Page 34 of Tamed

“Unlikely, but Zevon and I both plan to share the evening meal with you.” He returned her kiss and then summoned the elevator. “I’ll see you tonight.” He stepped onto one of the cars and blew her a kiss as the door slid closed in front of him.

Kendra summoned another car and requested the upper domestic level. She hadn’t had any other visions in the past three days and was starting to wonder if the one she’d had would be her one and only. Provost Nadis was highly skilled and well respected. If anyone could help Kendra develop into a dependable seer, it was Nadis.

Distracted by her convoluted thoughts, Kendra stepped out into the hallway and made her way toward the apartment she shared with Zevon and Arcon. Her thoughts gradually moved on from the meeting she’d just witnessed to the lessons awaiting her.

“There she is!”

A sharp, hostile voice drew Kendra’s attention to the other end of the corridor. She looked over her shoulder and cringed. Jessie and Heather were striding toward her, their movements fast and agitated.

“You selfish bitch,” Jessie sneered, dark eyes flashing. “All of us agreed to the lottery system. Luck of the draw was the only way for it to be fair for everyone. But you weren’t satisfied with your planet, so you found a way out of it.”

“I understand why you’re angry, but?—”

“I’m not just angry. I’m ready to wring your whorish neck.” She reached Kendra and shoved her hard enough to make Kendra stumble backward. “None of us wants to leave the Citadel. Why should you be spared the fate the rest of us are expected to endure?”

“My power started to activate. I did not intentionally?—”

“Run straight to Zevon’s office and get on your knees?” Jessie countered waspishly.

The retort was so accurate that Kendra’s face began to burn.

“Oh, my fucking God, you did exactly that, didn’t you? Did he fuck you over his desk or take you upstairs to his apartment?”

“It wasn’t like that. I?—”

“Spread your legs for the most powerful male on this outpost so you didn’t have to go to the least appealing planet. That’s exactly what you did.”

“Think what you like. I know what really happened.” Jessie was clearly not interested in an actual conversation, so Kendra turned around and headed for her apartment.

Jessie grabbed Kendra’s arm, fingernails digging in painfully.

“Let go. Right now!” Kendra demanded without turning around.

“Fuck you, bitch!” Jessie shouted. “I’m not going to that godforsaken desert no matter how many males you fuck!”

Kendra jerked her arm out of Jessie’s grasp and reluctantly faced her. “I’m sorry that you?—”

Jessie shoved Kendra with both hands, nearly knocking her off her feet. Unwilling to be victimized by this bully, Kendra retaliated with an equally hard shove. Jessie bared her teeth, literally snarled then drew back her arm. Kendra didn’t wait for the punch to land. She swept Jessie’s feet out from under her, sending her sprawling to the floor. Jessie slammed down flat on her back, her head bounding off the tiles.

Thinking the fight was over, Kendra turned and took one fast step in the opposite direction. Jessie grabbed her ankle and interrupted Kendra’s momentum. She lurched forward, going down on one knee before she could scramble back to her feet.

“I am not going to fight you,” Kendra insisted, but Jessie managed to stand as well.

A small crowd of conduits was now standing nearby. Heather was gleefully watching the altercation. Obviously, Jessie wasn’t the only one upset about Kendra’s new romance.

“Fine,” Jessie snapped. “Don’t fight me. Just stand there and bleed.”

Jessie swung for Kendra again, but Kendra easily dodged the punch. Jessie’s movements were slow and predictable and Kendra’s primary form of entertainment was a sparbot. Twisting away, Kendra tried to retreat, but Jessie was determined to fight her.

One of Jessie’s wild punches caught the side of Kendra’s face. The blow glanced off without delivering much damage, but anger surged through Kendra, consuming her good intentions. If Jessie wanted to fight, why not oblige her? Jessie had been the aggressor from the onset of the conflict. This was a clear case of self-defense.

Kendra’s first punch caught Jessie on the jaw, snapping her head sharply to the side. Jessie shrieked and came at her like a madwoman, swinging her arms like propellers. Kendra punched her in the stomach, hoping to knock the wind out of her. But Jessie’s wild motions caused her to twist at the last minute and Kendra’s fist collided with her ribs instead.

Pain stabbed through Kendra’s hand and streaked up her arm. The pain dumped fuel on her smoldering temper and Kendra unleashed her aggression. She attacked Jessie with fast combinations and punishing body shots. Kendra’s fist found the center of Jessie’s gut, folding her over. Kendra brought up her leg as Jessie descended, smashing her knee into Jessie’s nose. With one final shove, Kendra sent Jessie sprawling to the floor.

“Stay down!” she yelled. “I am through being bullied by you!”

Jessie lay in a moaning heap, one hand pressed over her bloody nose, the other cradling her side.

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