Page 131 of Glutton for Punishment

Tally launches into a case study. His voice cuts through the room—dry, but impossible to tune out.

“Let’s say you’re on the minor Gluttony council,” Tally says, eyes flicking from tier to tier, “and you have a modest little trade deficit with Greed. What do you do? What are your key resources?”

No one moves to respond because everyone knows Tally is a harsh asshole. There’s momentary silence, and then Tally’s gaze lands on me.

Shit.

“Davies,” he says, “since you’re the pride and joy of Gluttony, why don’t you come up to the front of the class and enlighten us?”

My first instinct is to check if there’s another Davies within a two-mile radius. There isn’t. I stand and walk to the front. So much for statistical insignificance…

“I guess—” I begin, but Tally cuts me off, holding up a long finger like a conductor in front of an orchestra.

“No guesses,” he says. “I thought you were some protégé? Rising from a sinless to the Gluttony Council family in a year. You’re supposed to know.”

Some girls in front of me stifle laughter.

“Despite your assumption, I was only in Gluttony for a hand full of weeks. Researching their trading plans wasn’t exactly on the agenda.” I grit out.

Tally raises both eyebrows. The classroom leans in; you can practically hear necks cracking.

“That’s shockingly aggressive for a Gluttony,” he says, smirking. “Let’s not waste time. You know what I’m asking.” He leans in, voice lower but still amplified. “What are Gluttony’s top five regional resources and their primary sources? Surely even you would know something as simple as that.”

I bite the inside of my cheek hard. “Based on the little I’ve seen, I would assume guns and booze are at the top of the list.” I stall.

A ripple of laughter. Tally looks like he might combust from satisfaction.

He paces in front of me. “So this is the future. I’ve got to admit, it looks bleak.”

I sharp angry jerk in the bond catches my attention.

Atticus is sitting rigid off to the left side of the auditorium, stormy blue eyes locked on Tally with an expression that looks dangerously close to murder.

I figured out at the start of the term he tried to get into as many of my lectures as possible, despite him being ordered to stay away from me. He still keeps his distance, aware of the eyes on us.

This Tally can make fun of me all he wants. I’m sure he’s in some Councilor’s pocket. There have been a few provocations from staff, though none so bold.

“What’s bleak about the future is the fact that I have to sit through your boring class for the rest of the year,” I respond.

“They didn’t train me for this. I got thrown into an entirely different faction against my will, and I’m trying to catch up, which is why I’m here.” I shrug. “Sorry if my near-death experiences interfered with memorizing regional exports.”

The room goes dead quiet. Tally’s smirk flickers, and I cross my arms and shut up before my mouth gets me expelled.

“You see, Davies has a talent for theatrics,” he tells the class. “Only time will tell if we might discover an actual intellect under the red hair and trauma.”

“Actual intellect?” Comes a familiar voice off to the right. I glance back and am stunned to see Ryker looking enraged. His green eyes are sharp with something ugly as he watches the professor.

“Interesting coming from a professor whose teaching strategy seems to be public humiliation and hoping nobody notices he’s recycling the same lesson plan from ten years ago.”

The room goes dead quiet as Tally’s face reddens.

“Miss Davies here misunderstands her position—”

“No,” he cuts in. “I think everyone else misunderstands it.”

My pulse pounds hard enough to make my ears ring. Why is this asshole sticking up for me?

Tally’s jaw tightens. “She expects sympathy because she made poor choices. That doesn’t excuse her falling—”