“Two or three days by horseback.”
I nodded, looking down at my feet.
“He should be back in a week or so.” Sawyer did the math for me. “In the meantime, you're stuck with me.”
“Oh joy.”
“Hey, you should consider yourself lucky to be training with me. I’m one of the best soldiers in Caelestis.”
I chuckled. “Best at what? Punching new students in the face?”
Sawyer pointed his dagger at me. “You had that coming. You were being a brat.”
“My whole life just got upturned. You would be a brat, too, if that happened to you,” I argued with a laugh.
“Yeah, yeah, sure.” He handed me my cloak and I threw it over my shoulders, wrapping it tightly around myself to prepare for the cold front that awaited us outside.
“Let’s go get some breakfast, Willawood, you’ll need to replenish your energy before I kick your ass again tonight.” Sawyer draped an arm over my shoulder and we started for the castle. “So, tell me a little more about yourself.”
“Pfft. What could you possibly want to know that Sebastian hasn’t already told you?”
His arm fell to the academy’s door handle, swinging it towards him and holding it open for me. “He hasn’t told me much to be honest. The basics, sure. And how much of a pain in the ass you were when you guys first met.”
My eyebrows sank.
“My words. Not his.”
“Okay. Well, um, I love the ocean and?—”
Sawyer paused on the stone walkway, shaking his head. “No. None of that bull crap. I want the good stuff. Tell me the worst thing you’ve ever done, or your family’s dark secret, or about when you lost your virginity.”
A laugh shot out of me. “I am most certainly not telling you about my past relationships.”
Sawyer’s arms crossed under his cloak and his neck tilted. “Aw. Virgin? Cute.”
Scowling, I pushed past him, resuming my journey to the castle. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I am not a virgin. And as for dark family secrets, we have none. Worst thing I’ve ever done? Yet to be determined, so don’t piss me off.”
Sawyer’s laugh trailed after his boots as he scuffed the walkway to catch up with me. “Wanna know the worst thing I’ve ever done?”
“Is it the time you beat a new student up on the first day of training?”
“You hold a grudge, huh? But no. Not even close.” He chuckled as if my suggestion was so far out there. Still a hundred yards from the castle, he kept the conversation going. “How are you liking it here so far?”
“I hate it,” I said bluntly. “I want nothing to do with any of this. I don’t want to be living here. I don’t want my powers. And no offense, but I don’t want to be training with you.”
“Ouch.” Sawyer clutched a hand to his heart. “Tell me how you really feel.”
“It’s nothing against you. I don't want to be training with anyone. I don’t want to be training at all, or wielding, or going to galas, or living in an unfamiliar room, or?—”
“I get it.” Looking over, he held a hand up to silence me. “If it helps, most people feel that way when they first get here.But I swear, once you graduate, it's really not all that bad. Aside from the battles and stuff.”
“Ah yes. Living the dream, huh?”
“Sure. Food’s decent. The girls are hot. Free room and board.”
“Decent food with a side of shitty rules and execution,” I snorted.
Sawyer shrugged. “You can’t have it all.”
