Page 35 of Phixmery

Adair raises his hand. “Why do only a third make it through The Choosing, Sergeant?” he asks when Craven nods at him to go ahead.

“Because most of you are stupid enough to think you have what it takes to be a rider, be it a gryphon or dragon. Now warm up and pair up for sparring. Halfway through the lesson we are going to the sandpit. Let’s see how much you have improved.”

I break off into a sprint, eager to get away from their prying eyes. I make it almost to the training yard wall when I’m hit from the side and go flying into the ground. Without wasting a breath, I hop up to my feet ready to get into it with whoever did that when Nero comes soaring down from his perch atop the wall, talons first, and begins clawing the crap out of Evera’s flawless skin.

“Get your demon bird off of me!” she screeches as she aims for her fire starter.

I take a step towards them. “Nero! Enough!”

He retreats and lands on my shoulder, his anger feeding my own. Was she seriously about to set him on fire?

His feathers are still puffed up as he attempts to shake them out. “She knew what she was doing when she shoved you into the ground. It was no accident, and I’m not standing by and watching you get hurt. I may not be able to do anything while you’re sparring, but this? I’ll take her damn eyeballs as payment,”he caws.

“What in the fuck is going on here, Cadet Solace?” Craven snaps, glancing between his mate, me and Nero.

My mouth opens to speak but she begins crying and pointing to her face. “I was just trying to pass her when her bird came out of nowhere and attacked me. It should be put down!”

My limbs move before my brain can even process what she said, let alone a response. But before I can get five feet from her, an arm wraps around my waist and pulls me back.

“Her bird is protective of her; he is her familiar after all. We know that you two don’t get along. Maybe it picked up on that,” a voice by my ear says.

I push out of his grasp and turn around to see it was Bracken who stopped me from mauling the bitch. My gaze narrows on him with annoyance, wishing he would just take the hint and leave me alone, before I turn back to the Sergeant. “She shoved me into the snow and Nero reacted. We are bonded; he’s going to protect me. No one will be putting him down.” I state firmly, glaring at Cadet Gannon.

“Maybe you should have been paying more attention to your surroundings, Cadet. You both have caused your squad another week on dish duty. Now finish your laps—I don’t have all fucking day to be managing children.”

“I’m not a child, Talyn. I’m twenty-six and to be your female, mate,” she snaps at him.

He spins ever so slowly towards her. “You’re acting like a fledgling. Run!”

I take off, not wanting to stick around for whatever conversation is about to happen. It’s none of my business what the alpha-hole Sergeant does with his—I gag. Nope, I can’t even say the word. Something inside me stirs with annoyance and envy. Who am I kidding? Those two vile beings belong with each other.

Nero flies by my head. “I’m sorry I got you into more trouble, Rav. Are you okay?”

A humorless chuckle puffs visibly into the air. “No, you’re not. You’re just excited for all the snacks you’re going to be getting. But yeah, I’m fine. Pissed off. I’ve never done anything to the female. The assumptions are all on her side, and from listening to whatever bullshit Cresida goes on about.”

Cresida’s and our Squads have been working a lot together lately, and it’s been fine, other than the seething glares, whispers and laughs, which I can handle. Beating me during sparring or shoving me down—I can handle that. Going after Nero? I will burn this whole damn castle to the ground to make sure nothing happens to him.

“They won’t do anything to me, Rav. It will be okay—”

My arms pump as I push myself harder to run faster. “What if it’s not okay? What if we don’t get out of here alive? I just want to live away from everyone in a cute little cottage somewhere where no one will ever find us and live out the rest of our long lives. After everything we’ve been through, we deserve a bit of happiness too, Nero.”

He’s silent for a moment before pushing all his love at me. “Yes we do.”

DURING THE ENTIRETY of sparring with Craven, I made sure to never let him out of my sight. I’ve been practicing being more aware of my surroundings, but sometimes I get so deep in my head, and that is dangerous. Nero and I have been working on a solution: when he’s noticed my straying thoughts, nipping my ear. It’s simple, yet efficient. It’s been working so far, but some days are definitely worse than others.

Today Craven offered me no words of advice but kept glancing at my injured hand like something about it bothered him. He’s never reacted to my injuries before—in fact he’s been extremely indifferent about them. He seems more attentive. In fact all three of them do. Even the rest of the wing and squad have noticed his staring and it’s making me uncomfortable—because some deep, forbidden part of me enjoys it. But it can never happen, for multiple reasons. One: he’s taken by a female who already thinks I’m trying to steal her male. Two: I can’t trust anyone, not with my past and definitely not with my future. And three: If I was interested—which I’m not—I can’t have all of them.

I’m destined to be alone, and I’ve made my peace with it. I’m fine with it.

“Alright, everyone to the sand pit!” Craven suddenly yells, ending our match without a word and moving to join his wing as we all hurry across the training yard. Once everyone is gathered around, he bellows, “Cadets Levine and Yearwood, you’re first. Powers are acceptable; causing the death of your squad member is not. Go.”

Bracken and Ember enter the pit and nod to each other before she dashes across to him, the sand kicking up behind her feet. He crouches into a defensive position and the moment she’s within grabbing distance, he grabs her tunic and hoists her into the air, intending on slamming her into the ground. But as she’s going up, she twists, kicking him in the throat. He drops her, but like a feline, she lands gracefully on her feet, throwing her fist precisely where she needs to knock him out.

She is barely panting as she makes her way back over to Roz and me. The former is watching her like it wasn’t the fates who hung the moon, but Ember herself. It’s kind of adorable.

We watch the pairings, my blood pounding with nerves and maybe even a bit of excitement as I wait to be called on. Rozen faces Cadet Hayes, but loses due to a hallucination he conjured that made him seem like he was falling forever down the top of a mountain into an endless void. He wasn’t quick enough with his own mentalist magick. His voice is now rough from screaming. I have to admit, Ember and I did have a good laugh about it and then watched on as he got reamed out on keeping his shields up.

“Solace and Ellis, in the sands, let’s go!” Craven yells.

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