Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 117246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
He blocked once more but said, “Better. Again.”
“Leave, fear.” Swing.
Block. “Harder. Again.”
A kernel of strength dropped into my heart, swiftly taking root and choking out trepidation. I could do this. “Leave, fear.” Punch.
He blocked, but not quite as easily. “Don’t be afraid to hurt me.”
Too far! “Of course I’m afraid of hurting you!” I tossed my arms up.
He rolled his eyes. “Your fright insults me. Do you think I’m capable of protecting myself from a novice, Lady Pink?”
“That’s not . . . I don’t think . . .” Gah! I hated that he always made such good points. “I could hurt you accidentally.”
“Another insult.” He bristled, as if gearing for a real fight. “You will punch me in the face as hard as you can. I won’t block. If you draw blood, I’ll reward you with apples and figs.”
Excuse me? I must’ve misunderstood him. “You cannot be bribing me to injure you.”
“I am. Until you accept the power you posses—”
Punch. As his head whipped to the side, pain exploded through my knuckles. “Ow!” I shook my throbbing hand. As the discomfort faded, horror took its place, deluging me.
I forgot everything but my foolishness. I’d punched him. Me. Even though he’d commanded me to do it, he was going to punish me. He had to. I’d failed the test. Surely. Lowly lords and ladies did not physically abuse their leaders for any reason, ever.
He straightened, wiping a drop of blood from the corner of his mouth. A smile curved his lips, there and gone. “Good job, Lady Roosa.”
“Sir, I wish to apol—you’re kidding me.” A ball of light cast golden beams into the shadowy corners of my heart. He’d called me lady without Pink! Because I’d done something correctly and aced a test. Bonus: The strike itself hadn’t been nearly as awful as I’d imagined. Grinning, I pumped my fist high in the air. “That’s right I did a good job. Chew on that, Sir Grumpus!”
When he tilted his head and blinked at me, I realized what I’d just said and sank into myself. Something must be wrong with me.
“My apologies, High Prince Dolion. I didn’t mean to refer to you as—I shouldn’t have—”
“Out in the field, feeders will surround you.” His voice was low, almost affectionate. “That’s an unavoidable fact. At some point, you’ll need to deliver a quick pop to an opponent’s face to buy yourself precious seconds and escape an untenable situation. When feeders are jolted, they become confused. Confused, they turn on each other.” He lifted my hand and brushed his thumb over my knuckles. I’d already noticed his warmth and calluses, but there was something different about this touch. Something infinitely sweeter. “You landed your blow, and you didn’t break a bone. Now you know you can do it when it counts.”
Goose bumps spread over me. Okay, I needed to stop reacting to contact with him. It wasn’t appropriate or welcome. I should stop noticing the sexiness of his appearance too.
“Thank you, sir.” Determined, I pulled from his grip.
He lifted his lashes, his gaze holding mine. Caged aggression radiated from him. “Do you have the confidence to strike me again?”
I didn’t let myself think, just threw another punch. No holding back. “Leave, fear.”
This time, he captured my wrist, and he flashed another quick grin. “That was your best yet.”
A megawatt smile bloomed, and there was no erasing it. “Thank you, sir.”
“I may make a soldier out of you yet, Roosa.” He walked off to help another lady, calling, “Medic, check her out.”
I turned my grin to Shiloh, who hurried to my side. “Did you see me?”
“I did. You did good.” Appearing amused, he cleaned and bandaged small cuts I hadn’t realized I’d sustained. From the HP’s teeth, no doubt. As quietly as possible, Shiloh said, “We both have Thursday off.”
“Only two days from now,” I replied just as quietly. Thank goodness! This was my first full day of academy life, and already I required a break to recharge.
He wrapped my knuckles with tape. “Will you go on another date with me?”
Ribbons of pleasure unfurled. No need to consider my response. “Yes.” I liked this boy and the comfort he provided. He didn’t make me nervous, as the HP did. “I would love to.”
“Good. Meet me at transport at six. In the morning,” he clarified.
Transport? Whatever that was, I’d find out. We shared a soft look before he returned to his post. At the end of class, I saluted the HP. He traced his fingertip over the scab forming on his bottom lip, rousing another smile in me which roused an answering smile from him. Just a flash, there and gone, but enough to thrill me.
Spirits high, I waved to Shiloh on my way out, then removed, folded, and pocketed my RVM band as I followed my teammates to first aid, where we endured a fifty-minute lecture from Dr. Korey about possible injuries amid combat. I admit, my good mood fizzled fast.