My glare deepens, because we both know that’s not the truth, but I look away, not wanting Jesse to get suspicious about the connection between us. Frankly, I’m shocked Jesse hasn’t figured it out already – Luca’s making it so obvious. “And how do you propose to help?” Rafe asks, his voice low and
I mean, can I fake sick and make Rafe go up against someone else? But I don’t know what the the results of that would be – would they just kick me out immediately? Or…is there any way I could subtly swap spots with another candidate so I’m fighting someone easier? But what would that do? And who t
“Ari,” Rafe hisses, trying to get my attention in the sparring circle next to me. But I can’t take my eyes off of Jackson, who stares at the floor in front of us, rolling his shoulders back. God why is he even stretching – it’s not like he’s going to have to expend any energy at all to push me out
I roll onto my stomach, hoping that I can get to the edge of the circle, that if I get close Jackson can push me out and end the bout – But suddenly he’s on top of me, holding his staff in either hand and looping it over my head so that it presses against my neck. When he pulls back, I’m lifted on
The rest of the bouts around us begin to end pretty quickly, with Lieutenants moving around the room recording the results. Rafe and I sit quietly together in my circle and, even as my mind whirls fruitlessly, trying to figure out what the hell just happened, my eyes scan the room for Jesse and for
“Maybe you should learn not to underestimate me so much, Grant,” I say, my voice dry as I pretend to concentrate on my food. “Or I’ll take you out next.” Luca laughs a little at my hubris and grins at me. I can’t help the little smile that pulls at my lips. My brother looks up at me then with a sm
“Well?” Jackson says, his voice low, and I flinch again – god, that’s getting annoying – as I snap my head up to look at him. He gestures towards the head table. “Hand in your test.” “Um,” I say, and then another chair scrapes in the room. Someone else is finished too, and headed this way. “You ta
“We’ve got an hour,” Rafe says, flicking on the lights and striding into the room. “Let’s go.” “Wait, what is this?” I ask, looking around, confused. “Look at it as…extra credit,” Jesse says, turning to grin at Ben and me as he walks backwards into the room after Rafe. “You both need the extra w