Chapter 12

Eliana and Keith lingered in the cafeteria a while longer, knowing they still had time before curfew. She used the opportunity to squeeze every bit of information out of him that she could.

"So, now that we're allies—or friends, or whatever. Doesn't really matter what exactly. I want some answers."

Keith leaned back in his chair, smirking. "Only for a price. What do I get in return?"

She groaned. Of course, nothing here was ever easy. She wracked her brain for something to offer and then had an idea. "I'll owe you one. If you ever need something and I can provide it, I will."

Keith let out a mocking laugh. "That would require a lot of trust in you. But fine. From this day on, you, Eliana Demi, owe me. Now, ask away." He spoke lazily, swiping food from her tray as he did.

She thought for a moment before speaking. "How did you end up here?"

He raised an eyebrow. "That's what you want to know?"

"Yes. Just answer the question."

His expression darkened. "My family sent me here. They've been sending recruits for decades. Every child is trained from a young age, and the strongest are sent here. The rest go into the military. Lucky me, huh?"

She listened intently. "So you didn't want this. You had no choice." She recalled Dane's words about how not everyone here had come willingly.

"Nope. My siblings and cousins were desperate to attend the academy and build a legacy. They were like Kilian and his group." His voice dripped with disdain. "Don't know if you've met them yet."

Unfortunately, she had. The bathroom incident came to mind, and she shuddered. So some people actually chose this life.

"You said your family has been sending recruits for decades. How old is this academy?"

Keith shrugged. "No one really knows. A century, maybe more."

That wasn't helpful. "What else do you know? Who runs this place? Who are we supposed to be killing? Is there some secret agenda?" The whole academy made no sense to her. How had no one discovered its existence?

Keith sighed. "Look, no one really knows much. We get targets and eliminate them. That's it. How many times do you need to hear it? The entire system here is built on obeying without questioning."

He pushed back his chair and stood. "Anything else, or can I go?"

"Is there at least a library?"

"Yeah, but only mentors have access. You need permission to enter." He smirked. "Anyway, I have better things to do. One of the recruits wants me to take her to pound town." With a wink, he sauntered off.

She grimaced. That was more information than she needed. And his answers hadn't been very helpful. If she wanted access to the library, she needed a mentor's permission. That would be nearly impossible since they all hated her. Maybe Theodore would be her best bet—he seemed the most easygoing.

With a sigh, she checked the time. She still had half an hour until curfew, and she hadn't showered in a week. Her hair felt disgusting, and she reeked.

She made her way to the bathrooms, relieved to find them empty. She quickly undressed, avoiding the mirrors. The physical examination on her first day had left her self-conscious. She wasn't exactly chubby, but she wasn't skinny either. Still, she had bigger problems than her body image.

Stepping under the spray, she let the hot water cascade over her. The thought of showering in the morning with everyone else was unbearable. A dozen showerheads lined the walls, offering no privacy.

Suddenly, muffled sounds came from one of the stalls. Moaning. Whimpering. Her first thought was that someone must be in pain and is getting killed in there.

Before she could decide what to do, the stall door opened, and Tristan strolled out—completely naked, looking smug as ever. Behind him, she caught a glimpse of a flushed, trembling girl and a boy sitting on the toilet seat before the door shut again.

Her mouth fell open in shock.

Tristan turned to her, unfazed. "Close your mouth, love, or I might get ideas about filling it." He smirked as he stepped under the shower next to hers.

Every time she thought this place couldn't shock her more, it proved her wrong.

"Did you just—was that—a threesome? In the toilet stall?" she stammered, her face burning.

"Yeah. Happens all the time. With the stress of training, sex is a great way to let off steam." He eyed her up and down. "You seem pretty stressed. Need help?" He grinned. "I can eat your sweet pussy for you."

Eliana's brain short-circuited. How could he be so blunt?

"No, thank you. No need for that." She quickly reached for her towel, ready to flee, but Tristan was faster. He grabbed her wrists and pinned them against the shower wall, their wet bodies pressed together.

Her heart pounded. Part of her—some insane part—wondered what it would be like to let go and have some fun.

But then he caught her off guard with his next words. "Why not? Is Keith doing it for you?"

"W-what? No! Me and Keith never—What kind of question is that?!"

Tristan trailed his nose along her cheek and inhaled. "You spend too much time with him. You're too pure for Keith. Don't trust him."

She barely processed his words, still reeling from whatever this was. "Funny, he said the same about you. You two clearly have a problem with each other, and I'm not interested in being part of it. I'm leaving."

To her relief, he let her go, and she scrambled for her towel, wrapping it around herself as she rushed away.

"Ask Keith what happened to his last combat partner," Tristan called after her.

She didn't stop to ask more.

That was, without a doubt, the strangest encounter of her life.