Chapter 352 (1/2)

Chapter 352: Relic, Revived

CAERA DENOIR

The torrential rain blocked out everything but the wet slapping ofof my heart

“Go after him!”

The shouted order was nearly washed away by the rainfall Even without the downpour, I kne to evade unwanted attention and avoid prying eyes, so I wasn’t fearful of being caught No, it was so else that made my pulse thunder in my ears

Kayden…

What the hell had he been doing there? Howto do to hi of Grey’s powerful hand around round I had no doubt that Grey would kill Kayden if he thought it was necessary

Depending on what the professor had seen, I wasn’t even sure I could disagree I likely wouldn’t be punished in the traditional sense; I was still a Denoir, and kneell as anyone that Alacryan laorked differently for the highbloods Still, too much attention could result in the discovery of my Vritra blood’s manifestation

I kneould do whatever was required to prevent that fro doide alley between two acades, I used thesill of one to launch myself up into the second storyof the other, then jumped back across the alley onto the roof of the first The tiles were slick, but I was able to crawl up over the peak of the roof and slide down the other side When I reached the edge, I kicked off the roof, soaring a dozen or e of a second storyleading into Windcrest Hall

The shutters were closed and locked against the storer, I tripped the latch Before pushi+ng the shutters open, I withdrewdown fro hallways carving the building up into the various quarters and suites Grey’s suite was a few doors down the hall

I froze as I realized so nervously She didn’t appear to have noticed the noise ofstraight and daure, soaked half through from the storm I could tell from the puddle that had for there for at least a few minutes

“Hi,” I said as I carefully closed the shutters behind ave a startled yelp and slipped in the puddle She threw out a hand and released a gust of wind to keep fro over “Where in the world did you…”

Trailing off, she took in my appearance and the shutteredbehindtoward ers splayed out, and her expression hardened “Please note that I am a professor of this acade myself and the property of those who live here”

“Glad to hear it, considering I live here,” I said, pointing at the hallway ceiling “Third floor, actually, but the second story as a cleaner juave her a shallow nod, then tucked back the wet strands of hair that had fallen into hblood Denoir And you are?”

Her hand drifted down to her side as her eyebrows rose up “Oh Oh! Oh Vritra, I’ at myself with a handwave “I don’t blame you Looks like ere in the sarabbed a handful of her robes and squeezed water onto the floor “Tell me about it I was only out there for like two seconds”

I let a knowing smile play at the corner of my mouth “So, you and Professor Grey…”

She froze, one hand still wrapped up in her robes, her wide a on the door to Grey’s rooht that…”

The woman paused and forced a smile “I’m sorry, I’m Abby of Naestured towater onto the floor in a steady strea for a reply, she waved her hands and conjured up a gust of ind that blew through rabbed the edges ofabout After several seconds, I was dry and warain

“Thanks,” I said “Why didn’t you already do that to yourself?”

“U to meet ht noay Uh, pleasure toso quickly that an arc of water droplets sprayed across the hallway, the woan a quick march down the hall As she turned a corner at the far end, she cast a wary glance back in htened when she saw one

It shouldn’t have surprisedandaround hi a blood name, the fact that he had attained the level of professor at such a prestigious acadeested he had connections and wealth Many named blood women were expected to marry for political connection and enhanceer bond between two named bloods of similar status

The Redcliff blood ell known in the central dominion for their constant efforts to cli told me this Abby wouldn’t be able to keep up with Grey even if she caught hily difficult to picture him with any woman I couldn’t see how ro—would fit into his “solo-ascender” lifestyle I foundas sih the park, or preparing tea and breakfast for his lover in bed I couldn’t e it

Wet footsteps on the stairs behind ht led Grey appear in the hallway behind et dry so fast?”

“I ran into a friend of yours,” I answered, leaning up against his door “You just missed her, I’m afraid Professor Redcliff, I think she said”

“Oh,” was all he said He pulled out his runestone and flashed it at the door, which opened with a click

Inside, he immediately unclasped his luxurious white cloak and tossed it into the corner, then began to peel away his wet tunic Although I knew the polite thing to do was avert aze, my attention was drawn to the runes on his spine Unlike most Alacryans, Grey kept his covered Even in the depths of the Relictoht of thee and untraditional, but only soht extensively, or perhaps a scholar of Alacryan runes, would question them

The other runes, those that channeled his powerful aether abilities, weren’t visible

Realizing I was getting distracted, I looked away “So? Did you get the dead relic?”

In answer, so behind htless “The weight wasn’t a problem, was it?”

“It sits differently on the pillow, but I don’t think anyone will notice since the relic hasn’t been here long,” Grey’s voice came from his bedroom

I took a seat and rotated the sphere in my hands as I waited for Grey to return When he did, he was dressed in black trousers and an azure tunic with black e his hair and eyes seehter