Crimson Frost (Mythos Academy #4)(11)
Author: Jennifer Estep

"Oh yeah. I understand perfectly," I muttered.

Alexei looked at me. He kept his face blank, but once again, I saw the curiosity in his eyes. I wondered why he’d been chosen for guard duty. Most likely it was because he was Sergei’s son. I wondered if being in the Protectorate was a family thing, like being a cop, firefighter, or doctor was in some regular mortal families. I’d have to ask Logan. I’d have to ask the Spartan about a lot of things-and why his dad seemed to hate me when I’d never even met him before today.

"Inari and Sergei will take turns watching your dorm at night," Linus continued. "Just in case there is some truth to Metis’s ridiculous idea that the Reapers are targeting you."

I glanced at the professor. We both knew why the Reapers were after me. Because I was Nike’s Champion-and I was supposed to find some way to kill Loki. It looked like Metis hadn’t told Linus that, though. I wondered what else she hadn’t told him.

"We have already launched our investigation, and we will start the trial on Friday afternoon, two days from now," Linus said. "Metis will escort you here after your myth-history class. In the meantime, I suggest you reflect on your actions these past few months and prepare to account for everything you’ve done since coming to Mythos. That is all-for now."

Linus got to his feet, turned, and left the prison, his gray robe streaming out behind him. Sergei and Inari nodded at me and the others before they followed him. Alexei stayed behind, though. At first, I wondered why, but then I realized what was going on-guard duty was starting already. Marvelous.

I sat in the stone chair, wondering if my legs would actually work if I tried to get to my feet. A little more than an hour ago, I’d been having coffee with Logan, and my biggest worry had been how our first date was going. Now, my whole world had been turned upside down-again.

"Gwen?" Metis asked. "Are you okay?"

"Sure," I said. "Just fine and dandy for a girl who’s about to be put on trial for her life."

"Don’t worry, Gwen," Ajax said in his deep, rumbling voice. "We’re going to get this sorted out. Nothing’s going to happen to you."

I started to tell him it was too late for that, that everyone at Mythos hated me now, but I kept quiet. Instead, I focused on the one person who hadn’t been in the prison with the others, the one person I needed to see.

"What about my grandma?" I asked. "Where is she? Does she know about this?"

Metis nodded. "She does. I called her as soon as the assembly ended. She should be waiting for you in your dorm room by now."

I nodded. Grandma Frost would know what to do. She always knew what to do.

"Come on," Nickamedes said. "Let’s get you out of here and back to your room."

I got to my feet, and we walked toward the prison door. Raven gave me another brief glance as we left, but she went right back to her magazine. I doubted she cared one way or the other what happened to me.

Ajax opened the door, and we stepped out into the hallway. Daphne and Carson were standing outside, but there was no sign of Logan, his dad, or the other members of the Protectorate. Metis, Nickamedes, and Ajax started talking in low voices, so I walked over to my friends.

"Gwen!" Daphne said. "Are you okay?"

The Valkyrie hugged me, her great strength making my back crack.

"I’m okay," I said. "For now. Where’s Logan?"

Daphne shook her head, her blond ponytail swishing from side to side. "He went after his dad to try and talk to him about . . . things."

"Yeah. Things."

"Is it true?" Carson asked, his brown eyes big and wide behind his black glasses. "That they’re going to put you on trial for what happened with Vivian and Loki?"

"It’s true."

I told my friends everything Linus had said-except that the punishment was death if I was found guilty. I didn’t want to worry them any more than they already were. Besides, Metis and the others had said that they would straighten all this out. I had to believe them. I just had to. Otherwise, I’d go crazy on the spot, and Vivian, Loki, and the rest of the Reapers would have already won.

When I finished, Carson jerked his head. "Who’s that?"

I turned and realized that Alexei was standing behind me. I hadn’t even heard him move. "Oh, this is Alexei. My . . . guard."

"Alexei Sokolov," Daphne said in a cool voice. "I remember you. You gave me a run for my money last year at the spring archery championships at the New York academy."

For the first time, a hint of a smile lifted up his lips. "And you beat me in the final round."

"I did," Daphne said. "I know you have your orders from the Protectorate, but if you lay so much as one hand on Gwen or do anything to hurt her, I will break your fingers so badly that you will never be able to pick up a weapon again. Or anything else."

"Daphne!" I hissed, shocked at the threat of violence in her deceptively sweet voice.

"What?" she said. "I’m just telling him what’s what."

Sparks of magic shot out of her fingertips, as if to punctuate her brutal promise. All Valkyries gave off flickers and flares of magic that were tied to their personalities and auras. I always thought it was ironic that Daphne’s aura apparently had a princess pink color, given how volatile and quick to anger she could be.

"Don’t worry, Gwen," Alexei replied. "I know all about you and your friends, including the Valkyrie’s temper."

"And how is that? Because I’ve never seen or even heard of you before today."

"I have my sources."

Something flashed in his eyes, something that looked a lot like longing, but a second later, his face was blank and expressionless once more. Weird. I had no idea how Alexei could know anything about me, but it looked like I was stuck with him, whether I liked it or not.

"Do you think Vivian is behind this?" Carson asked, running a hand through his brown hair.

I shrugged. "I don’t know. The last time I saw Vivian, she was flying off on that Black roc with Loki strapped in behind her. But I wouldn’t put it past her to try to make trouble for me, especially since Preston didn’t succeed in killing me at the Garm gate."

I shivered once again, thinking about all the awful things that had happened that night. Vivian slicing open my palm with the Helheim Dagger and using my blood to free Loki. The evil god telling Preston to kill me, and the Reaper stabbing me in the chest with the dagger. Then me using my psychometry to touch Preston, to pull all the magic, all the life, out of his body and into mine so I could heal myself. Killing the older boy with my Gypsy gift, the magic Nike had given to me and my family.