Chapter Forty Three

"What do you mean by that?" I nearly screamed.

"It is almost impossible to keep someone like you a secret, Kai. It was only a matter of time before talk about you reached the ears of the court."

"But why?" I ran my hands through my hair. "Why would they care?"

"If you were merely a student who excelled in combat, usually it wouldn't stir up this much interest, but you are much more than that, especially after today when talk of how many marks you have received reaches court."

"Again, why does it matter?"

"Because you are the dhampir that was found by chance in the city having had no real training as a guardian-to-be and yet you have taken down more Strigoi than many fully fledged guardians twice your age. Within days you had built up a powerful reputation for yourself here at the Academy, but by now, you have a reputation amongst the royal court, Kai. The number of calls that I've received asking about you has been rising like the tide ever since this morning when you guys got back."