“Fuck.”
I can’t back out of the Leader’s Challenge. No one can know about my injury. I’d expect a prick like Fournier to instruct his team to go after my ribs the first chance they get.
I’ll heal fast. I always do.
Mariya…
“So, what was that, woman? The two of you? Sucking face?” You could not take that grin off Mala’s face with a shovel.
“Sucking face?” I laugh, “Are you twelve?”
She bumps my shoulder with hers. “I know what I saw. And it’s about damn time. Do you know how long we’ve had to watch this never-ending drama between you two?”
Mala’s a genuinely sweet person, almost too sweet to survive the Ares Academy. Of course, I’d thought that about Tatiana last year, and she’s turned into one hell of a fighter.
“I don’t know what’s happening,” I admit. “Kon’s being all… you know… nice. It’s unsettling.”
“Eh. There’s not a man alive whose will to live you couldn’t break,” she said encouragingly. “We all knew it was only a matter of time before you crushed that man under your size six heel.”
“You…” I’m laughing and it feels so oddly freeing, “aresoweird, fam.”
The only building on campus where computers are allowed is the East Building, where we study everything finance and hacking-related. It’s on the other side of the Barrens, a field of boulders that were left from ancient glaciers on the island. I usually skirt the Barrens and walk past the Armory, but Mala’s steps slow.
“Let’s just go through the boulders,” she said, tightening her grip on her backpack. She looks flushed, her lips in a thin line.
“Miss Morozova, Miss Chandler.”
We turn to see Professor MacTavish stride out of the Armory in joggers and a tight, white t-shirt. “Good afternoon, Professor,” I said.
I might be engaged to Kon, but I’m not dead. The man is aspecimen.He passes by with a brief nod, and I’m not ashamed to watch him.
“Did you see the taut, perfect ass on that man?” I murmur to Mala.
“I don’t like him,” she said. “Let’s go.”
I look behind me for one last glimpse. “You don’t? Are you seeing the same man I’m-”
“Now,Mariya!”
What’s her problem?
Chapter Thirteen
In which there is flying high and falling fast. Very fast.
Failing on Purpose - Arrows in Action
The day of the Leader’s Challenge…
Mariya…
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay for this?”
Konstantin’s back stiffens, and I stifle a groan. We spent the night together and he held me down, attacking my pussy like making me come was mankind’s last hope for survival. I wanted him inside me, I wanted to feel his cock again, but he sent me into one orgasm after another with his mouth and fingers.
When I tried to return the favor, he gently moved my hand away and curled up behind me and cupped my pussy, his erection digging into my back as we fell asleep. I caught him coming out of the shower this morning when he thought I was still asleep and gasped at the violent blooms of blue, black, and purple spread across his ribcage and chest.
“I’m fine,” he says coldly, shrugging on his robe.
