I sprinted across the grass as fast as I could, my chest heaving and my arms pumping by my sides. His feet pounded behind me, gaining on my position. My mouth opened, and I squealed in excitement with a victory punch in the air, my tiny feet passing the white line painted on the grass.
CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE
I stopped and sucked air as I punched my fist into the air again with a little hop. I looked back at the guy, and he was grinning too as he fell onto the grass and lay flat on his back, his arms spread wide.
I hissed, “We did it!”
There weren’t over twenty recruits sitting behind the instructors—only nineteen. We had just made the cut.
“To not killing each other.” He held his hand up into the air for me to high-five.
I smacked his hand in giddy delight. “To not killing each other.” My smile had to gleam in the sunlight. “What’s your name?”
“Ben Prac.”
“I’m Poppy Carvene.”
He snorted. “I know who you are.”
One more man crossed the finish line behind us.
The instructors instantly stood to their feet.
Recruits resting behind them followed their lead.
Godric was watching me under hooded eyelids, a tiny smile curling his lips. He winked at me in private congratulations. Godric the Great appeared damn pleased that I had passed.
My grin was glorious. I had done it!
Ben lifted his hand from his horizontal spot on the grass, muttering, “Give me a hand up, yeah?”
I grabbed his hand and yanked him to his feet.
Then I froze as a silent man came out of the tree line behind the train. He wore a silver fur hooded coat with the hood up over his head. Silver hair stuck out from under it in chaotic strands. He had a black pair of leather pants on and a white t-shirt. Two swords were crossed against his back, the black handles seen above his shoulders. There were no shoes on his feet.
He stalked right toward me.
I turned to him with wariness. I didn’t know him.
His eyes were the color of shining silver blades.
Ben mumbled, “Who the fuck is that?”
Godric and Finn charged by us, marching at a fast clip toward the stranger. They didn’t have weapons in their hands, but their shoulders were tight with tension as they stopped in front of him.
Godric growled, “You are not wanted here.”
Silver eyes didn’t flinch, his tone bored. “Oh, you’ll want me here, God.”
My head cocked with the use of his nickname.
Finn held his hands up between the two. “Let’s take this discussion somewhere else.” His head snapped to the newcomer. “That is if you came here for a reason, Cassander? Not just to piss him off?”
Cassander with the silver eyes yawned. “Of course, I came here for a reason. I wouldn’t show up after all these years without one.” He looked between the two of them, straight at me. He tipped his head in my direction and then pointed an accusing gaze on Godric. “I came to protect her.”
Godric’s eyes narrowed. His fists clenched.
Finn’s head darted back and forth between the two of them, and then he speared the silver-eyed man with a look. “Quit fucking around, Cass. He’s about to snap.”
