Within a month, we had completed our first goal. Then we moved onto our second: improve the use of our gifts. We each learned how to use our ability in different ways. Only then were we able to hit our third goal, which was to learn each other’s gifts inside out; know every strength and every weakness that came with them. That allowed us to learn how to work together as a squad and how to strengthen each other.
On every assignment, I was paired with Paige. It was a good thing for two reasons. One, Paige was very protective of me, just as I was of her. Two, our gifts worked well together. By sifting into a person’s brain with my psychic hand, I could find a vampire’s blood-bond and, well, play it like a guitar string. It both hurt and distracted, which gave the tall, lithe Keja the opportunity to pounce.
Her gift was extraordinary, in my opinion. It could be used for both good and bad. Basically, Paige could transfer not only her injuries, but the injuries of others. That meant if someone wounded her, she could transfer that wound to them and it would revisit on them three-fold. The gift thereby allowed her to both heal and cause harm.
Sam had also paired Jude and Cassie together. They matched well. Jude’s gift to erase recent memories wasn’t offensive, so Cassie’s gift of mind control was a big help. Jude was much better at combat than Cassie, so she was good at watching Cassie’s back.
Until more females joined the squad, Ava wouldn’t have a partner for assignments. In the meantime, she stayed with Salem and the vampire he was paired with. She didn’t need their protection, though; not with her awesome gift of muscle memory. Ava could literally memorise and replicate any combat move she saw. The gift not only made her faster and stronger than other Sventés, but it gave her better reflexes. Anyone who underestimated little Ava quickly regretted it.
As always, tonight’s training was gruelling and brutal. We were split into two teams: an offensive one, and a defensive one. Paige and I were part of the latter. Sam created a huge mound of Earth with her gift and then ordered the defensive team to defend it from the offensive team.
After a quick lunch break, we were back in the arena for another session. Jared assigned us physical exercises that kept up our stamina and endurance. I threw every ounce of my energy into it and worked myself hard because, yeah, I wanted to forget that I’d just seen myself injured and facing a dragon.
By the time it was done, I was ready to drop—which was no doubt a lot to do with the temporary exhaustion thing, courtesy of Marla’s crony. I went straight to my apartment, intending to hit my bed early. That plan was foiled when Paige turned up with vodka-flavoured NSTs.
“Don’t think I’m not mad that your fat ass teleported out of the arena without me earlier,” said Paige, barging inside.
I shut the door, faking offense. “My ass is not fat.”
“Well it ain’t fucking skinny.”
I laughed. “At least it isn’t bony.”
She cast me a mock glare, relaxing on my rug. She liked to sit on the floor. “I’ve been told my ass is cute, thank you very much.”
I sat opposite her, lotus style. “Yeah? By who?”
“So, can I just say that Marco is a total asshole?”
“I’m with you so far.”
“I don’t like the idea of you being in the same building as him.”
She probably wanted to lock me away somewhere to stop me from going. “Wouldn’t you rather that I had back-up with me when Marco and I see each other again for the first time?”
She sniffed. “I guess.”
Wanting to change the subject, I said, “You looked confused after you had your vision.”
“I didn’t understand it at all.” She took a swig of her drink. “And I don’t have even an inkling of when it will happen.”
“Do you regret having your vision?”
“Part of me does.” Paige sipped more of her NST. “I mean, how can I treat it as a warning if I don’t fully understand what I saw? Maybe there’ll come a time when I do, and then it will help me know what to do. Or, at least, that’s what I’m hoping.”
We talked a little about inconsequential things. When I yawned for like the tenth time, she barked, “Ha, it serves you right for overworking yourself.”
I tossed her a ‘whatever’ look, not interested in a lecture.
As I walked her to the door, she gave me a hug. “Get a good day’s sleep, okay?”
“Okay.” I opened the door…and found Butch standing there, hand ready to knock.
(Butch)
Paige perched her hands on her hips and lifted her chin. “I distinctly remember us having a conversation in which I made it perfectly clear that Imani wasn’t going to be a booty call for you anymore.”
Imani squinted at her friend. “You did?”
Yes, and I’d wondered if Imani knew about it. Apparently not. It was a one-sided conversation. I’d just stared at Paige, waiting impatiently for her to stop ranting about me ‘using’ Imani. At that point, Imani had already made it clear that she was done with casual sex.
“And yet, you’re here,” added Paige.
I nodded. “This is true.”
“Well, now you’re going to leave.”