Page 55 of Resurgent

By afternoon, I'm back in the arena.

Different class, different recruits, an even more painful version of punishment to be forced to observe.

The Delta recruits are running the obstacle course.

I am not.

While everyone else is climbing, jumping, dodging, and fighting their way through the course, I'm standing off to the side watching their every move as Tyr circles overhead.

His wings catch the afternoon wind, and my chest tightens. We should be flying right now, but that’s another thing I’m not allowed to do in a classroom setting…something dumb about needing my legs to be fully functional before they’ll let me do tactical battle dives and play war on the back of a dragon.

“Recruit Corvin. If you’re finished daydreaming, perhaps you’d like to rejoin the class. The recruits have been waiting for you to do your job.”

I bite down on the retort already forming.

Instead, my attention drifts to tonight’s dinner. Maybe I’ll make something Korr hates. Better yet, something I can lace with enough of a laxative to have him regretting every bite before dessert. I’d just need something strong enough to hide the bitter taste.

“Corvin.”

His voice is closer now.

I look up to find him standing just a few feet away, his expression unreadable. He dips his head, lowering his voice so only I can hear.

“If you’re having trouble concentrating, I can always help you with a gag to suppress Tyr’s distracting communication.”

My brows scrunch together, my annoyance clear as the line between home Hunter and arena asshole is firmly drawn.

“Not necessary, Captain,” I say with a painfully sweet smile, before turning on my heel, and jogging—just a little faster than necessary—toward my position at the fighting platform.

“Still willing to smoke him,” Tyr offers before Tyr lands too hard on the ground behind Korr to be accidental.

“I appreciate that, but I can take him,” I say, rolling my eyes at his obvious antics.

“I know you can…Which is why I’m going to lie here in the sun, blowing hot breaths on his back while you work out exactly how you’re going to ruin his evening. I’d hate to interfere with your revenge plotting."

Chapter nineteen

Annalise

I’m practically skipping as Matt, Sasha, and I make our way through the woods to the Ghost Walking Vault.

“Good evening, Charlie Company,” Captain Lin says while we wait in the woods just beyond the classroom entrance, sneaking peeks at the Delta recruits filing down the stairs into the vault. “I’m sure you all remember your first missions when Bravo Company guided you, yes?”

“Yes, ma’am,” we all respond in unison.

“Good, because now you are the experienced recruit and will be in charge of making sure Delta recruits make it back to campus from their first missions—alive, preferably.”

Apprehension and nostalgia mix in my gut as I remember my first mission and where that led. Though both are quickly snuffed out by the excitement of getting back into the field, another step towards getting back to my normal routine.

“We’ll call you all out as a group, just like we did Bravo company, but rather than numbers, we will call your names, and then individually, you will meet your new partner.”

“Recruit Corvin. A word, please.”

Following her and Major Halden a few steps away, my stomach knots as I take in the apprehensive look on her face.

“Yes, ma’am?”

“While we know that you’ve officially received clearance, releasing you to be back in classes, we feel this may be taking a bit too quick of a leap with it only being your second week back.”