We follow. We always will. From here to the Rift to the unknown worlds that exist only after death.
We will never forsake her. And anyone who tries to break us apart? As Lana said, “Good luck with that.”
28
Lana
“Badass.” Ceredes stalks around me in the training ring.
“I was mad.” I shrug.
After the dustup with Bartanz, I thought maybe we’d return to our room to find a contingent of fleet soldiers waiting to try and arrest us. Or maybe they’d jump us later on. But the day passed with no other word from Bartanz or fleet leadership. Now, the academy is back in session as if nothing happened—and I suppose that’s the way Bartanz wants it.
“I still don’t understand why he’s covering it up. I want to know the truth.” I feint right as Ceredes comes for me with his ungodly long reach.
He barely misses connecting with my face as I spin low and nail him in the Achilles with my foot. The huge warrior leans but doesn’t fall.
“Damnit!” I scurry up and away, but he grabs my ponytail and pulls me back against his hard body.
“Haven’t I told you to stop leaving your beautiful hair in this style?” he growls in my ear. “It makes it far too easy to grab you.” He pulls, and I squeal as I dig my fingers into his thighs and arch my back to keep from straining my neck.
“You may have mentioned it a few times.” I look up at him.
“Discipline, Lana.” He releases me and shoves me forward.
I lose my balance and splat onto the mat in the most graceless way imaginable. Groaning, I roll over, but he’s already on top of me.
“This isn’t a game, Omega.” He slams his fist into the floor beside my head. “The Sentients aren’t going to give you any breaks.”
“I know that.” I push against his chest.
“Then act like it.” He doesn’t budge, just grips both my wrists and wrenches them above my head. “Fight.”
“How can I fight when you’ve got me like this?” I yank at his grip but only manage to make my wrists tingle uncomfortably.
“Pull from your power. But not too much. I don’t want any internal bleeding this time.” He nips at my lip, and I slam my head up hard right into his nose.Gotcha.
“Fuck!” He grins as blood spurts along his cheek, but he doesn’t get off me. “That’s more like it. Fight, my love. Fight like your life depends on it.”
I imagine that ball of energy inside me, the light that tries to shine through my seams, and I take just a little foam off the top. Like the first sip of a latte at Starbucks from a cup with my name misspelled on the side. Power shudders through me, and I arch up hard, forcing space between us, then with a hard shove from my left leg, I roll us over and press my forearm to his windpipe.
His hands go to my ass, and he squeezes as I cut off his air.
“I could kill you.” I push harder.
“Then you’ll never get another taste of this.” He thrusts his hips up, and I feel how hard he is for me.
It sends all my circuits haywire, and he takes advantage, tossing me to the mat then sprinting to the wall and grabbing an energy sword.
“Cheater.” I wipe his blood from my face and walk backwards as he circles me.
“Not cheating.” He does his signature flourish; the same one I seem to do without even thinking these days.
With a thought, I heal his busted nose.
He shakes his head. “You shouldn’t show me mercy. I won’t give you any.” With blinding speed, he charges me.
I dart out of the way, but he sticks his foot out as he passes and tangles my ankles. An angry cry rips from me as I eat mat again.
