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CHAPTER 11
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We had a ten minutebreak before our next class: Combat Techniques.
Nat and Yelena sat with me on a wooden bench near a pond half-concealed by ancient trees. I was so hungry I really wanted to ask them if they had anything to eat, like an energy bar, a piece of chocolate, or something, but I didn’t want to put them in a tough spot.
I couldn’t ask them to smuggle out a sandwich or even an apple for me either, when they went for lunch. Paxton’s people might be watching. And I knew the clique would keep an eye on me like a hawk to make sure I didn’t get lunch.
“What happened?” Yelena said. “You said you’d get ready and run to class.”
“Pigston is what happened,” I said.
“Pig...ston?” Nat asked, a half-smile twitching the corner of his mouth.
“Yes, Pigston is Paxton,” I said, “the one and the same.”
Yelena glanced around nervously. “Shush, don’t let anyone hear that,” she whispered. “Demigod Pig—Paxton—will skin us alive if he ever learns about that name. He might really kill you with a snap of his fingers if you rile him up too much. I heard that the demigods have all killed over smaller offenses. Our lives aren’t important to them, and they kill people without remorse.”
“That’s them,” I said bitterly. “As you all heard today, I’m now their target. You two might want to stay away from me, too, or you might become targets as well.” I gave them a rueful glance. “I cherish our friendship, but I don’t want you to sink with the ship.”
“No way,” Yelena said. “We’ll stick with you. We just hope you won’t sink.”
“We decided to take you under our wings that first day when you went up against Demetra, the One-eighth,” Nat said, flashing me a warm, white smile.
Yep, he was a good-looking guy and very intelligent. At my appreciative look, he fumbled in his backpack and pulled out a bottle of water.
“Here,” he said.
“No, no,” I said, shaking my head. “Enemy spies could be anywhere. I won’t let you lose your lunch.”
“Demigod Paxton said no food,” Yelena said. “He didn’t say no water. But if you’re really hungry, I’ll get you a sandwich, no matter the consequences.”
“Nope, pip,” I said. “I’m not hungry at all. But water would be awesome. Our guy Nat can always find loopholes in their rules, and Pigston isn’t too great with logic.” I chuckled at my own joke, took the bottle from Nat, and drained half of the water. Then I grinned at my friends. “Thank you for not abandoning me.”
“You have us,” Nat said. “We’ll watch your back when those bitches come for you.”
For the first time since I’d come to the Academy, I didn’t feel so alone anymore.
I still missed Jasper and Circe dearly. I didn’t know if they fared well in the Other Academy or not, but I bet they couldn’t do any worse than I was.
Rhiannon, a second-year from our dormitory, had mentioned that the next dinner where we ate with the Other Academy students would be in two weeks. She was dating a shifter who attended there, so she was looking forward to mingling with them as well.
“We gotta go,” Yelena said. She never liked to be late for class.
After this morning, I didn’t blame her. Thanks to that distasteful drama caused by the sea demigod, no one would dare test his patience by being late for class.
But shouldn’t that asshole worry more about demons than me? No matter how rotten I was, I couldn’t be worse than a demon, could I?
I hurried toward our combat lessons with Nat and Yelena. Combat sounded awesome. It’d be way more fun than weight training, running laps, and any bullshit about the Olympian whatever’s glory.
At this point, I had loads of pent-up aggression, and I could use the class to legally beat the shit out of one of the clique snobs. Hopefully the teacher would pair me up with Demetra.
I could fight. I’d been a hunter.
