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CHAPTER 1
It’s Only a Few Bruises
Ravena
Shouts of excitement rang out in the open arena as punches were exchanged between the competitors on the mat, but my eyes were sizing up my own opponent across the room. He had a few inches on my five-foot-nine frame, and I couldn’t help gazing over his toned physique. His muscles flexed as he peeled off his gray hoodie leaving a tight black wife beater that showcased the fine layer of sweat that had collected from his earlier fights.
Vic Walker. One of the top Reapers in training, second only to me. That’s just a fact—one that placed us against each other for our final test.
He rolled his shoulders, leaning forward onto his knees, and caught my eye before sending me a wink. His heterochromia green and brown eyes traveled over my body in a slow perusal as I had done, but I knew where his mind was going. It was on the pile of clothes we would be leaving on the floor after this…his muscles flexing beneath my hands as I explored his body and licked the sweat off him. Hmm, how I would love to ride him like a cowgi?—
“I know that look,” Kaye said, sitting next to me and pulling me out of my fantasy. “Definitely not a professional one.” The gorgeous redhead, and my best friend, gave me a knowing smile. I cocked an eyebrow and leaned back onto the empty row of seats, glaring at her.
“So, sue me.” I clucked my tongue. “I like looking at my prizes before I pulverize them.” I shrugged but couldn’t stop the slow smile from appearing, sending both of us into a fit of laughter.
She mimicked my position and pulled her arm across her belly, bringing my attention to her wrapped appendage.
“What the hell, Kaye! What did Jay do to you?” I sat up and reached for her arm, only to stop inches away.
She gave me a small smile as she shrugged, then grimaced when she moved her arm too fast.
“It’s not broken, so that’s a plus,” she answered, but I wasn’t satisfied. I had watched part of their earlier match, and Jay got in a sucker punch right when the leader called time, claiming he missed the signal, but I’m not stupid nor do I think that was when he had hurt her. No one would dare speak up unless Kaye did first, and she had a bigger heart than anyone here.
Thankfully, my other best friend trotted in with a turkey leg hanging from his mouth. Thorn was my “pet” fossa that I received on my seventh birthday by accident. My parents didn’t intend to walk out of the Belfast Zoo with an exotic animal for me. Who ever does? But when they found out I could hear his thoughts and communicate with him, they kindly insisted with the zoo staff.
I now knew they got away with it because of their money and standing with the government. Either way, I was grateful that I’d had him by my side for the past thirteen years.
‘No,’ Thorn huffed, ‘but it’s sprained, and she’s not supposed to use it for at least two weeks,’ he supplied through our mental link while he climbed up the bleachers and plopped down in front of us.
“So, you’re out of commission for two weeks?” I gave her a pointed look.
“How in the hell did you—” She turned and glared at Thorn. “No more treats from me, you snitch.”
‘Suits me just fine. It’s not like I don’t know where your stash is. I’ll just help myself.’ He snorted and tore into his turkey leg.
She’s lucky she couldn’t hear him, and I was not up to playing interpreter. I was too busy looking for Jay in the stands.
Kaye sighed and kicked the side of my leg.
“Give it up, Rave. Jay’s still in the infirmary being treated,” she informed me. “What did you do to him anyway?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I gave her an innocent look, but she just raised a perfectly arched eyebrow.
“Oh really? Because he showed up there as I was leaving and I caught word he had a concussion and a possible broken tailbone at least.” I bit my cheek to keep the small sinister smile from creeping on my face, but it was futile. “He’ll be sitting on a doughnut for a while,” she added, leaning into me and laying her head on my shoulder. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Jay was an asshole and made it his mission to prove that Kaye and I were nothing but pampered princesses because of our parents. He’d been that way since he came to the academy five years ago. So, I figured it was my job to dish out karma when we got paired together in another round of matches after he got lucky and sucker-punched Kaye.
“I should have done more,” I murmured.
“Oh, stop it. You’re as bad as Thorn,” she teased.
“Well, if I had Thorns teeth, I would have done worse damage,” I insisted, reaching for my water bottle.
“Did you tell her?” she asked Thorn, nudging him with her boot.
I gave him a pointed look as he growled. ‘Tell me what?’
