Page 46 of Oleander
His golden brows pull together, and something in his eyes tells me he doesn’t believe me.
Combat Class isn’t too terrible, despite Coach Slate being theworstFae I’ve met at this academy. There’s something so empowering about leaving your magic at the door and fighting with only your body or a blade. It puts everyone on an equal playing field, no matter their magic level. But little do they know I was a varsity wrestler in high school, and today, we’re focusing on ground defense.
Submission wrestling is my jam.
“What are you smirking about?” Gaia asks, strolling over to me in her short athletic shorts and knee-high socks.
“Oh, nothing. Just excited for today’s topic.”
Gaia glances at the whiteboard, scrunching up her nose adorably as she attempts to read Coach Slate’s chicken scratch. “Ground fighting?Seriously? If I break a nail, I willnotbe happy.”
I glance down at her rainbow-hued, glitter-tipped nails. “Maybe hide in the back today and lay low? I’m sure we’re going to get some eager assholes volunteering.”
That’s the best advice I’ve got for her because Coach Slate doesn’t always break us up into smaller one-on-one combat scenarios. He likes to create demonstrations for the class, showcasing different techniques and putting students on the spot. Luckily, whatever Headmaster Goulding said to him seemed to make him realize he was targeting certain students and needed to stop immediately.
He’s still an asshole, though.
Gaia nods, slipping to the back of the class where a few other girls seem to be gathering to avoid Coach Slate’s selection.
He claps his hands loudly and obnoxiously. “Okay, class! I hope you’ve learned the drill and warmed up by now. Stretching is essential. As you can see, today we will be learning ground fighting and mixed martial arts, or MMA, as the humans like to say.” Coach Slate glances at me when he says the words, making me feel uncomfortable.
A few excited murmurs rumble through the crowd, the big Fae up front eager to beat the shit out of each other. I may be leaner than them, but I’m not afraid. I can easily take a fight to the ground and choke someone out in front of their friends. I’ve done it before at my old high school when some douchebag thought he could pick on me.
“Okay, okay!” More clapping at us, and I’m on the verge of chokinghimout. “Settle down class. Settle down,” Coach Slate rambles on. “Our first participants are Skyler Fairfield and. . .” He scans the crowd, his eyes full of evil intent when they land on the biggest Fae in class. “Banks.” The class gasps, including Ander, and I glance around for my opponent. My eyes settle on him, traveling all the way up to his grinning face. And wow.Banks is huge.
“Please don’t kill me,” I joke, even though I’m not too worried. I’ve taken down guys as big as him.I think.
“Sky, are you sure you should do this?” Ander’s glove-covered hand squeezes my forearm tightly. Worry shines brightly in his gaze. He doesn’t want me to do it, but he doesn’t know my wrestling background either.
“It’s fine. I got this.”
The uncertainty flickering in his eyes makes me want to prove everyone in this room who doubts mewrong.
“Best two out of three! Five-minute rounds. No face hits. Arrow, set the clock,” Coach shouts, pointing at a dark-haired Fae who shoots a spark of electricity out of his fingers, starting the timer on the gym wall.
“Ready. Set.Fight!”
I’m distracted by Arrow’s Air magic and don’t see the heavy punch to my gut, making me double over as the air is whooshed out of my lungs.
Fucking Banks.That sonofabitch.
I turn, stumbling away from him as I attempt to catch my breath.
“Sky!” Ander shouts, but it’s too late. The oversized coward kicks me straight in the back, sending me flying face-first to the ground.
Oof.
I roll over, coughing as I kick out at his thigh, making contact and causing him to clutch at it and grit his teeth. Banks dives on top of me, pinning my body with his massive weight and stopping any further attacks.
How can fairies be so fuckinglarge? I groan, trying to heave him off of me.
Banks straddles me as I continue to resist, squirming underneath him. My thick hair slips back as I dodge an illegal blow to the ear, and his meaty fist grazes the tender cartilage.
I hiss out in pain, covering my ear and blocking any more hits.
Banks gasps in shock. “Your ear.”
I use his surprise to my advantage and buck my hips, propelling him off of me. I hop to my feet and spin around, the class cheering behind me. We circle each other like two apex predators fighting over territory.
