Vale's POV

They came for me at noon.

Two security officers. Not Academy security. Government agents.

"Instructor Vale," one of them said. "Agent Mercer requests your presence. Immediately."

Not a request. An order.

I followed them through the administrative wing. Students stopped to stare. Faculty members looked away.

Everyone knew what this meant.

They led me to a room I'd never seen before. Small. No windows. A table and two chairs.

Interrogation room.

Mercer was waiting.

"Sit," he ...