A sharp jab to my throat pulls me out of the box I padlocked shut, causing me to choke out a grunt and drop whatever I was holding with a thunk. My awareness slowly returns, spots still dotting my vision.
As I begin to register my surroundings, I take in all the eyes and cameras on me. I’m still trying to wrangle air when a fist flies upward straight into my dick.
I wheeze out a noise, like I’m singing in soprano, as my left knee slams to the ground. Imploring my lungs to expand, I suck in air, but then a hand whooshes and cracks me across the side of my face. The impact so hard my neck whips in the other direction and I fully crumple to the floor.
“Since you want to be a dick I’ll be the bat for your balls. I don’t know what the fuck is wrong with you and your asswad of a friend Wes, but keep your fucking hands to yourself.” It’s then I notice Ariah’s very pissed off demeanor. She’s on her knees pushing up off the floor. Her cold gray eyes are alight with a fury I’ve never seen. Her blackish blue hair only adds to her fierce aura, like a Valkyrie or some shit.
Fuck! I must have grabbed her when I blacked out. She wouldn’t know not to grab me. I haven’t had a blackout in so long. This one came roaring in.
“Ariah I’m sor–,” I gasp, my nuts throbbing, but she cuts me off.
“Save that shit for someone who cares. Just stay the hell away from me!” Then, she stalks off down the hallway. Her ass bounces in a rhythmic motion and I’m entranced.
“Not one of your best moments, huh?” Seb chuckles. My gaze refocuses on his outstretched hand as he helps me off the ground. Any movements make my damn dick feel like it’s about to fall off. Damn that girl can throw a punch.
“Fuck off,” I hiss, massaging my hands against my heated right jaw, then moving down to my Adam’s apple while my other hand cups my swelling balls. Looks like I’m the one looking worse for wear after a run in with the hellion. The guys are going to give me so much hell for this.
“Do tell, what made you get a fist to dick?” He’s having far too much fun at my expense. His blue irises double in size when I cup my jock and wince.
“If you must know, asshole, she grabbed my arm when I was walking away and the next thing I knew I was being nut punched.” I sigh, my lungs finally feeling like they can fill with enough air for me to sustain my breathing. My face and dick are another story. That wipes the smile off his face, a grimace now firmly in place.
“Shit!” His eyes blowing wide at my statement.
Nodding in agreement at the severity of the situation. “That’s what I said.”
“You’re lucky you didn’t kill her, Lev.”
“I might’ve if she didn’t throat chop me.”
His lip quirks up and I know he’s never going to let me live that statement down.
“You mean to tell me while you had her pinned she got the drop on you?” I’m not sure if he’s more concerned or awed.
I mean, I’m impressed by her knowledge of how to break a hold as strong as mine, and the strength of her strikes. But it also makes me even more suspicious of the time of her arrival and its connection to the selection.
We’re walking down the now empty hallway. Well, I’m limping and Seb is humoring me and shortening his steps to keep pace, when I ask,“What do you think about the time of Ariah’s arrival?”
Seb’s mouth turns down and his eyebrows furrow, his face scrunching in confusion. “What do you mean? You think her being here is the council’s doing?”
I shake my head. “No. Yes. Maybe? I know you haven’t been at our last few meetings at The Tombs, but Wes has made some really great points about her untimely arrival.”
We’re almost at the office when he responds, “You guys can’t be serious. Lev? Think about it, has she once tried to cozy up to any of you? I met her when she registered for classes and had a look at her file, she’s no plant. If anyone was a plant it would be that skank Samantha Davenport.”
I try to compare this new information with the points Wes has been making for weeks. But between the throbbing of my head and groin, my ability to process much of this conversation is about as good as Sam’s ability to stop using lipfillers—improbable.
“Look, all I know is things aren’t adding up. Now move fucker, I need to go ice my balls and my pride,” I say, surprising him with a sharp jam of my elbow into his side.
He grunts, amusement lining his features. “Whatever, wait ’til I tell the guys about this one.” He dodges my next shot, pulling the office door open and darting inside.
I head in the direction of the trainer’s office, hoping to ice my jewels, then remember Coach will be there. I moan out a curse. Coach is going to kill me
* * *
“All that shityou gave me and look at you.” Wes sits across from me in the leather wingback chair, smugness oozing from him. We just finished up our meeting with the council who gave us the final instructions of what is expected of us for next week’s initial selection choices.
Seb texted the whole group about my run in with Ariah before I even made it to the trainer. They have been riding me ever since then. Wes the hardest, which is exactly what I expected.
“Screw you all. I could’ve seriously hurt that girl if she didn’t think fast,” I say, pointing out what they should be focused on.
