The gym buzzes with anticipation that afternoon as the combat professors call the first names of the day to the mats. These will be the last challenges for months. The first-years will have the Gauntlet to worry about starting next week, then Presentation and Threshing. And the second-years will start disappearing by the squad for a few days at a time so they can teach us how to take torture.
Fun times.
A squad from Tail Section is called to our mat.
“I really hope I get called to the mat today.” Ridoc bounces on his toes. “I’m in the mood to kick some ass.”
“That makes one of us.” I tighten the strap of my sling over my armor. Looking across the mat, I nod to Imogen, lifting my eyebrows as she talks with Sloane.
She nods back with a smile, telling me wordlessly that Sloane is ready to take on her opponent today. Rhiannon and Sawyer are doing the same with the other first-years, checking in as names are called out around the gym. I glance Aaric’s way, but as usual, he’s completely, totally focused, tuning out everything around him as he stares at the mat.
“How bad do you think the attack on the Eastern Wing is? It has to be something massive to call out half the leadership all day long,” Ridoc muses.
Big enough to kill Masen.
“Speculating is only going to fuel rumors,” Dain says, taking the empty place on my left side.
Fuck. I’ve managed not to have to interact with him for weeks. I step closer to Ridoc and lock every brick of my shields in place.
“As opposed to not noticing that most of the professors flew out of here like the wards have fallen?” Ridoc asks.
“The wards haven’t fallen.” Dain barely spares him a glance, crossing his arms. “You’d know if they had.”
“You think we’d be able to feel it?” Ridoc asks.
“We would have been called out, too,” I say. “And the dragons would have told us.”
“Can’t you ask your mom?” Ridoc tilts his head.
“The woman who knew I was missing for a week, then told me to get back in formation when she realized I’d survived my first combat mission? Yeah, I’m sure she’ll be forthcoming with all the information.” I give him a sarcastic thumbs-up.
The first pair is called to the mat, and I’m simultaneously horrified and grateful I don’t know the first-year’s name.
“You finally going to talk to me?” Dain asks.
“No.” I don’t give him the courtesy of even looking at him and, to be sure he gets the point, I move to Ridoc’s other side, putting him between us.
“Come on, Violet.” He walks behind Ridoc, then squeezes in between Quinn and me. “You have to be ready at some point. We’ve been friends since you were five.”
“We’re no longer friends, and I’ll be ready to talk when the sight of you doesn’t make me want to bury my knife in your chest all the way to the fucking hilt.” I walk away before I act on the urge to stab the memory-stealing asshole.
“You cannot keep running away from me!”
I lift my middle finger and round the corner of the mat, taking the spot next to Rhiannon.
“What was that about?” she asks, wincing when our first-year takes a punch to the kidneys.
“Dain being an asshole, as usual.” Sometimes the best answer is the simplest.
Our first-year kicks out, catching Tail Section directly in the mouth, and blood sprays.
“I don’t get it.” She shoots me a confused look, leaning in to murmur so Dain doesn’t overhear. “I figured the thing at graduation was him and Riorson dick-measuring, but you don’t speak to Aetos anymore. I thought he was your best friend. Sure, you two grew apart last year, but to not even be on speaking terms?”
“Was.” My gaze tracks Dain as he walks around the mat to Professor Emetterio. “He was my best friend.” For fifteen years, there was no one closer. I’d thought he was going to be my everything.
“Look. I’ll hate him on principle if that’s what we’re doing. No problem with that. But I know you, and you don’t cut people out like that unless they hurt you. So tell me, as your friend: Did he hurt you?” she asks quietly. “Or is this something else we aren’t talking about?”
My throat clenches. “He stole something from me.”
“Seriously?” Her gaze pierces mine. “Then report him for a violation of the Codex. He shouldn’t be our wingleader.”
If only she knew what her last wingleader had been stealing.
“It’s more complicated than that.” How much can I tell her without it being too much?
Our first-year pulls off a quick comeback, getting his opponent’s leg into a bow-and-arrow submission maneuver. It’s a quick tap-out after that.
We all clap. So far, we’re looking like the squad to beat again this year, especially with the way Aaric is racking up the wins.
Emetterio looks at Dain, then clears his throat. I breathe deeply, waiting for him to call Sloane’s name. “You’re sure?” Emetterio asks.
“It’s within my rights as wingleader.” He disarms, unclipping his sheaths and dropping them at the edge of the mat.
What the actual hell?
“Not denying that.” Emetterio rubs a thick hand across his shaved head. “Next match is Dain Aetos against Violet Sorrengail.”
