Page 2 of Havenfall Harbor
I jog to catch up with him and quickly slide into the passenger seat. He doesn’t bother with the seatbelt system, so neither do I. “I’m not sure whom I spoke with, a woman.” I shrug. “She knew who I was.”
The man’s lips purse and he lets out a huff. Before he can start the UTV, I hear the sound of another engine nearing us.
A similar vehicle comes down the road, this one with enclosed sides and windows. There’s a woman behind the wheel, and she sends a tight smile in our direction. Her white-blonde hair is cut short, framing her feminine face nicely.
“Letty.” The man’s voice holds a note of warning and censure.
“Evan,” she sneers in return. “I was coming.” She narrows her eyes on me as if I’ve done something wrong.
“I was okay walking,” I defend, even though I shouldn’t have to.
Letty, I’m assuming that’s her name, schools her features. “Sorry, Evan. I’ll take her up.”
“I’ve got it. Head out to the east perimeter.”
“But I need to show her around.” Letty licks her bottom lip.
“Someone else will do it, just go.” Evan dismisses her with a disappointed shake of his head.
I look down at my lap, pretending I’m not witnessing this woman’s slight dressing down. Shit, this is not how I wanted my first day to go.
Without another word, she speeds away. Evan starts the UTV with the push of a button. “Hold on,” he orders gruffly, while he drives off the grass and onto the paved roadway. I grab hold of the bar above my seat and watch as the scenery turns into a blur, the vehicle is surprisingly fast.
In the distance, I see the top of a spire, and as we grow closer, more and more of the roof becomes visible. I suck in a breath at the sheer size of the place. It’s bigger than I imagined.
Evan ignores my awe and drives on until we’re parked out front of the massive building. It resembles a large C. Each corner has a wide, cement staircase that leads up to a gaping entrance in the center. You could drive a city bus on the walkway.
After I received the call from Professor Mackey telling me that Havenfall Harbor was searching for a human liaison, I researched everything I could on the history, but a few old black and white photos and outdated articles was all I could find.
Nothing could have prepared me for this. I look over at Evan. “That would have been a long walk.”
The big man next to me chuffs. “You might have made it by nightfall.” A soft smile curls his lips.
“Maybe.” I look back at the sheer size of the place.
“I’ll take you in.” He nods his head toward the building then meets my gaze. “Someone will show you to your rooms.” His eyes roam over my face before he looks away. “It will be an adjustment,” he remarks quietly. I get the sense he’s trying to atone for Letty leaving me to walk.
I hold out my palm to shake Evan’s hand. “Thanks for the ride. I’m Quinn.”
Evan turns his body and grasps my hand in his giant one. “Evan Winters, head of security, you’re welcome.” Our eyes stay lock for a moment, and heat rises in my cheeks when I realize we’re still clasping hands.
I release his palm and slide out of the UTV, reaching over the back to grab a piece of my luggage. It takes some maneuvering, but I get it past the roll cage and let it drop to the ground. Evan seizes the other with much less effort and I follow him up the east staircase.
When we reach the top, I’m slightly out of breath, but I force myself to keep my exhales even. Lifting his hand, Evan points at the wing in front of us. “Staff housing.” Moving his hand to the middle, he continues, “School and training facilities.” One more shift to gesture at the opposite, mirrored west wing, and he adds, “Student dorms.”
Evan’s large steps eat up the space as he heads toward the east wing’s oversized, arched doorway. He clutches a hanging circle and turns it, using his shoulder to push the door open. I make a note to check for other entrances, since I doubt I’d even be able to budge that door.
“Melissa, if that’s you again, he’s going to skin you,” comes a whispered male voice. “No students in the staff housing wing. Oh, it’s you, it’s you!” The second time he says, ‘it’s you,’ it comes out rushed.
“It’s me,” Evan deadpans.
“Oh, and Mr. Shaw…but I thought Letty…and she just left…but that wasn’t enough time to…” The man’s voice trails off as I move to stand beside Evan.
The harried man’s eyes travel up from my feet to my face, but he’s not leering, it’s more like he’s surprised to see me. He looks up at Evan. “This is Mr. Shaw?” He steps out from behind a large, wooden desk. He’s small compared to Evan, and he hasn’t stopped moving since I laid eyes on him.
“Ms.Shaw,” Evan corrects him.
“Oh, wow, okay. Ms. Shaw. Ms. Shaw,” he repeats, like he’s testing it out.
