Night School - Endgame by C.J. Daugherty Page A

let me be clear. Lucinda Meldrum died trying to end this thing once and for all. That is all she wanted. This fight ruined her life, Nathaniel’s life, my life, and the lives of all the kids in this building.’ She took a breath, ignoring the stunned expressions on the faces looking back at her. ‘So, I will not join you to fight for control of Orion. I don’t want anything to do with Orion at all.’
     
    No one met Allie’s gaze as she threaded her way through the crowd in Isabelle’s office – all she wanted was out.
    But just as she stepped into the corridor, taking a grateful gulp of the cool air, Julian caught up with her.
    ‘Allie, could I speak to you for a moment?’ He closed the door behind him, so no one could overhear their conversation.
    He was very tall – he towered over her. She looked up at him cautiously, expecting him to chide her. But he didn’t do anything like that. Instead, he apologised.
    ‘My timing was terrible. Please forgive me. I put you in the most appalling position in there.’
    His contrition appeared real; Allie was disarmed.
    ‘I’m sorry, too,’ she said, her cheeks colouring. ‘I lost my temper a little.’
    ‘Everyone loses their temper.’ His lips twitched mischievously. ‘I’ve seen your grandmother throw a stapler so hard it left a dent in a wall.’
    ‘No way,’ she said. It was unimaginable. Calm, controlled Lucinda, losing it?
    ‘Absolute way,’ he said. ‘You don’t get anywhere in life by being placid. Greatness comes from passion. And passion is almost always twinned with anger. You can fight that in yourself or you can accept it, and use it as a force for good. Which is what she chose to do.’
    Allie studied him curiously.
    He was an interesting-looking man – all angles and elbows, like an overgrown teenager. His hair flopped over his narrow forehead, and he kept shoving it back absently. She liked that his quick smile always reached his eyes.
    ‘Perhaps I was overly exuberant in my timing, because Lucinda was an inspiration to me,’ he continued. ‘She helped me many times when I was young, and we remained friends and colleagues throughout my life. I named my daughter after her.’ He paused. ‘Lucy’s eight now. I’d always hoped to send her to Cimmeria when she was old enough so she could walk in her godmother’s footsteps. Now I wonder if she’ll ever get that chance.’
    It was heartbreaking to think of Cimmeria in Nathaniel’s hands – out of all of their reach. But if that was what it took for there to be peace, Allie would let it happen.
    ‘I wish there was another way,’ she said. ‘I just don’t think there is one.’
    His reply came without a second’s hesitation.
    ‘Actually, I’m certain there is,’ he said. ‘We just have to find it.’

12
    C lasses resumed the next morning .
    Allie, who had longed for any kind of normality, none the less endured the lessons with ill grace. It was hard to stay focused on what the teachers were saying. She wanted to be in Dom’s office, helping to find Carter.
    She was also avoiding any situation when she might be alone with Sylvain. She wasn’t ready to deal with their confused relationship.
    As soon as classes ended for the day she raced up to Dom’s office, working there until Night School began in the evening.
    She hadn’t told anyone about her meeting with the Orion Group. If she told them that, she’d have to tell them she was leaving Cimmeria. And that was a conversation she wasn’t going to have with anyone until Carter was back.
    And he would be back.
    But she kept thinking about it. Julian had seemed so reasonable. He seemed to have absolute faith that they’d find a way to beat Nathaniel.
    She wanted him to be right so badly it hurt.
    Night School training resumed that evening. Isabelle suggested Allie should skip it (‘You’ve had a terrible week…’), but she refused.
    She had to stay busy or she’d go insane. She wanted to run. To kick things. To knock