Breed of Envy (The Breed Chronicles, #02) (2 page)

He wasn’t bad looking, I thought. He was probably the same height as Linc, give or take an inch, which would put him close to six-feet tall, but he was slightly bulkier than Linc. His dark blond hair was on the long side and always kind of messy, and his eyes were a light green (though it was hard to tell because he always kept his gaze on Tasha).

Chris gave a fake cough and glanced away, trying to act like he hadn’t seen Greene’s look.

When I turned back, I saw Greene’s jaw twitch. He said, “We’ll talk later, Mr. Stevens.”

I glanced back again. Tasha’s shoulders shook and she patted Chris’s knee. He buried his face in his hands and shook his head.

“I’m sure you’re all anxious to get back to whatever you were doing, so I’ll try to make this short.” He paused. “Many of you just completed a Phase, so congratulations.”

A few people let out whoops. I didn’t. At least not vocally. I kept my
whoop
internal so Linc didn’t roll his eyes at me, and so I didn’t bring any unnecessary attention to myself. The last thing I wanted was Greene calling on me as an example for…well, anything.

“For some of you, this will be your first Phase. For others, this will be your second, third, or fourth and final. In any case, you all have something in common. You’re all one step closer to becoming hunters.” Greene’s gaze landed on me and he smiled. “And tomorrow, you all begin a new Phase.”

“He’s going to mention me,” I muttered under my breath, lowering my head so Greene couldn’t see me talking. “I just know it.”

“Why?”

“Because he looked at me. And because he always does.” Anytime we were both in the same place, at the same time, and there was a crowd of people around, he seemed to find a reason to single me out. I eyed Greene darkly. “He’ll find a way.”

Greene continued. “This last Phase wasn’t the easiest on some of our Prospects. Some, like Miss Hall—”

I groaned and slapped Linc’s knee. “See?”

“—went through more than most Prospects during their entire stay with us.” He looked at me again. “I know you hate being the center of attention, Miss Hall, and I apologize for putting you there, but I want this next point to serve as a reminder, and a warning. Last semester, many things happened that shouldn’t have. A demon escaped in the South Tower and came too close to attacking Miss Hall and Miss Fitzgerald—all because of a prank that went awry. Another incident involving vampires could have easily ended both of their lives and nearly did.”

Everyone’s eyes went to me (including some I recognized from my original Orientation) and I could almost feel the heat from their gazes, or maybe I just imagined it. It left me struggling not to squirm.

“The first should have been avoided. Security was well aware that Miss Fitzgerald had a reputation for sneaking Prospects into the South Tower as a prank, and yet they did nothing to stop it. This will not happen again.” His eyes went cool. “Secondly—and this is the most important thing I’m going to say today—the vampire incident would not have happened if Miss Fitzgerald had followed instructions. Instead, she ran off by herself, putting herself and everyone else’s life in jeopardy, because she didn’t want to be a team player. Demon hunting is teamwork. This means inside the CGE and outside. There is a reason we hunt in teams.”

A few people nodded and looked around. Others looked pointedly at someone around them, casting glares. I just kept my head down. How could I be a good example and a bad example at the same time?

“As a whole,” Greene continued, his tone lighter now. “I discovered a lot about the CGE in the last six months. More, I discovered a lot about our Prospects, new and old. While it may sound like I’m focusing only on the negative occurrences, we did learn some invaluable things as well. Things that may not have been revealed otherwise. We’re all going to make mistakes. That’s fine and is acceptable. What’s important is that we learn from those mistakes, and we have. For that reason alone, I’m prouder of our organization and what we represent than I have been ever before.”

Everyone seemed to relax. But not me. I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“Now, on to better news. As you all begin a new Phase, the CGE will be entering a new one as well.”

There wasn’t a person in the crowd that I could see who didn’t frown or look at someone else, like they were all trying to gauge if anyone had any idea what Greene was talking about now. Judging by the dozens of confused looks, shrugs, and quiet whispers, no one seemed to.

“I’m sure some of you noticed my absence this past month,” Greene said, the sides of mouth lifting. If anyone else had been as curious about that as I’d been, they didn’t announce it. “I won’t bore you with the details of the where or why, but I will say that I came back with something very important.” There was a long pause. “Funding.”

“Weren’t we—the CGE—already funded?” a P3 girl asked, looking really confused.

“We were, and are, yes.” Greene nodded. “But more funding is always a good thing.”

“How does this affect us?”

“It affects you because we’re going to be undergoing some upgrades, in particular to our computer systems and our medical department, as well as various other departments. The biggest change that you’ll notice will be new tablets for the Prospects. These are high-end, top of the line.”

“New tablets?” A guy a few seats over from Linc almost drooled. “Really?”

“Yes, Mr. Smith. However, if you lose or break the new tablet, you’ll be paying to replace it and will have to use one of the older models until you graduate or can afford to pay for your own.”

“What?” He gaped. “That’s not fair.”

“No, I suppose not, but these are expensive tablets and since you have a…knack for breaking or losing them, you’ll just have to deal with the consequences from now on.”

The kid managed to look indignant for about four point three seconds, but then pink flushed his cheeks.

“Among some of the other changes that will be happening, there will be ongoing construction inside the South Tower for the foreseeable future. Because of the demons and the research, there will be a security fence around the entire building. And no one—” Greene’s gaze landed on me briefly. “—will be permitted inside the building or around it.” This time, Greene looked to someone else. I almost sighed with relief. “It has always been, and will always remain, off limits to all Prospects unless, or until, express permission is given to enter. If anyone risks sneaking in, I promise they will not like the consequences.”

No one argued, not that I thought anyone was brave—or stupid—enough to. And no way was I going into the South Tower again. I’d learned my lesson.

“Are those the only changes?” another girl asked. I’d seen her around, but I’d never heard her name, and I didn’t share any classes with her, so she was probably a P3 or P4.

“The North Tower will also undergo some upgrades, but those will be worked around your class schedules and likely be on the weekends, so as to not disrupt your studying.”

A guy in the front row raised his hand. When Greene nodded to him, he said, “So, when does this all start?”

“Tomorrow morning. Your tablets should be available to you during your first class, and construction on the South Tower will begin around that time.”

“Why did we get the extra funding? Did we, I don’t know, need it?”

“We’re always looking for more funding as it’s what keeps us open. As for why…” Greene’s gazes met mine again. It was just a quick, barely noticeable look, but it made me frown. “We’re continuing to make great strides in our research, and those who support us wish us to succeed. More funding means better equipment which leads to quicker results—and those help everyone.”

“So it’s for research,” a guy said. His shoulders sagged. “That sucks.”

“Bear in mind that it’s that research that allows you and everyone else to be here, to continue to be able to live and study here.” Greene glanced down at his watch. “I know some of you were probably expecting a longer speech, but I’m afraid I have business to attend to. To those who have been with us a while, please take some time to show our newest recruits around the CGE and answer any questions they may have.” He bowed his head in a small nod and picked up his tablet. “I wish you all the best during your classes tomorrow.” He smiled as a bunch of the kids (okay, everyone but me) gave happy sighs and/or looks of thanks.

“That’s it?” a guy asked.

“That’s it.” Greene nodded to the group at large and then stalked away, heading toward a group of agents that stood beside the car he’d arrived in.

“But—” I stuttered, unable to say or do anything as I watched Greene leave.

Linc shook his head. “Disappointed, aren’t you?”

“Well, kind of. I was hoping for…more.” What
more
I wanted, I had no idea. I didn’t even know why I wanted it, but dang it, I did.

“We’re getting new tablets. That’s more.”

“That’s not the more I wanted. And I thought our old ones were pretty good.” Though I still preferred the tablet I’d bought for myself, but I couldn’t use it during my classes.

“They’re about two years old. In tech time, that’s ancient.”

I frowned at Linc. “How do you know how old they are? Did they come with a manufacturing date on them or something?”

“No, but I searched the web.” He shrugged. “Research is good, remember? That’s what the CGE does.”

“Careful, Linc. That’s nerd talk.”

For a split second, there’d been this mutinous look on Linc’s face, like I’d stabbed him in the eye with a spork. “That was mean.” The accusation in his voice made me laugh.

“So? You called me a nerd before.”

“Yeah, but that was different. And true.”

I smiled. “Well, I guess I passed the torch to you.” As he rolled his eyes, I stared back out at the podium, where Greene had been. I couldn’t fight a frown. “He was gone for an entire month and barely seen the month before that. Now he just comes back with a ten minute speech and…and that’s it?”

“You’re relentless.”

“I’m worried. You know Greene, and that’s not him.” Not the Greene who loved to give speeches and ask questions. The only time I’d seen him quietish was when I’d been in trouble.

Crap. Was I in trouble again? Was that what that look had been about?

Linc waggled his brows at me. “I thought you weren’t worried.”

“I’m not worried about
classes
,” I said. It was still a lie, but right now, I was worried about something more important. “I’m worried about Greene and his disappearing acts.”

He shrugged. “He came back with funding. Maybe he had meetings with investors or something. Some secret meetings with some secret government officials.”

“For a month?” I rolled my eyes. “Not likely.”

“Okay, fine, so he had secret meetings with secret government officials
and
he took an extended vacation. We got two months off. Why shouldn’t he?”

I opened my mouth to argue, but when he said it like that, it almost made sense. Damn him and his logic. “Fine.” I sighed. “I’ll go back to worrying about classes.”

Something touched my shoulder and I nearly jumped out of my skin. When I turned, I found am auburn haired girl with brown eyes standing beside me. I recognized her from my Orientation back in May. “You’re Jade, right?” she asked.

I nodded. “Yeah.”

“Can I have a second?”

I sent Linc a what’d-I-do-now look. He just shrugged and moved over to talk to Tasha who was dragging Chris down the bleachers.

Motioning for the girl to follow, I got up and started down the bleachers. “It’s…Young, right?” I asked once we were aloneish. We were still surrounded by most of the Prospects, but we were as alone as we were going to get out here. “Sorry, I don’t know your first name. Director Greene only called you Miss Young before at your Orientation.”

The girl nodded. “Yeah. Shelly Young. Good memory.”

“Thanks.” I shoved my hands in my pockets. “So, what’s up?”

Her brown eyes met mine. She looked around warily, like she wasn’t sure what to expect. “What’s it like here?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you were with us for that Orientation deal, and now you’re already here… I’ve only been here a few weeks, and already I’ve heard about you.”

I groaned.

“Nothing bad,” she added hastily, her cheeks pinkening. “I just mean, we—me and the other P1s—have heard people talk about you, since, you know, you were skipped ahead. So we were just wondering…what’s it like? Is it okay?”

I scratched my head, suddenly more uncomfortable though I didn’t know why. “Yeah, it’s great. I’m still here, right?”

“Did you really fight a…a vampire?” Her eyes were wide. I couldn’t tell if it was in awe or fear. Maybe both.

“I—” I broke off as Linc jogged over.

“Sorry to interrupt, but that thing I said not to worry about? Worry about it now. Greene’s coming back this way,” he added in a low tone.

I turned to apologize to Shelly but found myself staring at an empty spot instead. She was already gone. Apparently I wasn’t the only one who worried about Greene being around. For a split second, I debated spinning around to look for Greene, but I just closed my eyes and sighed. “How long before—”

“Good afternoon, Mr. Stone, Miss Hall.”

I snapped my mouth shut, sent Linc a scathing look, and then twisted around to face Greene. “Hi.”

Linc raised his hand in a wave. “Hey.”

“I was wondering if I might steal a moment of your time, Miss Hall.”

Don’t groan, don’t groan.
I plastered a smile on my face. “Sure.” I pushed Linc aside and followed Greene as he headed toward the pool. I tried to trail behind him a little, but he just slowed his pace to match mine.
I’m not getting out of this one.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Greene watching me. “I’m sure you were curious as to my whereabouts.”

“What? No,” I said. He smirked at me. There was no other word for it. He just smirked. “Okay, fine, I was curious. Do you know
everything
? And
how
do you know everything?” Sooner or later, I’d figure that out.

The smirk stayed in place and his brown eyes twinkled. “Research, Miss Hall. I told you I was very good at it.”