Page 97 of Veiled

When we get to the table with an overflowing tray of food and another coffee for me, everyone else is already waiting.

As we settle into our seats, I fill a napkin with ice for Aiden’s hand as he starts laying out our breakfast buffet.

“What happened?” James asks between bites.

I shoot a quick glance at Aiden before teasingly answering, “Somebody here doesn’t believe in the old ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me’ mantra and decided to punch Lucas for spewing his normal bullshit.”

Matt’s mouth drops in disbelief, “What? You let him punch him after you’ve been telling me ‘He’s not worth it,' for years.”

Aiden snorts, “Oh, trust me, she tried that on me too. Didn’t work.”

“That’s because you don’t listen,” I mutter, as I press the makeshift icepack against his knuckles. He hisses but doesn’t pull away.

Aiden shrugs, picking up his fork with his good hand like decking someone before breakfast is normal Tuesday behavior. “Call my wife a whore, get punched. Seems pretty straightforward to me.”

“Not your wife,” I cough out, heat flooding my face. I can’t believe he said that in front of everyone! He doesn’t even look at me, though, just spears another bite of pancake and pops it into his mouth.

At the same time, Matt’s eyebrows shoot up. “Wife?” and Josh leans forward, a wicked grin forming as he asks, “When were you planning on telling us about that development?”

Aiden smirks at his plate. “She’s still working on the ‘acceptance’ step.”

I give him a scandalized look, but he simply shrugs one shoulder as if saying, “Facts are facts.”

“You can’t promote me to wife without asking,” I say, like it’s the not asking that’s absurd, not that we just started dating yesterday.

Aiden finally glances up, eyes catching mine with that infuriating, simmering calm. “Sure, I can. I say it, you get embarrassed, but still smile at me; everyone sees it's inevitable. Works out nicely, I’d say.”

I swat his shoulder. “Aiden.”

“What?” he says with mock innocence.

Matt groans and mumbles to himself in a mocking tone, “Be a good friend. Don’t hit him. She’ll get mad at you. You never like it when she’s mad at you.”

I laugh, taking a big bite of my B.L.T. and ignoring the banter going on around me.

Chapter thirty-six

Annalise

“Today, we’re training reflexes and sharpening speed,” Captain Korr’s voice booms through the arena, his gaze pinning each of us in place.

“Some of you are so slow, you’ll get hit before you even get your weapons up to defend yourself.”

Well, shit, that feels directly aimed at me after my recent performances in class.

“When I say ‘Go’, you will each find a partner and practice shadow-tag striking,” Korr continues, his tone as sharp as the blade in his hand. “You’ll move at the same time, trying to tag your opponent’s shoulder, hip, or thigh. The goal is to strike and evade. Hesitate, and you lose—just like a real fight.”

Perry leans toward me, voice low and dry, “Love that for us.”

Ariel elbows him in the ribs.

“Pairs, go,” Korr orders, snapping his fingers. “I want constant motion. No breaks. Do not stop moving before I call time; that is your only warning.”

Perry immediately grabs my arm, “I call dibs! Some of the class looks like they are ready for war, and I haven’t had nearly enough caffeine to survive whatever Korr’s punishment will be today.”

“You think I’m safe?” I scoff, letting him drag me a few steps away as partners form around us. “Ariel’s the one who zones out every time her boyfriend grunts.”

“That was one time,” Ariel says, already squaring off with a taller girl from the back row. “And I can’t help it if he sounds sexy when he grunts and it reminds me—”