Jayden wraps an arm around my waist. “Thanks, baby.”
“For what?” I ask.
“I knew what she was doing but didn’t call her on it because I didn’t want her to think I gave a shit about her and her stupid, pointless flirting.” He kisses my temple.
“You’re not training the girls anymore. Are they all pulling this absolute bullshit with the guys?” I ask, glancing at the other guys who all nod.
“Okay,” I shout over the grunts and metal clashing. “Listen up.”
The sounds die as everyone turns to me with puzzled expressions. This shit is unacceptable. They can’t be wasting time and trying to flirt with trainers when we are on the brink.
“Anyone thought to be wasting the time of the people who are trying to train you for battle will run the perimeter from now on and this is at the trainer’s discretion. They are trying to teach you to survive. You are only hurting yourself by not taking this seriously.”
“But what if we genuinely need help?” a girl from Jayden’s group asks.
“There’s a difference and these people can tell by body language who is actually genuine and who isn’t. Seriously, don’t be like that girl.” I point at the girl’s retreating back.
“Okay, show’s over,” Raven barks. “Everyone back to training. Trainers, you heard Beth. Use your own judgment and send them packing if they attempt to take advantage of the situation.”
I turn my back on the group and glance at another mat. “Why is Adrian training with a sword? We have him with the archers, don’t we?”
“He wants to have both in case he needs to help somewhere else,” Jayden says. “It’s smart in case there’s a breach and he needs to fight close combat.”
“Yeah, that makes sense.” I move to an open spot outside the ring and watch. “He’s had enough experience with fighting with the rest of us, but this won’t hurt.”
The guy he’s up against is a Hermes student I haven’t met and he’s not bad with a sword but could use some help. He spins around and Adrian swings his blade up, blocking the strike.
“That guy is trying to show off,” Raven grumbles. “He thinks Adrian is weaker than him and wants to show how much better he is. That cockiness is going to get him killed.”
“Should we stop it?” I ask. “That’s wasting everyone’s time.”
“No,” Jayden says. “Let Adrian handle this. He’s better with a sword than he thinks he is. He just needs confidence.”
Adrian ducks another swipe of the blade, rolling away and jumping to his feet to attack the guy from the side. The guy brings his sword up to block at the last second and Adrian shoves him back with his own blade.
The guy plants his back foot before he lunges forward, the point of his sword slashing at Adrian’s sword arm. Adrian twists out of the way and spins behind the guy with his sword raised to tap him in the back, but his body goes rigid.
“Fuck, not now,” I curse as the guy spins and stabs his blade into Adrian’s shoulder with force.
Jayden rushes forward, his shadows already surrounding Adrian, laying him down gently. He snarls at the guy. “Did you not see his eyes turn white?”
“What the fuck?” Raven shoves the guy back. “You wanted to win so bad you got him while he’s pulled into a vision?”
“We take every advantage in war, right?” the guy snarls back at her.
I god travel between the two before Raven can stab him in the shoulder with the blade that’s just materialized in her hand. “Raven, easy. Don’t kill him.”
The guy grunts and falls to the ground, his eyes rolling in the back of his head. Draven glares down at him with barely concealed disgust.
“Draven, seriously?” I ask.
“That was a cheap shot meant to show off and not an accident and we all know it. He’s my brother. I can do what I want to punish him.” Draven shakes his hand out.
“Fair enough.” I spin on Raven. “No stabbing the students.”
“He has still been talking shit about the students he doesn’t feel belong. Adrian was a target.” Raven crosses her arms. “I’m only stabby when absolutely necessary and that was necessary.”
“Hey,” Jayden shouts. “We need a medic. He has a sword in his shoulder and he’s seizing again.”
