Trik just shook his head, looking back and forth between the two girls.
“Yep,” Elora said as they arrived to their class. “Another day in the life of a typical American teenage girl, walking to class with her dark elf boyfriend, discussing the size of his quiver. What more could a girl want?”
Trik stood looking at them in confusion as Cassie smothered her laughter and Elora glanced back at him with a dismissing wave.
“What the hell just happened,” he said to the now empty hall.
Cassie took her seat, trying, but miserably failing to keep her laughter under control. Elora simply had a mildly amused look on her face.
“Quiver?” Cassie murmured from where she sat behind Elora.
Elora turned slightly so that she could see Cassie and the front of the classroom.
“I was taking a guess, but everyone knows that elves use bows and arrows. I thought about the whole wielding a sword thing but really that would have been much worse.”
Cassie snorted. “Leave it to you to toss out some sexual innuendos to the dark elf assassin.”
“My brother must be wearing off on me,” Elora murmured just as Mrs. Davis walked in.
History was one of Cassie’s favorite subjects, but even today’s lecture about Native Americans couldn’t keep her mind from continually drifting back to Trik and the unsettling awareness that she could feel his closeness. She knew that he was just outside the door, waiting on her. She didn’t know how to explain it, but that same something that kept drawing her to him, simply knew that he was close. And if she were going to be really honest with herself, she would have to admit that it was comforting knowing he was there.
The class seemed to drag as she fidgeted restlessly. Cassie was beginning to feel anxious as the class wore on. She needed to see Trik. She needed him to tell her that what she was feeling was normal. Just as the bell rang to indicate class was dismissed, she felt a gasp pulled from her chest and an ache take its place. She wasn’t in pain exactly; it was more of a feeling of emptiness, as if something essential was missing. She knew then, on the tail end of that thought, that Trik was gone. She snatched up her things and rushed out of the room, not bothering to explain to Elora. She needed to see it for herself.
She stumbled over her feet as she reached the door and caught herself just as she rushed into the hallway. She turned in a circle slowly searching through the throng of students, her eyes moved over every face and every corner, hoping to see him leaning there, but knowing she wouldn’t.
“Cassie, could you please explain why you nearly took out three of our classmates in an effort to get into the hall?” Elora asked her, stopping by her side and looking in the same direction she was.
Finally, Cassie made eye contact with Elora. “He’s gone,” she told her and her face fell as the words left her mouth.
“And how exactly did you know that while we were sitting in History class?”
Cassie shook her head. “I just knew. Somehow, I don’t know how to explain it, but I just know when he is close by.”
Elora stared at her questioningly. “Are you in pain this time?”
“No, I just feel like something is missing.”
“Duh, it’s your ass, I mean assassin.”
Cassie grinned weakly at her friend’s purposely slip of the tongue. “That was weak.”
“I’ll work on my material. So what are we going to do?”
Cassie shrugged. “What can I do? It’s not like I have a cell phone number for him.”
“Have you said his name? Isn’t that what brought him back the last time?” Elora reminded her.
“Trik?” Cassie said his name and it came out as a question. They both waited, their breaths seemed to freeze in their lungs as the anticipation for a response grew. The halls were beginning to empty as people made their way into their respective classrooms. Cassie hardly noticed. After several minutes, still nothing.
“O-o-okay,” Elora said drawing out the word. “So apparently you have to be in unbearable pain for that little trick to work. No pun intended, although that was a pretty good one.”
Cassie heard the bell ring and still she didn’t move. She knew she needed to get to her next class but she couldn’t get her feet to obey her.
“Cassie, you are going to have to suck it up and deal. We need to get to class. Your life does not stop simply because you find yourself painfully and ridiculously attached to Mr. Tall, Dark , and Delicious,” Elora said firmly as she took Cassie by the arm and tugged.
Cassie let out a deep breath and looked at her friend. With a single nod of her head, she finally began moving. “You’re right, this is silly.”
“I didn’t say silly. Bizarre, freaky, and quite possibly turning into an unhealthy attachment? Yes, but not silly.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Cassie growled.
“I don’t sugarcoat things Cass, not for anyone, especially you.”
“I know and I usually appreciate it. But could you maybe soften it a little this time?”
“No.”
“It was worth a try,” Cassie muttered.
~
Trik glared at his King. The indignation rolled off of him in waves that were palpable.
“You have never forced a summons on me.” His words were a knife slicing through the anger that radiated from both of them.
Lorsan met his warrior’s fierce stare. “You have never ignored one.”
“I have never had a Chosen before. She is human; she needs protection, especially since she has seen Tamsin and his closest men in their natural form. You know the laws they will hold her to.”
“You are my spy and assassin first, not her Sh'mai ,” Lorsan snapped.
Trik shook with rage as his fists opened and closed at his sides.
“Is that how you feel of your Chosen?” He asked. “Does your Kingship come before her?”
“That’s different and you know it.”
“Different how?” Trik challenged.
Lorsan’s hand slashed through the air disregarding Trik’s words. “Ilyrana and I have been united for more than a millennia. She has held my heart far longer than the existence of the humans, let alone you’re little human.”
“And that makes your relationship more important than the one between me and Cassandra?”
“I am in the middle of one of the largest endeavors our kind has ever had in the human realm. An endeavor that will bring the humans to their knees before us. Need I remind you of the part you are to play in this?” Lorsan paced restlessly as he struggled with his next words. “I would hate to have to replace you, Triktapic. You have served me longer than most. But do not make the mistake of believing you are irreplaceable.”