“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
I’m almost too exhausted to notice how fast the next week passes. Jesse wakes me up early every day, and I scowl at Rafe, who snores peacefully while Jesse drags me out the door for our run. He seriously puts me through my paces, too, not even relenting when I try to bribe him. “Please,” I beg, “I
I bite my lip, hoping to hell that I get sorted into the espionage track. Because while I am clearly not a warrior – I don’t have the brute strength for that – the hours spent learning how to spy, or to craft poisons, or become an expert sharpshooter, or a master of any variety of tiny, obscure weap
The next morning I wake up with a groan, because they really did torture us yesterday. It was an endurance competition that lasted pretty much all day. We had to stand on a balance beam with a pail of water, of all things, on our heads and a staff stretched across our shoulders. At regular intervals
I smile as I go, though, because it looks kind of cool and spooky – like running through a cloud. I start to look forward to breakfast now as I crest the final hill, wondering if Jesse is going to fall face-down into his eggs like he used to do when we were preteens and he was going through a grow
Jackson raises his left arm, bending it and pressing his forearm tight against my neck. The moment our bodies touch – he only had his hand fisted in my uniform before – it happens again. My eyes fly open as the pulse pounds through the air, almost audible this time. Jackson’s eyes go wide as he
I’m sobbing now too, shaking my head at him, guilt filling every pocket of my being. “I’m sorry,” I cry, shaking my head. “Fuck, Ariel,” Rafe gasps, and then he pulls me to him, his arms around me tight. “I love you so much – I’ve always loved you, even when you’re so fucking annoying I want to th
I stare wide-eyed at my brother, waiting for him to react. But Rafe just…stares at me, his face ghostly-white, until I start to get seriously worried. “Rafe,” I murmur, leaning forward a little, starting to reach out a hand to touch him. “What the fuck Ariel,” Rafe whispers, so fast that the w