Page 72 of Daughter of Garnet

"I'd be happy to escort you to Oren's session if you're interested in it."

I attempt to take another sip of my coffee, surprised to find the cup empty already. "Sure, I'd like that. I want to attend them all and see what I can learn."

A glance at my watch has me swearing. "I've gotta get to class. Thanks for the coffee."

He stands so fast he almost jumps. "I'll walk you."

This side of Ray is much preferable to the snarky, cold-shoulder one he gave me when we first met. I think I'm getting a glimpse of the brother Viv loves so much and speaks highly of.

"Have you taken Calculus yet?" I ask as we head down the stairs.

"Nah, we only have to take advanced math courses for certain career paths."

"You already know your path?" In our third year, Betas are given a list of acceptable careers. We don't have a choice about what's on the list. It's based on our grades on the aptitude testing at the end of the second year.

"We get to declare a segment when we first get here. We're not boxed into it, because many of the courses overlap, but we do have to put a lot of thought into it before we choose." He steps in front of me, leading me through the courtyard between the Alpha and Beta circles. "This is my building, by the way. In case you need anything." He points at the one on our right. "I'm on the third floor."

"Thanks, I guess?" He shoves his hands in his pockets and walks leisurely through the Omega courtyard. "What are the segments you get to choose from?"

"Well, there is Medicine, which is the path for surgeons and doctors, and Theology, which is where all of our religious leaders and high priests train. My parents are in the military, so they studied Enforcement, but I didn't want to do that, so I declared Diplomacy, which is politics and law, and then there is the Operational path. That's where our engineers and those in high-ranking corporate roles are educated."

It feels simultaneously more restricted and freer than how the Betas are educated. We can try to guide our career prospect sheet by taking specific courses, but it won't always work. Once we have our list of acceptable careers, we can drill down into what we want and complete our studies by selecting courses that support them.

"What made you choose diplomacy?"

He shrugs. "I knew I didn't want to be in enforcement. It didn't feel right for me, especially not after I got my beast."

"But your beast is a giant! Wouldn't it be great in a military capacity?" Not that I know what our military fights against. I think I would know if there was infighting between the provinces.

"My Argentavis is why I don't want to be in enforcement. I don't know what they would ask me to do, and I don't want to be used that way." He holds the door for one of the academic buildings open for me. As I pass through, he ducks his head and whispers close to my ear, "Besides, I'm a lover, not a fighter."

I don't even try to hide my groan. "That was awful."

The smile that lights up his face is so broad it makes his eyes squint, and I wonder if this is the first real one I've ever seen on him. It takes him from attractive to devastatingly handsome.

Viv is waiting for me outside the Calculus classroom, looking between us with her brows furrowed. "What are you two doing together?"

"I brought Zoe coffee and walked her to class." Ray says it with such nonchalance that it takes me off guard. I didn't expect him to lie to her or anything, but he's acting like this isn't a complete about-face from where he stood just a week or two ago.

"Okay…" Viv draws out the word, still looking between the two of us. "That was nice of you."

"I'm a nice guy." He shrugs and swoops down to kiss me on the cheek. "See you two later."

I haven't recovered from the shock of his lips on my cheek before Viv is grabbing me by the arm and dragging me into the classroom.

"What the heck was that?"

I wish I could tell her.

CHAPTER 35

Zoe

I expected Dominic to be his usual asshole self at last night's study group for Menagerie Management, but he took it to the next level.

He insisted I need private instruction.

It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him to go fuck himself, but then he gleefully reminded me that his feedback is part of my grade, so I don't really have a choice.