I snickered. “You’re adorable when you’re confused.”
“Am I?” he asked softly. He leaned forward just a touch, his heat enveloping my chilled frame. I shuddered in delight, and he smirked. “I’m not confused by one fact.”
Always so arrogant.
“What’s that?” I lifted my red brows.
“That I want you near me.”
This was not where I’d thought he was going with this flirty line of conversation. I blinked in astonishment, and blabbered, “You can’t just say that to me.”
“Does that frighten you, pet?”
A little.
“No.” I huffed. “But if I do have to go home, I won’t live in New City. None of my father’s soldiers do. Brandon certainly won’t.”
“You’re correct about Mr. Moore.” Those tiny circles he kept drawing on my back were so slow and lovely. “I believe General Carvene is grooming him to eventually take his place, so the next general would live primarily in Port, as is typical of the LA.”
I had suspected as much.
I was like a torch passed down to the next leader of the Liberated Army, a prized filly for the great men who opposed the corporations.
My stomach churned at the thought.
“You don’t like what I said.”
I made a face at him. “Quit analyzing me.”
He grinned, his eyes on my lips. “It comes naturally to me. I can’t help it.”
I peered back out at the buildings across the street.
He fully relaxed, staring at the sunrise.
We sat side-by-side in the early morning quiet.
It was incredibly peaceful.
Eventually, I whispered, “This is heading in a bad direction, Godric.”
“I know,” he stated smoothly. He continued to enjoy the view of the glorious sky. “I’ll figure it out, though, pet. Just focus on passing the last test today. You’re the only female remaining now.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN
The same male instructor was leading today. He stood at the front of the train while we sat in our seats like obedient little recruits, all eyes on him. There was only a total of forty-four remaining candidates. And it was judgment day.
“This is your final test. Half of you will be invited to the Corporate Army, half of you will go home with your tail between your legs.” He said it all with a smile too. “Today, you will be tested on your strength and endurance. As soon as we arrive, you will participate in an obstacle course.”
I was the smallest here.
This wasn’t going to be fun.
“First, you will each cut down a tree in the designated area. Once you have finished with that, you will swim across the lake. There you will find an agility course. The first half of you to cross the finish line will pass.” He was still grinning. “The rest of you will need to find your own mode of transportation back to the Military House to remove your belongings. If you don’t pick up your items within twelve hours, they will be donated to the poor.”
Okay. That was just mean.
He chuckled and took his seat where the rest of the instructors, along with Godric and Finn, sat at the front of the lavish train. The seven of them started chatting amongst themselves, enjoying the ‘relaxing’ train ride.
