“Of course,” Tysion drawled. “I pick Cole Vysan.”
My insides froze over as his familiar bulk moved to join Dimitri. The thought of those two together sent my stomach spinning.
Tysion’s eyes met mine. His face said it all. We’re coming for you, bitch.
Did he know what had happened with Dustin? Would Cole risk picking a weaker recruit just so he could torment me? My panic mounted as Cole’s black glower turned to me as the last of the seconds were chosen. I had to fight an impulse to make a run for it.
“Serena Smith.”
I blinked. Cole hadn’t spoken.
“Serena,” Liora called out softly.
My head turned to find my friends smiling at me. Liora had her palm extended, beckoning me. A glorious, wonderful rush of relief passed through me.
Dimitri snorted again. It didn’t stop me from going to hug her. Cai put his arms around our shoulders and stood, beaming out at the class.
He’s a cocky bastard, isn’t he? Auntie mused.
I let a smile slip past my defenses. But soon it’d be time for me to choose the fourth member of our team, and I had to pick a great warrior to make it up to them. They’d chosen me out of friendship. I wouldn’t let them suffer because of it.
Auntie sighed. You already know who to pick. Follow your heart.
Something clicked. Ugh. Obviously.
When Goldwyn gave me the go-ahead, I waited just long enough to say, Surprise, through our bond.
“Frazer.”
I looked to Goldwyn, and she gave me a quirky smile and admitted, “I don’t know his second name either.”
My head shifted back to the recruits lined up in front. No one seemed surprised I’d called his name. He was arguably the best. I guessed the only reason he hadn’t been chosen yet was because he was wingless and mute.
He broke formation and strode over, showing no emotion. And yet, I knew better. There’d been no thought—his shields, his mental discipline, were too strong for that. Still, I thought I detected a dull throb of gratitude from his end. Maybe he wasn’t so good at hiding his emotions either. Or perhaps our connection was simply too intimate, too raw, for him to hide behind those thick, dark walls forever.
Happy? I projected as he settled into position on my left.
Ecstatic. Faint amusement sang through our thread.
You know you’ll have to choose an amazing recruit to make up for me.
A frown. Did you have someone in mind?
I swept the crowd. And my gaze stumbled over Adrianna. Why in the stars hadn’t she been picked?
Frazer must’ve sensed my confusion because his voice trickled in. She’s got a reputation for being difficult.
I almost laughed. You get the irony of you saying that, right? And I picked you.
It’s different with us, yat?v?.
I never found out why because Goldwyn cut in, announcing it was Frazer’s turn. He marched into the crowd. I held my breath.
He stopped, extending his hand. Adrianna frowned at his open palm as if considering his offer. She nodded once, strode past him, and settled next to me.
Frazer turned positively lethal. Furious she’d taken his position, he walked back over to us, anger billowing through our bond like a gale force wind. I felt him struggle with a mad desire to bite and show dominance. I didn’t understand those urges, or why it was important to him. But they were both my picks—I felt responsible.
Frazer came within reach. I held out my hand for Frazer. No bloodshed.
His mouth curved, and he allowed me to pull him into the space between Liora and I. I didn’t bother seeking Adrianna’s reaction. This clash of wills hadn’t exactly filled me with confidence for the days to come.
The selection process came to a close, and three humans and two fae remained. Wilder gestured to them with a graceful flick of his wrist. As he gathered his new pack to him, there was a vicious twist in my heart. The one sour note in all this—I’d lost the opportunity to talk and train with him during the day.
“Each pack is to meet in this spot at 9BN in three days, and bring your own supplies,” Dimitri yelled over the recruit’s heads. “We won’t be outfitting you with a list, so use your common sense, as difficult as that is for some of you.”
Goldwyn whirled to us—her pack. “White Tigers, follow me.”
I didn’t allow myself to look back at Wilder. Goldwyn was my instructor now. There’d never been a chance for anything real between us anyway.
Goldwyn led us to the empty food hall. She stood at the head of a table and gestured for us to sit. Cai and Liora took up positions to my right, and Frazer and Adrianna moved to sit on the opposite bench.
“This is the only time you’ve got to ask questions, so make them good,” Goldwyn said while staring at Cai.
Adrianna got there first. “What supplies are we allowed to take with us?”
I cringed, hoping it wouldn’t bother Cai—our leader—that she’d taken charge. Choosing her had been my idea. But one look told me that Adrianna could’ve bashed him on the head and declared herself queen of the world, and Cai still wouldn’t have minded.
Goldwyn regarded Adrianna with a cool openness. “The kitchen will give your pack set food and water rations. And you’ll need to go to the supply closet and sign out sleeping bags. Then, visit Colt at the armory. Fair warning, you’ll only be allowed one weapon each and they won’t be blunted like in practice.” Her focus shifted to Cai. “If you want my advice, have your fae carrying bows. You and your sister should take blades.”
When she didn’t go on to say anything about me, I stared down at the table, my face burning in shame.
“And what about Serena?” Liora asked. As if Goldwyn had simply made a mistake in forgetting me.
She cackled. “Well, apparently she can get a Sabu Warrior to submit with nothing but her claws and a growl, so she clearly doesn’t need a weapon.”
My head lifted. Meeting gold-flecked eyes, the amusement in them melted my reservations. Wilder must’ve told her what had happened between us. And … what had she said—Sabu Warrior? Cai and Liora’s lessons came to mind. The Sabu class was reserved for the leaders of the fae armies.
Leader—well, that explained a lot. Sadness cleaved my heart in two as I realized this only put him farther out of reach.
“Serena, does Goldwyn know something we don’t?” Cai cocked an eyebrow.
“It’s not important,” I deflected. “And I’ll take a sword—if that’s okay?”
I’d been more familiar with the bow on arrival, but I’d since grown partial to the long, thin blades the fae called Utem?.
“Of course.” Goldwyn’s eyes danced. “But you needn’t be so modest. If I’d pinned Wilder, I’d be crowing it from the rooftops. Very few fae—let alone humans—can claim to have done the same.”
The shock on their faces was almost bordering on insulting. Liora regained her composure first. “Well, I’m glad she never said anything; otherwise, I might not have gotten a chance to pick her.”
Cai snorted and banged the table jubilantly. “Their loss is our gain.”
Embarrassed, I spotted an opportunity to change the subject and clarify something. “Goldwyn, d’you know what happens with my evening training sessions? Wilder told me yesterday that we’d be continuing them, but seen as how he’s not my instructor anymore …”
I prayed no one sensed the emotion behind the question.
Just me. Frazer’s voice floated down the thread.
I threw a curse back at him.
“Wilder knew what might happen today,” Goldwyn began. “He obviously wanted to train you regardless, and I don’t have a problem with it. Obviously, you’ll get tonight off. But tomorrow, report to the training ground as usual.”
Liora asked, “Where do we sleep? Our old barracks, or …”