“During your run.”
It wasn’t a question, so I didn’t answer.
He reached around and grabbed my chin, tilting it back to meet his pitch-black irises. “You want to see me seething in mylittle boots? Keep ignoring your limits, and you’ll get to experience it firsthand.”
“Oh? Is this another part of your job? Because last I checked, a concussion won’t kill me,” I snapped, attempting to jerk from his hold.
He squeezed tighter, his gaze boring into mine. “Don’t test me, Hellion.”
One of his shadows whipped out, tickling my nose.
My dizziness faded.
“Thank you,” I said, begrudgingly.
He gave a stiff nod, a muscle ticking in his jaw. “It’s not a cure. But it’ll keep your symptoms at bay until after training. Then you’ll go see Sam.”
I nodded, knowing there was no other response he’d accept, especially with shadows slithering around him, wrapping tighter with each sharp line of his body. His eyes remained black, hiding the tempest of emotions swirling beneath the surface. I had a feeling Rune would be accompanying me after training.
General Ronen closed his eyes, took a steadying breath, and walked to another group, observing them with Alexei.
What the hell was that about?
I shook my head and took the blade Ichi handed me, throwing it at the target. It hit. Not a bull’s-eye, but close. I repeated the motion, landing several solid throws, and felt a deep sense of gratitude for the general’s help.
Without the dizziness, I’d successfully completed a station.
At archery, I performed terribly until Ichi gave me a bow with a lighter draw weight. It made sense. My arm felt like it would fall off every time I pulled the string, and I still needed to build muscle. When we rotated to swordsmanship, I straight up said, “I can’t use my right arm anymore.”
She smiled and shrugged. “So use your left.”
Girl crush gone. She was a demon.
Unable to help myself, I glanced over at Oliver, pride warming my chest. He fared about as well as I did. Ni had him knocked to the ground, but as he glared up at her, his eyes lit with emerald flames. His hand twitched, as if about to touch her with a power he despised.
He was trying. Whether for me or his sister, I didn’t know, but it was a small step in the right direction.
Ni responded with a flaming finger, wagging it as if to sayOh no, you don’t.Oliver let the green flames dim.
“We don’t believe in using powers against fellow angels—unless absolutely necessary. We see no honor in it,” Ichi said.
Honor?I didn’t know anyone here even used that term.
“So you’ve never used it on your squadmates in the showers?”
Ichi watched Cyrus and Theon. “No. And because we refused to participate, Moira had us replace the two we were meant to punish. She ordered Cyrus to choke me with his vines. But before he could kill me, Ni retaliated. She blocked Theon’s water strike and scorched Cyrus with her flames—burned him without hesitation. They underestimated us because of how we chose to live in death. But they learned their mistake that day.”
She turned to me with a solemn, determined expression. “My sister and I will pay our penance to be redeemed by participating in this military and her squad. But we will not add time to our sentence. You can always be recycled for your sins.”
“So you just stood up to Moira and that’s that?”
“Bullies can only bully you if they believe you’re too weak to retaliate.” She panned her gaze from my boots to my shirt. “I don’t believe you’re too weak, Lucy. So, may I ask what you’re hiding?”
I stiffened. But her honesty and warmth pulled at something deep within me, urging me to trust her. “Nothing I’m at liberty to share without getting myself in deeper trouble.”
“Does it have anything to do with why you won’t use your powers? From the ring in your eyes, you’re at least part angel. So you must have them.”
“Yes.”
