Page 55 of Shattered Stars

“There was something else?” I ask, unable to bear the tension.

“Ahhh, yes, the Blackwaters girl.”

I force my eyes to remain locked on his and my features to remain neutral, even though my heart now pounds so violently in my chest it’s as loud as a drum.

“The Blackwaters girl?” I ask.

“Mmmm,” he says, strolling around his desk and dropping into his chair. “There is something I haven’t told you about her.”

This time I falter. My body flinches in surprise, but the chancellor doesn’t notice, too busy rifling through papers on his desk.

“Her mother,” he continues, “was known to me.”

I take an involuntary step forward, even though this could be a trap, even though it most likely is.

“I thought the girl was just another unregistered. No one of importance. I had no idea you knew who she was.”

“And I understand the girl herself knows little of her family.”

I nod.

“I had my reasons for keeping this piece of information to myself. In fact, only the principal knows, and she does not know everything. She has been watching the girl for me, reporting any signs of any unusual abilities or attributes.”

I frown. How closely has the principal been watching Rhianna and has she really been reporting back to the chancellor?

“I don’t understand,” I say.

“Her mother was a magical with … an interesting talent.” I wait for him to divulge more but he doesn’t. “Talent that the authorities found particularly useful.”

“What talents?”

He smiles. “Talents that, unfortunately, our enemies found just as alluring, just as tempting. After she died, there were rumors of a child but any searches came up empty.” He smiles and that cold smile reminds me vividly of my uncle. “And then you found her – or rather that gang out there in the wastelands did.”

I suppress a growl, trying not to imagine what they would have done with my mate.

“Of course,” he continues, “I couldn’t let on that I knew who the girl was. I don’t wish our enemies to know we have found the child.”

“You think she has the same talent as her mother?” I ask him carefully.

“I’m rather hoping she does. It was a particularly useful talent – in fact it secured our dominance over the forces in the West, kept them at bay. However, so far York tells me the girl shows no signs of any unusual talents. Disappointingly, it seems she is nothing but a troublemaker.”

I look at the chancellor. He’s not as shrewd as my uncle but he’s survived as chancellor for a long time. He’s a skilled politician indeed.

“Why are you telling me this now?” I ask him.

“Ahh,” the chancellor says, removing his glasses. “York doesn’t understand how powerful the girl could be if she does possess her mother’s gift. I wonder just how closely she’s really been watching her.”

“I imagine she watches all her students closely.”

“But I imagine the students watch each other more closely still. I would like you to talk with the Moreau boy on your way to the West, determine if he knows anything about the girl, if he’s noticed anything unusual.”

“And if he has?” I can’t help but ask.

The chancellor peers at me as he places his glasses back on the bridge of his nose. “Then you will report the information back to me and I will consider my next steps.”

I want to ask him what he plans to do with Rhianna if she does have unusual abilities but there’s no point. He won’t tell me and it might only arouse his suspicions. Besides, there is no way in hell I’m letting him get his grubby little hands on my mate.

As soon as I’m out of the council building, I drive my bike around the nearest corner and park up. There’s a chance the chancellor is monitoring my calls, but there are ways to ensure the calls I want to keep private are kept so.