The Culling Trials (Shadowspell Academy #2)(27)

His voice quavered and my heart broke for him. He blamed himself. Tommy had intentionally kept him in the dark, probably to keep him safe, but Rory still hated himself for not figuring it all out. His loyalty was like an oak: solid, strong, and with deep roots.

I’d been wrong to doubt him.

I lowered to sit cross-legged and let my knees rest on his shins.

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I was at the funeral. Both of them—the one at school, and with you.”

“No, you—”

“I’m a Shade, Maribel. My life exists in the shadows.” His eyes pleaded with me. “I couldn’t bear to look your old man in the eye and tell him that I let you guys down. That Tank got hit under my watch. It was bad enough to see you crying.”

Despite what he’d said earlier, he let the slap land, and thankfully, he didn’t ask why I’d thrown it. I didn’t know myself. Raw grief ate at me, just as fresh as when I’d heard the news. I swiped my own tears away, but Rory let his fall, dripping from his strong jaw.

Needing more contact, I reached for him. He grabbed my wrist, pulling me into his arms, and held me tightly as he cried silently against my head. I clutched him, sharing his grief. Our grief.

“I miss him,” I said, choking on a sob. “So much. Even more now that I’m here.”

“I know.” He pushed me back, holding me by the upper arms like I was a doll. “You won’t be next. I’ve been training hard. I’m the best in my class. Nearly the best in my house. I’m ready this time, Belle. When he sends his minions, I’ll take them out one by one. I was up tonight because I knew one of them was coming. I’d planned to go after him, but you had to get it in your fool head to go play cops and robbers.”

Reality sobered me up and dried my eyes. “Gregory! Did the guy that came for us take Gregory?”

Rory stood and pulled me up beside him.

I really needed to lay down the law with this much stronger Rory, or I’d be manhandled the rest of my life.

Gesturing for me to follow him, he picked his way out of the tree before pausing at the tree line for a long moment. “No, the assassin doesn’t care about your friend.”

I choked on my spit. “Assassin?”

He started off toward the mansion, his black athletic sweats blending seamlessly with the shadows. A belt loaded with throwing knives circled his trim hips and a dagger was strapped to his broad back. A pouch of some sort hugged his ankle.

“Throwing stars,” he said, catching me looking. “They’re really common in my house—our house—and incredibly accurate. Anyway, a kid went missing at the first trial. No one can find her. Gregory is the second kid to disappear. Both outliers, so far. Loners. Easy pickings.”

“Why?”

He shrugged. “Not my problem.”

I frowned at him. Most things in life weren’t Rory’s problem, or so he’d always said–and yet he seemed to get tied up in them all the same.

“You’re lying,” I accused.

He huffed. “That’s going to be annoying.”

“Well, you should be used to it. I’ve been calling you out all your life, Rory Fenton Wilson.”

He grimaced when I used his middle name, ushering me toward the mansion. “I know. I thought I’d gotten good enough to get past your natural lie detector test.” He grinned down at me, and I could see the pride sparkling in his eyes. “You’re going to be the best this damn house has ever seen, just you watch.”

“Your cussing didn’t get any better either.”

“Not true. I’m much more colorful now. When I’m not worried about being slapped, that is. Anyway, listen. No one knows what’s going on with the missing kids. But we’re on it.”

“We? Meaning you and Mr. Sunshine?”

Rory choked and then chuckled. “Yes. We think they’re still alive, but we don’t know why they’re being taken. Or where they are being kept. I’m positive this is different than the assassin who’s after you. You need to watch yourself, Belle—”

“After being a boy for a few days, I hate that nickname even more.”

A grin tweaked his lips. “Like I said, you need to watch yourself, Belle.” He pulled the door to the mansion open, looking back at the grounds. Before he stepped out of the way for me to enter first, he placed his pointer finger against his lips. “I won’t help you if you get caught.”

He could help me but wouldn’t. I frowned at him.

A smile lit up his face, clearly thinking that was a hilarious joke, before dying within the reality we now faced together.

“You felt the caliber of what you’re up against. You cannot be caught alone. Ever. Do you hear what I am saying?” He lowered his gaze and leaned in, beating his stare into me. “Stay near the activity, always. Keep your classmates around. Do not go running around after curfew.”

I shook my head as he ushered me inside. “Why were they after Tank—I mean, Tommy—and now Billy? And who is the ‘he’ coming for me?”

His footfalls were deadly silent as he followed me down the hall. When I glanced back, his expression had completely closed down. It would take a crowbar to pry information out of him when he looked like this.

“Really?” I said quietly, stopping at the base of the stairs. The hush of my surroundings pressed down on me. “Still keeping secrets?”