Page 27 of Cheating Fate

Intense pain radiated along my left side even as I felt myself plummeting into an endless void. It was only once I crashed on an uneven, hard surface that I realized I had been knocked into the pit. My vision blurred as I struggled to catch my breath and fight my way through the pain engulfing me.

In the distance, I heard the terrified voice of my twin calling my name. But it was Gavin’s face that flashed before my eyes. It quickly faded, replaced by another pile of debris rushing towards me. My eyes closed seconds before it crushed me.

Chapter 6

Gavin

Over the next two days following my arrival, I focused all my time on completing the training modules. It didn’t shame me at all to admit that I was taking malicious pleasure at matching and even exceeding many of Vahleryon’s and Khel’s records. Sure, it was petty. However, aside from the fact that it further proved my worth as a candidate they could not dismiss, it also gave me the illusion of control over something here.

Oddly enough, Ghan’s lack of support was probably what stung the most. My reaction didn’t make sense to the extent that my brain fully understood how he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. As the First Officer of the Sentinels, he couldn’t show favoritism towards me, quite the opposite. Still, to me he remained my Uncle Ghan. For the past fifteen years, he pretty much acted as my confidant and the steadfast messenger during my courtship of Zhara.

Nevertheless, I could take great pride in my performance. Above all, I love that others were noticing it. To have so many Veredians, Xelixians, and Korletheans nod at me with respect or acknowledge my presence whenever we crossed paths meant the world to me. The first day, it had been obvious that many questioned how in the world I could be Zharina Praghan’s soulmate. It didn’t take a genius to know how everyone here nearly worshipped the ground she walked on, just like they did her siblings. In many ways, they considered her the queen of the Titans.

Although I didn’t owe those people anything, I couldn’t help wanting to prove myself worthy of her. And I intended to do just that once again today as the most important test of my life was about to begin.

Surrounded by my fellow Braxians, I made my way to the courtyard where our military drill review would take place. That Khel and Ghan would attend made me both extra nervous and excited. They would examine the scores we achieved over the past couple of days in the various training modules and combine them with our performance in the upcoming drill to start assignments.

The only acceptable team for me was the elite unit that Vahl, Zhara, and Rhad belonged to. Obviously, I wanted to be with my mate. However, I now seriously also wanted to become Vahleryon’s Ghan. When Zhara first mentioned it as a half joke, I laughed it off, thinking there was no chance of that happening, surrounded as he was by powerful psionics with whom he had been friends since birth.

And yet, that prospect not only took root, but also became a bone deep conviction that it was fated. I wouldn’t call it a premonition like other instances where my sixth sense warned me of actions that absolutely needed to be taken. No real word came to mind to describe why this rang absolutely true. It just did.

Hopefully, with time, Vahl would get over the possessive jealousy that made him resent me.

As we approached the courtyard, I glanced at my companions.

“Don’t forget to compensate for the hidden blade’s weight in the Viper Staff during weapons drill,” I said in a commanding tone.

While the others nodded, Nolar glared at me with an air of annoyance.

“We know,” he snarled.

“No. You don’t,” I snapped. “You always dip your staff too low after a left thrust. So like I said, do not forget to compensate for the hidden blade.”

He sniffed with an air of disdain but wisely kept his peace.

“I will not tolerate you shaming us and this clan,” I added, waving at all of us. “We are the first to join the Sentinels. Today, we represent all of Braxia. So anyone who acts a fool, I’ll personally crack your skulls then send you packing back to your clans to explain how you failed us.”

Curok chuckled. “Do not fret, Gavin. Beyond the fact that I like my skull the way it currently is, your performance alone will suffice to carry the rest of us. Your results are off the charts. Many unit commanders have made no mystery of the fact that they want you on their team.”

I huffed and waved a dismissive hand. “There’s only one team for me.”

Nolar made a disdainful sound. “Banging the General’s daughter won’t get you—”

He never finished his sentence. I didn’t even see myself moving before I was slamming him hard on the ground before twisting his right arm behind his back with my foot pressing his head on the floor.

Leaning down, fighting the bloodlust trying to swell within me, I hissed at him with barely repressed rage.

“Disrespect Zhara or any female ever again, and I will dismember you, piss on your corpse, and send it back to your sire.”

“Gavin!” Curok exclaimed, his voice panicked.

“Peace, Brother,” Vintor said, placing an appeasing hand on my shoulder while glancing around us with an air of worry.

Despite the red haze attempting to descend before my eyes, the wisdom of their words pierced through my anger. Assaulting another warrior or recruit over a dispute was enough to get me banned and given a dishonorable discharge. I would be damned before I allowed that worm to cause my downfall.

I released his arm and crouched in front of him.

“You’ve been a pain in my ass since our departure,” I said in a dangerously low voice. “I’ve tolerated it all, but no more. Get your shit together or we shall settle this in a duel… to the death. Choose wisely.”