Veric drags me out of Rae's office without breaking stride.
The conversation hangs unfinished in the air behind us.
Which is exactly what I wanted.
Rae has just learned that the rat from the entrance exam isn't a rat anymore, and from now on he'll think twice—maybe three times—before trying to leverage me, blackmail me, or do anything pejorative in my direction.
He won't risk losing me to Rector Dean.
In my last life, Rae climbed all the way to academy chancellor to buy himself influence and a high seat in the Deepwarden. Right now he's just another soldier trying to get noticed.
Losing a Rank D prodigy to a rival house would be the worst possible move at the worst possible time.
He'll feed me something on my father. Anything. Just enough to keep me on the track.
That's the breathing room I gave him.
The door clicks shut behind us.
"You disappeared for two weeks, you absolute jackass!"
