Page 221 of Interion

Once I locked my leg into his armpit, I threw my body to the floor, dragging him down with me. As I swung my other leg over his chest, I brought his arm along and trapped it between my crossed ankles. A perfect armbar, just like Zion had taught me. It wasn’t one of the ten moves from our private sessions, but one of the many techniques I’d picked up in academy training—I’d just been too zoozi to ever try it. Breno crashed back onto the floor, his arm wrenched between my legs, and screamed as I cranked it.

“Give up,” I shouted, pushing his arm to its limit. I looked up at the ceiling—the same ceiling I’d stared at during all those fights I’d lost, where I’d been humiliated and overpowered over the past four years. A smile spread across my lips. Breno tried to move, but if I pushed any harder, I’d dislocate his shoulder.

“Last chance. Give up!” I shouted, my voice raw with emotion.

I won. I’d actually beaten Breno. I kept the pressure on, but I didn’t want to hurt him. A few seconds passed, and then his body went slack. I craned my neck to see his face, and he was looking at me with a smile. Pained, but genuine—this was one of the best feelings I’d ever had in a fight. A fair match, hard-fought, against a stronger opponent.

I had won.

I heard his other hand slap the mat—three taps signaling surrender—and the students applauded as I let him go.

Δ

“When did you get so good?” Breno asked, sitting up and massaging his sore arm and neck.

“Probably while you were between the lieutenant’s legs,” I teased, settling behind him and working on his back while channeling my gift into the muscle I’d damaged when I wrenched his arm.

“Congrats, Kay!” Hiro walked over, shooting Breno a mocking grin. Breno pretended to be deeply wounded. “And no, I’m not going to give you a hard time. I know what it’s like to lose to someone a foot shorter than you.”

“Still crying about that, Hiro?” Aish sauntered over with a catlike smile.

“Everyone knows I let her win,” Breno said defensively, then let out an “ow” when I dug into his strained muscle.

“Sure. Everyone knows you saw her working around your arm and just let it happen because you wanted to,” Aish said dryly, stopping beside Hiro.

“Exactly. It was all part of the plan!” He glanced at me sideways and winked.

“You’re such a sore loser,” I teased, running my fingers through his hair as he laughed.

“I really am. You spoiled me.”

I sat down beside him once I finished healing his muscle. I could feel Zion watching us from across the room as a shadow fell over my feet.

“Who’s going to be your familiar for the Lúmiran festival?” Aish asked, changing the subject.

“Mine’s my grandmother,” Hiro replied. “She’s always been the familiar for all her grandkids—couldn’t be any different for me.”

“Mine’s unfortunately going to be my mother,” Breno muttered with a grimace. “I don’t even know how that’s going to work, but she insisted on taking the spot.”

After what Breno had told me about the agreement with the nation, even I felt a wave of disgust toward Natali. I took his hand, knowing how much his mother’s history weighed on him—it was something that cut him deep.

“My mother’s going to be my familiar too,” Aish said with a smile, tossing her braids over her shoulder. “She’s been waiting for this since I joined the academy—amperianas and their pride in their children.”

All three turned to me, waiting for me to say something.

“My familiar’s going to be Zion,” I whispered so he wouldn’t hear. All three stared at me in surprise—I could practically see the questions forming in their heads.

“So, have you two done the deed yet?” Hiro asked. I gaped at his bluntness while all three of them looked at me and cackled like hyenas.

“Such delicacy. No, it hasn’t happened yet, but we’re getting there.”

“For the love of the gods, zoozi. I’ve already slept with six people since we kissed, and you’re still a virgin.”

Hiro and I stared at her like we couldn’t process what she’d just said. Hiro was frozen, only his chest moving as he swallowed down the surprise and pain written all over his face.

Naoki and Ethan’s fight ended—Ethan won—and the four of us applauded automatically.

“Aish and Hiro,” Zion called out, snapping the big guy out of his daze. “Get on the mat.”