The DeLoughrey clan had been headquartered here in Blairville since the founding days, and that would not change anytime soon. This part of the island was ours.

The fog lifted, and I had to stop again to wait for the electric steel gate to open in front of me, held in place by moss-covered walls that surrounded the entire property.

Two stone angels were looking down at my car from the right and left, probably still considering whether to allow me to enter the Receptum. Often, I felt watched by the countless statues on our grounds.

But no one was watching me. I was the watcher.

After the gate opened, I hit the gas once more to get across the gravel driveway between the entrance and the old baroque-style mansion that loomed 500 yards in front of us, like a castle.

“There’s someone waiting for you, Adrian...” Miles teased, and by now, he had sat down sensibly again.

I sped up one last time.

“Don’t overdo it.”

“Don’t be a killjoy, David,” it came from behind me.

Miles was right. A little fun was a must.

Then I slammed on the brakes, turning the steering wheel, and the car spun slightly on the flying gravel before coming to a stop.

Within seconds, I turned off the engine, and all three of us got out.

How good it felt to be able to live at normal speed again. This campus, with its slow life, was already hanging out of my throat.

“Ten minutes late.”

On the stairs, arms folded behind his back and wearing one of the newer suits, stood Bastien. He eyed me, then the knee-high planting in front of the building’s large windows, which by now must have had a zillion gravel stones in it.

“We had unfinished business,” Miles chirped with a bit too much glee, and I gave him a punishing look.

“I hope you didn’t have too much fun, boys.”

If he knew why we were late, I would bleed. Not that my mentor was particularly punitive, however, he should be taken seriously because he was the best trained, next to Nicolaj and Camille. And since he had literally moved mountains to get us to this institution, he would give me a good hard time.

“Oh, don’t worry about Adrian. He’s safe with us.”

Miles patted Bastien on the shoulders with a grin and walked past him inside the building.

Lucky for him, David had the USB drive.

He, too, disappeared into the entrance.

“Fortunately, it’s the other way around,” my mentor sighed, his eyes on me.

I came up the stairs slowly, eager to see what moral lecture awaited me today.

“Take your training sessions more seriously. You know I don’t want to be to blame if Nicolaj is disappointed in you, and you don’t want his punishment either.”

He eyed me in a scrutinizing way.

“Take him apart properly, Bastien,” it came gleefully from inside.

Couldn’t Miles keep his mouth shut for once?

“What had I told you about your feelings?”

I tried not to screw up my expression.

Of course, he was reading me again.

I straightened my Rolex Submariner and came up to his step, which had a good view of the wide lawn with the many oaks in front of the wall.

A good playground for children. At least, that’s what it had been for me and the guys back then. Just like the parks on the other side of the estate, with the rose gardens and the lakeshore overgrown with water lilies and adorned with small gothic pavilions which overhung the shore and could sometimes be found in the nearby forest.

“I always notice you slacking off when Nicolaj is away on business.”

Bastien was right, and it annoyed me. I knew he didn’t mean it in a blaming way, which didn’t make it any better.

If there was anything I hated, it was his pity and concern.

His hand settled on my shoulder, and I turned to face him.

Here, you didn’t do that. You didn’t touch unless you were in combat or named Miles, who couldn’t care less about the rules. Otherwise, you didn’t show any feelings. It was best not to feel anything. Unless you were Bastien, and you were allowed to do anything.

Sometimes, I felt something like envy toward him, but since he could feel it, it often reminded me that he too had had to pay a price early on. Even though he never talked about his training with Nicolaj.

His private life was none of my business. He was my mentor, and I was his student. Nicolaj had made that clear.

“I want you in the garden in five minutes. Bring the swords.”

Chapter 37

Julie

“That with Mady was too harsh,” I sighed, making my way to the first floor of the largest Victorian mansion in town.

“She was literally begging for it. And besides, I was doing Bayla a favor.”

By taking away her chance at human friends and treating Mady like some Air Quatura treated me in the Circle?

I didn’t know what to say. There were all kinds of confusing feelings inside me that I couldn’t categorize, and the ones I could categorize, I couldn’t express. On top of that, Grace rarely let me express myself.

“Luckily, Amara resolved everything.”

It sounded that easy. All she could think about right now was the Circle. But what else could she be thinking about? What was I blaming her for right now? Nothing was different.

Julie, relax.