline and proximity and the fear that we might not survive. ”
The uncertainty in her voice made something clench in my chest. I sat down on the edge of the bed, close enough to touch her but not quite making contact, wanting her to see the truth in my eyes.
“Morgan,” I said, my voice rougher than I’d intended.
“What I feel for you is real. More real than anything I’ve experienced in my entire life.
” I reached out to cup her face, my thumb tracing the line of her cheekbone.
“I’ve spent years hiding who I am, compartmentalizing every emotion, keeping everyone at arm’s length.
But with you...” I shook my head, struggling to find words for something I’d never felt before.
“With you, I can’t hide. I don’t want to hide. ”
Relief flooded her face, followed quickly by something more tender. “My feelings are real too,” she whispered. “But Tiv, how are we going to make this work? You’re a member of the Shadows, and they offered you postings to other places. I’m just a cadet.”
I knew this conversation was coming, had been preparing for it since the moment we’d returned to the academy, but that didn’t make it any easier.
“The Shadow postings,” I said carefully, “they’re opportunities, but they’re not requirements. Not yet, anyway.”
Morgan shifted, pulling her knees up under the sheet and wrapping her arms around them. “Can I be honest? I’m not sure being a Shadow is right for me.”
That surprised me. “What do you mean?”
“I love the School of Strategy,” she said, her eyes brightening.
“I love the complexity, the research, how you can see patterns in past battles and predict outcomes. The Shadow work is important, I know that, but it’s so isolated.
So secretive. I think I’m better suited to working with teams, analyzing situations, and developing comprehensive approaches to problems.”
I nodded. I’d watched her work in the time leading up to the rescue mission and had seen how her mind operated. Strategy came naturally to her, and her talent for it was something that couldn’t be taught.
“Plus,” she continued, her voice taking on a slightly indignant tone, “I think it’s complete crap that the Drexians let people think you washed out of the academy just so you’d be a more effective spy.
You’re one of the most capable operatives I’ve ever seen, and everyone thinks you’re just some failed cadet turned administrative aide. ”
Her fierce defense of me sent warmth flooding through my chest. I couldn’t help but laugh, charmed by her righteous anger on my behalf. “Most people don’t know the truth because that’s the point. The cover story protects both the mission and the operative.”
“Well, I don’t like it,” she said stubbornly. “You deserve recognition for what you do.”
“I don’t need recognition,” I said. “But I appreciate you wanting me to have it.”
Morgan was quiet for a moment, then looked up at me with sudden intensity. “What if we could work together? You as a Shadow, me as a Strategist? We made a good team during the rescue.”
The idea sent a thrill through me. “We did make a good team,” I agreed. “Better than good. We complemented each other’s strengths.”
“Exactly!” Her excitement was infectious. “You handle the fieldwork and intelligence gathering, and I develop the strategic frameworks and analyze the data. We could be unstoppable.”
I could picture the two of us working together, but there was one significant obstacle.
“That would mean staying at the academy,” I said. “Most of the most crucial Shadow work happens off-world.”
“Would that be a problem for you?” she asked, and I could hear the carefully controlled hope in her voice.
I looked into her eyes, seeing my future reflected there. A future where I wasn’t constantly leaving, constantly lying, constantly alone. A future where I could have both my duty and my heart.
“Morgan,” I said firmly, “I would never go anywhere if it meant being away from you. The academy has been more of a home to me than anywhere else in the universe. And if you were here…” I shook my head. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
Her smile was radiant. “I’d love to stay at the academy as an instructor, eventually. It would mean I could be closer to you, and I think I could really make a difference training the next generation of strategists.”
The picture she was painting was everything I’d never dared to hope for. “You’d make an excellent instructor. The cadets would be lucky to learn from you.”
Morgan’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she reached for me, her hands fisting in my towel and pulling me down toward her. “You know,” she said, her voice dropping to a whisper, “you’d make an excellent Academy Master someday. Maybe one day we could rule the school together.”
The idea hit me like lightning. Morgan and I, working together not just as partners but as leaders.
Her strategic brilliance combined with my operational experience.
I made a mental note to speak with Zoran about the possibility.
The admiral was progressive-minded and would likely be intrigued by the concept of a partnership approach to academy leadership, especially since humans were going to be a permanent part of the school from now on.
“I love the way your mind works,” I murmured, leaning down until my forehead touched hers.
“Good,” she said, her hands sliding up to my shoulders. “Because I have a lot more ideas.”
I was about to ask about those ideas when she shifted, and the sheet slipped lower, revealing the elegant curve of her breast and the tantalizing hint of what lay beneath. Suddenly, all thoughts of academy politics and future career paths evaporated.
“We have a lot to discuss,” I said, my voice rough as I crawled onto the bed, covering her body with mine while being careful not to crush her with my weight.
“We do,” she agreed, her arms winding around my neck as she pulled me closer. “So many plans to make, strategies to develop...”
I kissed her then, slowly and deeply. When we broke apart, both of us breathing hard, I traced the line of her jaw with my fingertips.
“Plans can wait,” I murmured against her ear, enjoying the way she shivered at the contact. “Right now, I have more important things to focus on.”
“More important than ruling the academy together?” she teased, but her voice was breathless.
“More important than anything,” I confirmed, capturing her lips again.