Page 43 of Bone Year

Oh this is going to be lovely.

“I need a bone year volunteer.”

No one raises a hand, but Lux shifts to stand behind me, drawing her father’s attention to us.

Great.

“You.” He points at me. “What’s your name?”

I swallow and look side to side, hoping someone else will speak up. “Maelis.”

“Maelis, front and center.”

Lux pats my back from behind. When I glance over my shoulder, she’s cringing and mouths, “Sorry.”

“I’m going to kill you later,” I hiss.

“Fair.”

I step forward. Sixty pairs of eyes on me.

Holy fuck.

“I need a blood year to run the attack.” Bale scans the crowd, and I pray it won’t be Malric. “Malric.”

My heart sinks.

Malric grins, pushes off from where he’s sitting on the bleachers, and rolls his shoulders like he’s been waiting for this all day. There’s something in his eyes that makes unease start to fester inside me.

He’s going to enjoy putting me down.

“I’ll do it.”

The voice comes from behind Malric, and Draven steps forward. He’s only a bone year. Why does he think he can volunteer?

Bale must know him or know his father. If his father really is high up at the Vanguard Academy, then I can only assume Draven knows a bit about fighting. But why is he volunteering? Is he saving me from Malric? They seem to be friends.

Malric’s grin falters. His jaw tightens, but he doesn’t argue and steps back.

Bale considers them both for a moment. “Alucard, you’re up.”

He calls him by his last name. There’s definitely history there. If Lux knew who Draven is, then it makes sense Bale does too, but why is he letting him do this instead of Malric?

I realize everyone is still staring at me, and I straighten quickly as Draven approaches, his usual stoic expression in place. His eyes scan me once from head to toe.

He leans in close enough that only I can hear. “Remember what I said about hesitation?”

He pulls back before I can respond.

“Defensive stance,” Bale orders. “Block what you can. Evade what you can’t. Don’t die.”

Hilarious.

I raise my hands and try to remember everything from the last couple hours. Feet apart. Weight centered. Guard up.

Draven bursts into motion. One second he’s standing there, and the next his hand is past my guard and shoving my shoulder hard. I stumble back and catch myself.

He’s already reset. Expression blank.