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“The seven of you come and line up. Now, for you guys, I expect you to keep a faster pace for the first and second runs, but I want you to push as hard and as fast as possible on the final circuit. Don’t worry about staying together then. I want to see who gets to the finish line first. Understood?”
I nod in response as Creed keeps to my left and Zane slips to the starting line on my right. Another flare flashes red in the sky and we take off. It’s a slow-paced run that everyone settles into and it’s a good groove. I’m startlingly aware that I’m the only girl, which means I’ll likely be under more scrutiny than the others, but I’ve never had a problem rising to a challenge.
As we round the end of the second circuit, I inhale deeply through my nose, ready to transition into an all-out sprint as I step over the white line. The grass rumbles underfoot as everyone takes off and I straighten my spine, angling my body to cut through the air with precision as I move my legs as fast as they will go.
Excitement pools in my stomach when the two guys I don’t know drop back behind me and it only blossoms further when Creed and Zane hover behind me.
“The fuck?” The surprise in Brax’s voice has me grinning like a fool.
Keeping my gaze fixed ahead, I round the final bend with Brax and Eldon two steps ahead of me. My lungs burn as I push harder, coming into line with them again, then a step forward, then two. Holy shit, am I going to…
“No fucking way,” Eldon grunts, leaning forward and rolling over the finish line first.
Motherfucker.
I slowly stop, hands braced on my knees as I try to catch my breath. Brax stares at me for a moment, a flicker of wonder in his eyes before he dismisses me. He’s quickly replaced with Eldon, who throws his hands up in the air like a champion. Asshole.
“Are you pleased with yourself?” I ask, instinctively reaching up to pull a blade of grass from his hair. I’m suddenly aware of how close we are, just like we were earlier, and my mouth goes dry.
“Hell yeah, I am.”
“Creative, Eldon. Crazy, but creative,” Figgins states as she moves toward us and I take a step back, finally managing to breathe again. “But I must say, Raven, you have me impressed so far.” I turn to face her as she assesses me, eyes slowly trailing from the tips of my sneakers to my face. “I have a feeling you’re going to shine like a star here, Raven.”
I laugh, shaking my head at her. That’s not the compliment she wants it to be. Not to me, at least. “The issue is, Professor Figgins, stars don’t shine. They burn.”
9
RAVEN
Iflop down onto a seat across from Leila at the dining table with a sigh. The room around me is like a still image from years gone by. Everything is fancy, especially for a dining hall. It’s nothing at all like what I had back in Shadowmoor. The tall, ornate ceilings, high-back wooden chairs, and the marble floor leave me nervous to touch anything. There are at least thirty tables set up, long oak slabs framed with eight chairs, and a large chandelier hanging above each one.
My stomach instantly grumbles with hunger, reminding me of what the guys had said last night. I definitely need to start eating more. As much as I enjoyed the exercise in ordnance training, it quickly took its toll on my body.
Glancing around the room, I try to figure out where I’m supposed to get my food from, but there’s no one lined up. Despite my independent stance, I turn to Leila for guidance, only to find her swiping her finger through a hologram hovering before her.
“Leila?”
She peers through the transparent display before her, confusion marring her face for a moment until understanding dawns on her.
“Where did you go to school?”
“Shadowmoor.”
Her eyes widen, but there’s surprisingly no judgment there. Which is strange because my body instinctively assumes it’s coming and stiffens, bracing for impact. Shaking my arms out, I try to alleviate the tension as she puts her hand through the projection to wave above a small circle carved into the table before me.
“And I’m assuming this wasn’t how you ordered food?”
“Nope,” I murmur, distracted by the display in front of me.
Thankfully, she doesn’t push further as I tentatively reach a hand out to swipe away from the first option displayed. It moves seamlessly, offering a chowder as my second option, but I know I need a higher level of protein and I keep searching.
It takes a few extra swipes of my fingertips to reveal a chicken, vegetable, and rice option and I know I’ve found my winner. If only I knew how to select it…
“Hover your hand back over the mark. Like this,” Leila states, and I realize she’s been waiting for me to find my option before proceeding herself. Nodding, I do as she says, copying her movement, and the screen disappears as a plate of food appears in front of me.
I’m sure my eyebrows are touching my hairline at this stage, but if Leila notices, she doesn’t mention it. While I’ve opted for the most practical option, Leila decided on the tastiest: pizza. She digs straight in, but I take a moment to observe the room again before I let my guard down.
Every table around us is now filled. My housemates, or the Bishops as Leila called them, are four tables over, surrounded by Genie and her friends. My lips purse, my eyebrows drawing together, and I’m unsure why. I lock eyes with Eldon, my body freezing, before I quickly glance away and focus on my food without another look.
