Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Unfortunately, my determination to take a little space from my mate and concentrate on raising my rank

is immediately foiled when Luca comes sauntering over to our table with a tray full of food.

“Hey,” he says, grinning at Rafe and Jesse with the trademark stunning smile that flares his dimples. “I

come with a peace offering.”

Rafe raises his eyebrow as Luca takes a plate off his tray, sliding it onto the table. I take a sharp breath

as I focus on the pair of little raspberry pastries Luca brought us – the tray was completely empty by

the time Jesse and I got through in line and it broke my heart –

But Luca? Luca got two.

“What for?” Rafe asks, smacking my hand when I immediately reach for one. I hiss, more in surprise

than pain, and pull my hand back.

“I didn’t mean anything when I took Shrimp over to my bunk last night for a chat,” Luca says, his face

more serious now as he gives a little shrug. “I didn’t realize it would piss you off. I was just trying to

offer my support – I know he’s low on the rankings, and I’ve soft spot for the underdogs.”

got a

I narrow my eyes at Luca now, because he’s blatantly lying – but he’s also protecting my secret. Luca’s

eyes flash to mine and the corner of his mouth quirks up in a grin.

“Ari is ours to protect,” Rafe says, looking Luca over from head to foot before picking up the plate and

holding it out to him. Luca blinks in surprise and turns his eyes back to Rafe. I don’t think he’s used to

rejection – not with that face and his fame.

“Ari,” I break in, rankling a little at the possession in Rafe’s voice, “is a full person who can make friends

with whoever he wants,” I say, rolling my eyes at my brother and snatching the plate of pastries out of

his hand. “This was nice, Luca – thanks. No harm done.”

Rafe grumbles a little next to me but I elbow him, trying to remind him silently that I still have to fit in

here. It won’t do us any good to make an enemy of Luca Grant by offending him.

Plus, I want pastries. And for my mate to stay close at my side for a few more moments – damn but his

scent is amazing, almost better than these flaky little Danishes –

–

“Want to sit?” Jesse asks, smiling at Luca and gesturing to the seat next to him. I pale a little

– because, I mean, accepting a peace offering is one thing –

But Luca, having breakfast with us? That’s starting to cross a dangerous line.

Unfortunately, before I can think of a reason to protest, Luca cheerfully takes the seat and raises his

eyes to mine, smiling at me a little deviously.

Shit. This was his plan. He still has questions for me, and he knows that he has to get on Rafe and

Jesse’s good side if he wants to ask them.

Clever boy.

I scowl at him and take a big bite of the pastry. Unfortunately for me it’s delicious, which makes it very

hard to be mad and wary of my st*pid mate, who’s sitting across the table from me, smirking at his

victory.

Jesse and Luca chat idly, introducing themselves even though they probably already know who each

other are. Jesse ropes Rafe into the conversation too, though my brother only joins in begrudgingly. I

concentrate on my pancakes, working very hard to ignore Luca.

It works for a while, until he ropes me into the conversation as well.

“So, what’s your plan?” Luca asks. “For getting Shrimp’s numbers up?”

My head snaps up. “Why?” I ask, my nose scrunching a little as I glare at him.

“I told you before, Shrimp,” Luca says, grinning at me. “I think you’re funny. It’s good for morale to keep

the comic relief around.”

My glare deepens, because we both know that’s not the truth, but I look away, not wanting Jesse to get

suspicious about the connection between us. Frankly, I’m shocked Jesse hasn’t figured it out already –

Luca’s making it so obvious.

“And how do you propose to help?” Rafe asks, his voice low and derisive, clearly suggesting that it’s

impossible, “on a day like this?”

“I know,” Luca says, shaking his head a little bit and crossing his arms, studying me like I’m a lost

cause. “It’s a shame he came in so unprepared…”

“He was a last minute addition to the roster,” Jesse says, his voice dry.

“Unprepared for what?” I ask, sitting up straighter and looking between them. “Wait, what’s today?

What am I unprepared for?”

“Today ends in another combat competition,” Rafe says, glancing over at me. “It affects the rankings.

One–on–one, though, not bracket style this time.”

“How do you know this shit,” I breathe, shaking my head as I stare at him.

“Our dads made the school, Ari,” Jesse says, rolling his eyes at me. “They told us. Nepotism for the

win.”

“Not like it’s a big secret,” Luca says, shrugging and finishing up a bowl of oatmeal. “There are all kinds

of forums online where previous cadets spill the school’s secrets, if you know where to find them.

Anyone who did any kind of prep at all to be here knows the schedule of candidate exams.”

He quirks an eyebrow at me, clearly implying that I failed to do that essential research, but duh – of

course I didn’t. I was busy planning my wedding.

“Well how the hell am I gonna get through this?” I ask, looking a little frantically between my brother

and my cousin.

“Don’t worry about it, Ari,” Rafe says, taking a calm drink of his coffee. “They pit lowest against the

highest for this one. So, you’ll be facing me.”

“So!?” I ask, my voice squeaky with anxiety. “How does that help me? I can’t beat you’re a gorilla –

you’re twice my size!”

you

GMS

“You don’t have to beat me,” Rafe snaps, turning to glare at me a little. “You just have to pretend to. I’m

going to take the fall.”

“What?” I breathe, shocked.

“Whoa, man,” Luca says, his eyes wide as he stares at Rafe. “You’re going to give up the number one

spot? For your cousin?”

Rafe doesn’t reply, just shrugs and turns back to his tray, finishing off his food.

“I don’t like any of my cousins that much,” Luca says, glancing up at the clock. “Shit, we’ve got to go –

26

“Rafe,” I say, putting my hand on his shoulder. “You can’t do that – we have to figure something else

out —“

“It’s done, Ari,” he says, glancing at the clock as well and starting to stand up. “It’s not like it will knock

me off the board – it will just drop me down a few spots and bring you up about

half way. It’s worth it.”

“Rafe!” I protest, standing up with him and gathering my tray.

“No time to debate,” Jesse says, tugging me along with him and away from Rafe. “You have to let him

do this, Ari. It’s the only way.”

I sigh, not fighting him on it as the four of us bus our trays and head for the door just as a bell sounds,

signaling the end of breakfast and the start of training. But inwardly, my mind whirs – because there

has to be something that I can do that doesn’t put Rafe’s spot at the Academy at risk just to save mine.

Unfortunately, as the day passes, I don’t come up with anything. We all troop into the gym together and

are run through the horrible obstacle course twice as some kind of warm–up. The entire time I run it, I

push my mind to come up with something – anything –

I mean, can I fake sick and make Rafe go up against someone else? But I don’t know what the the

results of that would be – would they just kick me out immediately? Or…is there any way I could subtly

swap spots with another candidate so I’m fighting someone easier?

But what would that do? And who the hell would agree to that, even if it were allowed?

I’m panting and defeated in two ways at the end of the second run of the obstacle course, which just…

really feels like a kick in the face. My time improves, but I’m still dead last. When we’re finished the run,

we’re lined up in our ranking order and lead into a sparring gym next door, which has mats already laid

out ready for our bouts. We’re spread out at even distances and each handed a long wooden staff

before we’re taught a series of moves that it takes hours to perfect.

By the end of it, I have no idea what’s going on, and I’m anxious as well as exhausted.

“You may have noticed,” the Captain booms out when we’re all standing quietly, “that the wooden staff

is not a particularly high–tech or effective weapon in today’s battle climate. That’s why we chose it for

this test. Our understanding is that very few people are proficient in staff work anymore. Today’s

examination tests not only your physical prowess, but your ability to learn an unfamiliar fighting

technique quickly. Though your sparring partner will for many of you be a mismatch, the unfamiliarity of

the weapons evens the playing field.”

Bullshit, I think, glancing at the front of the room where Rafe stands with his staff like an extension of

his damn arm. No matter how unfamiliar the weapon, he’s still going to take me out with it.

Unless he really intends to go forward with his idiot plan to throw the bout in my favor?

I shake my head, realizing that the only acceptable plan is for me to throw it first. I nod to myself,

decided. That’s the plan.

“The bouts will be paired with highest taking on the lowest – though some small variations. have been

made in order to ensure fair play.”

My eyebrows raise at this announcement.

Wait wait what?

–

What does that mean?

“When your number is called, pair up in your designated circle,” the Captain continues, sounding a little

bored as panic flares in my chest. “In Circle 1 we have #1 against #119,” the captain says, pointing

towards it.

Rafe spins to look back at me, his eyes wide. My eyes snap to the candidate next to me, a small guy

named Ben Ternicki, whose dark hair that falls into his face. He exhales a long breath, pushing his hair

back under his cap as he looks over at me and shrugs.

“In Circle 2,” the Captain snaps, “#2 will face #120.”

The breath leaves me in a rush as I figure out, immediately, what they’re up to.

–

They know Rafe is related to me my cousin, we reported it on the intake form. So they rearranged the

pairings so that he can’t face me in the bout.

Which means…

My eyes fall immediately on my opponent as he moves towards our circle, taller than the staff that’s in

his hand.

Jackson McClintock.

My bout is against Jackson, my second mate.

“Good luck with that,” Ben murmurs to me as he looks between Jackson and Rafe. “Honestly, we’re

both f**ked either way, but at least Sinclair probably won’t beat me to a pulp in the process,” he says,

giving me a shrug as the Captain continues to call out names and the candidates start to move around

the room.

“Oh god,” I moan, leaning into Ben’s hand a little as he pats my shoulder consolingly. “I’m

so screwed.”

“Come on,” he says, heaving a little sigh. “Let’s go get the shit kicked out of ourselves.”