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“I didn’t want to get your hopes up in case it all came to nothing.” He cupped my cheek. “But it’s more important that you know I’m on your side, and I’m helping you always. Anything that hurts you, hurts me. Saving your mother is my first priority. Your happiness... my first priority.”
I bit my lip, penning in a gushy, sloppy reply. I couldn’t believe I almost let Sebastian get into my head and make me doubt him. Alex did choose me over duty. He loved me.
It took a while and more making out, but eventually, we made it to the stadium and broke apart under the arch. I went straight to the line of novices waiting to take on Catherine.
The good news was I didn’t have to deal with Sirena or her handmaidens because they all moved on to another proficient. The bad news was Catherine tossed me around like a doll all over the arena. I didn’t get close to stopping her attack.
“Vanda.” Kazran’s shadow fell over me. “You’re dead.”
I groaned, straining to flip onto my front. “Certainly feels like it, sir.”
He hauled me to my feet. “I suggest a new approach. Standing there and taking a beating doesn’t seem to be working for you.”
Aren’t you a sarcastic smartass?I penned in the reply. Two years in a small space with a homicidal Trixie sharpened my tongue better than her shiv.
But pissing him off won’t help me pass this class.
My teeth ground. “I’m open to any tips, Instructor.”
“Here’s the only one you need: If they’re faster, you need to be smarter.” He strolled off, leaving me to puzzle that out.
A shadow fell over me. “You’re pathetic, Vanda. Even for a Sisyphean.”
I turned on Kristopher. He was the same ignorant fuckwad Titan who called Daciana a dog and told her to be useful or leave Olympia.
“This is my third proficient. My first was a mind-bender. An illusionist,” Kristopher taunted me. “Much harder than a speedster. If you can’t even beat her, you might as well lie down and die right now.”
“After you, then. Show me how it’s done.”
He smirked. “With pleasure.” Kristopher shoved through the line, moving to the front of the pack. Catherine didn’t comment on his rudeness. “I’m ready. Let’s do this.”
“Whatever you—” Catherine blurred.
Dust blasted over our group, and Kristopher followed its path—soaring over our heads. He hit the ground in a crumpled heap, wheezing and clawing for air into his stunned lungs.
My shadow fell over him. “Ahh, so that’s how you lie down and die. Thanks for the demonstration.”
The Sisypheans in my group howled and I couldn’t help joining in.
“Fuck off!” Kristopher bowled me over, running up to Catherine. “Again.”
“You’ll get your chance tomorrow. I’ve got other novices to throw around before the day’s end.”
“I said again!”
Her shifting expression dropped the temperature twenty degrees. “I said stand aside. You’re in my way.”
“You cheated the first time. You were supposed to warn me so I could be ready. A cheat is no winner. I go again.”
“Are you kidding me? You think a bronze bull or a dragon is going to give you a warning? Maybe sit back and stretch their haunches while you warm up? Get some sense, Sisyphean.”
“I’m not a Sisyphean.”
“Then you have no excuse,” she shot back. “You’re an embarrassment. Step aside.”
I didn’t love her bringing my class into it, but I wouldn’t deny my satisfaction at the humiliation on his face. Kristopher stepped aside and stormed all the way out of the arena.
Liza, one of the girls waiting to face Catherine, clapped me on the shoulder. “Am I the only one who loves seeing a Titan eat gravel? I’m so tired of the way they swan around the castle, acting like they own it and we only exist to lick their boots?”
