Before I can answer Jensen, Ian slides close. Ed lingers behind him, and the man gives me a sinister smile as he cracks his knuckles.Great.
“Don’t worry, we’ll take care of the Token this time,” Ian says as a cruel smile plays on his lips. He goes to rest a hand on my shoulder, but before he can touch me, I duck down, spinning away from him.
My lips curve as I give him a smile of my own. “Thanks for the offer, but trust me when I say, you don’t want that.” I doubt Knox would care if Ian tried to kill me during his class, but I’m pretty sure Galen, Raith, and Thane wouldn’t be too happy about it. If anything, I’m doing both Ian and me a favor by refusing, but Ian obviously doesn’t see it that way.
Jensen’s smirk probably doesn’t help matters. “You heard her,” he tells Ian. “Run along and go torture someone else.”
Ian’s expression hardens, but he ignores Jensen, keeping his focus on me.Of course, he does.
“You’re such a fucking bitch, new girl,” he spits. “I can’t wait for the games. You’ll be the first one we’ll hunt down, and your boy toy won’t be able to do anything to save you then.”
Boy toy?I’m tempted to point out that Jensen is only a friend, but I decide not to bother. You just can’t argue with some people.
“You should kill that one before the games,”Elgen advises me, like the idea of murdering Ian is the only thing that makes any logical sense.
“She’s right,”Tarlaz adds, moving along the wall like he’s trying to examine Ian more closely.“Make an example of him. It’ll show the others you’re not weak after all, and that you’re not to be messed with.”
I grimace.“But I am weak.”
“Say it and it will make it so,”Elgen replies dryly.
I appreciate that she’s trying to help me, but Ian’s become one of the strongest students in the academy. I don’t think I could kill him even if I wanted to. Besides, the idea of simply snuffing out someone’s life makes me uneasy.
“Perhaps, when he’s sleeping?”Tarlaz suggests.“Even if you don’t make an example of him, you’ll have more of a chance at surviving the games if he’s gone.”
I shudder just thinking about it.
“Forget him,” Jensen tells me as Ian and Ed finally walk away. “He’s all talk.”
I’m not so sure that’s true, but I shrug off Ian’s comment as we move to an unoccupied mat in the training room. Turning, we face each other, both of us dropping into a fighting stance. Around us, the other students are already sparring, and their grunts and the sound of smacking limbs fills the large space. Knox strolls between the mats, his shadows curling around him as he gives instructions and critiques the students’ forms.
I’m not as hopeless as when I first started these classes, but it still doesn’t take long before Jensen wins the first match, and I’m landing on my ass on the mat.
“Would you look at that, six seconds this time,” I comment with a grin, brushing the hair out of my eyes.
Jensen returns my smile. “All right. How ’bout we make it eight this time?” Stepping forward, he offers me his hand and helps me up.
“The main objective of today’s lesson is to learn how to gain control of your situation,” Knox calls out across the training room. “You need to learn how to keep focused, even when on the defensive, and to turn the situation in your favor. While you’re sparring, one partner should go on the offensive, attacking, while the other must counterattack until they are able to flip the situation.”
“The Xalgrith would come at us with weapons,” Ian comments from where he’s on a mat across from Ed. “We should be focusing on that. Not hand-to-hand combat.”
Knox stops pacing in the middle of the room, and his dark gaze cuts to Ian. “While in most cases you will likely have weapons at your disposal, knowing how to fight without your blades is essential. Your body, your mind, and your power are your most valuable weapons. When it comes to the Xalgrith, your shadows are your strength.”
Hold on, did he just say shadows?
“Professor, are you saying we can use our shadow magic for this lesson?” another student asks, voicing the same question I have.
“No physical weapons are allowed for this sparring session, but yes, magic use is permitted,” Knox clarifies. “Just like if you were on a battlefield and you found yourself without your sword.”
“All right!” Ian jeers, though Ed looks less enthused, probably because he knows Ian’s shadow powers are stronger than his.
Around the room the mood shifts, as those who are excellent at hand-to-hand combat, but less confident with their powers, realize their sudden disadvantage.
Kenzie gives me a worried look from across the space. She can command a few shadows now, and will likely be fine against her partner, but Jensen is much more powerful than I am. Still, I have faith he’ll take it easy on me.
I drop into a fighting stance. “Okay, come at me like I’m a cum monster.”
“What the fuck?” He makes a disgusted face.
