Chapter 631

"So!" Faiza says, flopping into her chair and cooly lifting the heels of her boots onto her desk as she grins wickedly at me. "I like the new addition to your harem. He's cute." She again wrinkles her nose.

My hands still in the process of unwrapping my breakfast as I lift my eyes to hers, shocked. "My...harem?"

"Sure," she says, grinning deeply, "your little harem of Alpha boys deeply dedicated to serving your every want and need. I have to admit, I'm a little jealous. If you're ever looking to loan them out -"

I groan, sinking into my chair and rolling my eyes at her as I snag a chocolate-covered donut. I take a big bite as I pour a cup of coffee into a mug waiting on the desk. "Take 'em," I say, my voice dry. "Give me some peace and quiet."noveldrama

"Oh please," Faiza says, still grinning at me as she reaches for the carafe of coffee after I've filled my cup. "If I actually thought you'd loan out the hot one, I'd think about it. But I know you're more selfish than you're pretending to be."

"Damn right I am," I growl, making her laugh as I lean back in my chair and grin at my professor. As she continues to laugh I study Faiza, thinking - not for the first time - that I really admire her. Not only is she a badass, she just...moves through the world with such a sense of confidence. I wish I could be more like that.

"The new boy is cute, though a little scrawny for me," she says when her laughter fades, sitting back with her coffee pressed between her palms. She quirks a single brow. "But how's your brother doing? He's not scrawny at all, is he?"

“Ugh, Faiza," I sigh, letting my eyes drift shut and shaking my head slightly. "This cannot be part of my education."

"Oh, come on, a girl gets curious and lonely in this big cold stone house!"

"Hands off my harem," I say, letting my eyes slowly narrow to a glare. "There are two hundred-some boys in this Castle. Pick one of those to tear to emotional pieces."

Her vicious grin deepens. "No fun, cream puff, you got all the hot ones. Besides," she tilts her head to the side, studying me. "Not two hundred any more, are there?"

I sigh, my blood going cold as I realize that she's right. I take a long sip of my coffee, wanting both the warmth and the energy, before. looking up at her again. "Do yo know what happened? Were they

sent to the front?" Content belongs

"They were," she says quietly, holding my gaze, her face falling into more serious lines. "And to various other points, according to their specialties. It's...it's getting very serious, Ariel."

"Will we get called up too?" My hands tighten as I wait for her answer.

"I don't have any insight into what the higher-ups are thinking," she answers quietly. "But I think you will."

"Why do you think that?" My question is a hoarse whisper, full of dread.

She sighs long through her nose, looking away from me, not trying to keep anything from me but, instead, deciding how to answer. "Did you know that my dad has sent almost every Spy he has out to Atalaxia?" she asks, staring into space a bit. "Every one of them as trained as I am, up to a Neumann-level of stealth and skill?"

"No," I answer, my voice still soft. I had no idea that there was an espionage component to this war - most of what we hear about is fervent fighting on the front. But, of course, the secrecty makes sense.

“Well, he did,” Faiza says, turning her eyes back to me. “And do you know what the results have been? How much information we've gotten from them?"

I stare at her and shake my head no.

"We've got nothing, Ariel," Faiza says,

et

leaning towards me, her face grim. Quite suddenly I miss my playful, flirty, dangerous professor. This Faiza that has been brought down to the grim reality of this war - she's even more terrifying. "Not a single one of his spies has responded. And not a single one has come back."