That I’d already experienced.
“They may humiliate you.”
They could try.
“They’ll demand things.”
“What sort of things?”
“Sex.” Sara’s voice was flat.
My back stiffened, and my stomach roiled. Sara was barely eighteen. How many times had a member of the guard forced himself on her? She’d been a child. This had to end. Treating girls as if they were disposable was evil. Legacia was evil.
She held up her hands. “You won’t have to worry. You’re in Grayson’s unit. He won’t let anyone go too far.”
Too farwas too subjective.
Alina’s gaze found mine. “You’re fresh meat. Try not to be alone.”
“You’re serious?”
Their young faces were grim as they nodded. They were deadly serious.
“And if someone does corner you, don’t fight. They won’t hurt you too badly.”
Iclosed my eyes to hide the rage I knew was burning in their depths.
Grayson kept me waiting.Five minutes. Ten minutes. Fifteen minutes from the man who’d threatened to drag me from my bed by my hair.
I leaned against the chilly stone wall just outside our dormitory door and let my eyes drift shut. They were gritty from lack of sleep. I’d spent most of the night staring at the ceiling, my thoughts circling in an endless, hopeless loop.
“Where have you been?” Grayson’s voice carried down the hallway.
I pushed off the wall. “Right here. Waiting.”
Grayson loomed over me. “I told you we were training at five.”
“You told me to be ready to train at five. You didn’t tell me where to go.” Being tired and hungry (I hadn’t eaten since breakfast the day before) made me snarky, not smart. Smart would mean keeping my mouth closed.
“Any idiot would know we don’t train in the hallway.”
So I was supposed to wander around, hoping I’d find the training grounds? I could argue. But I wouldn’t win. I tried to be smart. “Show me where to go, and in the future, I’ll be there when you tell me.”
He grunted. “This way, Shield.”
“My name is Haven.”
“I don’t care about your name. I don’t care about your past. I don’t care about your hopes. Or your dreams. Or who you think you are. You’re a shield. Nothing more.”
If he thought he could wound me with his words, he was sorely mistaken. Every syllable that dropped from his lipsmade the anger in my veins burn brighter. Somehow, I held my tongue.
“When I call you Shield, you will answer. This way.”
I followed him (what choice did I have?) to an enormous gymnasium with walls lined with weapons. Swords. Daggers. Crossbows. Staves. Whips. Whips? A track circled the outside of the space. Mats filled the center. Climbing ropes hung from the ceiling, and against the far wall, two posts sent a shot of dread spiraling through my belly. “What are those?”
He shoved me toward his unit without answering. They stood near the right wall and watched as I stumbled toward them.
The one with fire magic smirked at me. “I expected to see you dragged in by your hair.”
