Page 74 of Puck & Her Blades

I hear the rustle of clothes, above my own panicked breaths.

Then the sound of something wooden clattering loudly again, before a swooshing sound.

Fuck, Roarke must be holding a paddle. He’s testing it.

He’s going to strike Asher.

I almost push myself to my feet, but the feel of Cygnus’ arms around me stops me.

I’m stronger than Cygnus is, but Asher told him to look out for me.

He gave his promise and that is what’s grimly getting him through this.

If I reveal myself, I won’t help Asher. Instead, I’ll make everything worse for all of us.

So, I grit my teeth and I remember that I’m a resistance member and the Snow Bunny.

One day, I’m going to expose Roarke.

“It’s not enough to win a game or score a couple of goals. You’re exceptional. This is your chance to break the record of thirty-four goals scored in the Alpha Cup, and you can’t fuck that up,” Roarke says, sharply. I wince because so far, this sounds like one of my Alpha parents’ talks. I remember this type of pressure to perform. It drove me to push myself too hard and injure my leg. It led to me losing everything. “Do you want to remain a nobody Companion all your life or become a legend?”

“A legend, sir.” Yet there’s no life in Asher’s voice.

It’s like the sun’s been extinguished.

“Good,” Roarke sounds satisfied. “Then let’s get on with making sure that you become that legend for the Blades. I didn’t take you on as a ward for the pack, so that you could be lazy. You missed three shots on goal. That’s six strokes of the paddle for each one missed.”

My eyes burn with tears, and I tremble.

I can’t sit here listening to this.

Can’t.

I close my eyes.

“Stop,” a cold voice snarls.

It’s Jackson.

He sounds out of breath like he’s been running.

Cygnus stiffens, and I pull back, opening my eyes.

Cygnus scoots back from me. He’s biting his lip, hard enough to make it bleed, and I hurriedly reach out, forcing him to let his bottom lip go. I soothe over it with my thumb, smearing the blood.

“Leave.” Roarke’s burned coffee scent becomes even more overwhelming. “I told you to return to Blade House with Zev.”

“I apologize but I can’t do that.” Jackson’s voice is icy, but his mulled wine scent is stronger and spicier, more dominant than it was before. “I’m this team’s Captain. If any of my players have underperformed during the game, then I’m responsible. You should discipline me for their failures.”

“Jackson, don’t do this…” Asher sounds shaky.

Roarke huffs. “You’re not the Companion. You’re also not the one who needs the motivation.”

“But I’m your pack, and you’re my Head Alpha and Father. I assure you that on the ice, Asher and I are like brothers. Seeing me punished for his missed shots is going to be more painful to him than any beating. That’s the type of man he is. Plus, I don’t want him hurt. He’s the top scorer. I need him totally focused.”

“You’re always so cold, son.” Roarke chuckles. “I knew that there’d be a strategic reason for this.”

Except, I don’t think that there is.

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