I tried to pay attention to the words he spoke, but what had me enraptured was the sound, the sight, and my own stupidity replaying over and over again in my mind.

  Not only did I use foul language against a teacher, I’d shoved against him and yelled.

  The professors at this Academy were already looking for an excuse for me to quit, already shoving me aside and hoping for me to fail. I could see it in their eyes, and now I’d given them just what they needed to make it happen.

  How would Professor Elara go about it? Would he humiliate me publicly? Would he go to Headmaster Xafer and tell him I was mentally unstable? I wouldn’t blame him if he did.

  I’d broken my aunt’s most important rule. I’d lost my temper in the face of adversity instead of taking calming breaths and plastering on a smile. I’d exploded.

  I couldn’t do that again.

  I doubted I’d even get the opportunity again. Not when my bags would probably be packed by the end of the day.

  “Pair up!” Professor Elara ordered.

  His voice relegated immediate command.

  My limbs were slow to move, slow to stand, but Maksim pulled me close. “If we pair up,” he whispered close to my ear, “promise not to kick my ass again?”

  I tried to force a smile, but I froze when Professor Elara’s eyes found my figure from across the room. That electric gaze seemed to pierce something inside of me, like he was gauging, wrenching my whole soul out with a single look.

  I forced my gaze away, licking my parched lips. My tongue felt heavy and my throat felt tight.

  “Cal, you okay?”

  “Um... yeah…”

  I wasn’t. I was the first female to ever attend the Academy, and probably the first student to ever get kicked out on the first day as well.

  “Her Majesty looks scared shitless.”

  My attention snapped up, everything else seeming to fade away at the sound of that recognizable voice.

  Your Majesty.

  Angry eyes met mine, the eyes of death and war. Great. Just what I needed, for him to come and collect what Maksim had promised.

  “What’s wrong, princess?” Vitas sneered.

  Ambrose’s second year friend. The way he slew those words at me made me pause, cocking my head to the side.

  He’d been the one to kick the papers from my hands, to shove me to the ground.

  Rage built up anew and I tried to control it before it controlled me.

  Lessons my father and aunt had given me seemed to mix together, interweaving themselves over one another as if they'd been meant for this moment and more.

  Do not let your emotions rule you; it will make you blind and stupid.

  True words for both battle and society.

  “Back off.” Ambrose appeared at our other side, pressing a palm against the big brute’s shoulder to give him a light shove away from me.

  He sneered at Ambrose. “Are the two of you protecting her because she’s spreading her legs for the both of you?” His eyes flashed. “It’s only the first day. You sure work fast.” He prowled closer, a single step bringing him almost face to face with me, even though he was taller. “Will you spread your legs for me too?”

  Oh, gag.

  What a beast.

  “Is there a problem here?" Professor Elara’s voice was suddenly close. So close, I felt the heat of him, of the words, of his very presence at my back. I fought back a shiver and turned.

  He loomed behind me, his arms crossed against his chest and a strict expression crossing his features as he took in the scene before him.

  “None at all,” Maksim said hurriedly.

  Ambrose agreed.

  I almost swallowed my tongue.

  “No problem at all, Professor,” Vitas smirked. “Calliope here commented on how much self-defense her father has taught her and wants to demonstrate her knowledge against me.”

  Shut UP.

  I wanted to reach across the space that separated us and punch him straight in the nose.

  “Is this true?” Professor Elara looked at me. His gaze was daring, like he wanted me to back down, like he didn’t believe I could take that big brute down at all.

  I wasn’t even sure if I believed I could or not, but I was my father’s daughter after all. Which meant the blood that threaded through my veins was as stubborn as his and just as prideful.

  I sized Vitas up. My father had taught me how to go against someone of his girth. My father was bigger than he was, and he’d given me the tools I needed to take him down.

  I could do it.

  I think.

  I swallowed and squared my shoulders. “Exactly right,” I answered with confidence.

  Ambrose’s eyes widened. “Calliope?”

  I ignored him and stepped closer to Vitas. “I would like to go against you.”

  Because the only way to shut him up was to publicly humiliate him. Just like he’d publicly humiliated me.

  Professor Elara snorted, a soft sound possibly of disbelief. I couldn’t quite tell.

  “Clear the floor!” he called out. “It looks like we have our first demonstration.”

  Everyone gathered around in a circle, with Vitas and I in the center. Enough space lay between us, and I gauged it, calculating how many steps it would take for him to come before me; how much space lay between life and death, win and fail, my pride and his.

  The answer was seven.

  He bounced on the tips of his sandaled feet eagerly, staring at me like he meant to claim my life. He moved his hands, snapping his wrists and cracking his neck from side to side.

  He was big, bulky, which meant he was probably slow.

  He leered at me, calling out lewd comments and nicknames.

  I could use speed to my advantage, just like my father had taught me when facing a bigger opponent.

  “Maybe if you beg, I’ll even fuck you nice and good.”

  Strike hard and strike fast. His weakness was that he underestimated me, and that would be his downfall.

  “Or do you only spread your legs for pureblood families like the Tallis boys?”

  I drowned out his irritating voice, took a breath.

  “We can do without the lewd commentary, Mister Lazos.” Professor Elara sounded bored.

  I avoided the urge I had to turn and look at him. I wanted to see his expression, but he didn’t matter. Not in this moment. In this moment, no one mattered but my opponent and me.

  He practically salivated at the mouth with his eagerness.

  Another reason for his downfall.

  “Begin.”

  That fierce command from the professor had Vitas shooting towards me, but I’d predicted his moves from the position of his body and the eager thrumming of his energy. He launched himself straight at me with a raised fist.

  Because I was a female, I was delicate, and he didn’t believe me capable of having fighting skills. And he wanted to dominate. He wanted to break me.

  I ducked just as his fist came hurtling straight towards me. He hit empty air where my face should have been and stumbled as I rolled across the floor and shot up to my feet behind him.

  I struck. Hard and fast against the side of his temple before jerking back, away from him as he whirled. His meaty fist tried to connect against me.

  Sloppy, sloppy.

  Was this how the Academy trained the future Sons?

  Disgraceful.

  He stormed towards me; I feinted left and he reached, but I angled right and jumped back at the last moment, landing another well-placed blow against the side of his face.

  His eyes widened with surprise, and I could feel the force of his rage like the palpable thing that it was.

  Dangerous. A man with too much anger was dangerous.

  But he was also stupid.

  And unpredictable.

  With a roar of rage, he dove for me, and I didn’t see it coming until it was too late. He knocked me to the ground, his big body crushing mine against the floor. The wind was knocked from my lungs and my eyes watered.

  I was pinned, trapped.

  Panic threatened to choke me, but I shoved it out.

  I’d been in this position before, and I knew just what to do.

  Because the stupid bastard had left my arms free.

  His mistake, not mine.

  I reached for his neck. Such a massive neck compared to my tiny hands.

  He laughed. “Choking me?” His own hand curved up my sides lecherously and up the skin of my neck. He pressed down. “Go ahead.” He leaned down near my mouth. “I like it rough.”

  My fingers closed around a spot on his neck and squeezed. A smile touched my mouth. “Don’t worry,” I replied. “So do I.” I pressed down and his eyes widened...

  Just before he fainted on top of me.

  Using all the strength I had, I shoved him off of my body. “They’re called pressure points, jackass.” I grunted as I stood. Pain pressed against my neck where he’d grabbed me and down my spine where I’d slammed into the ground.

  It didn’t matter.

  What mattered was the look of every single man’s expression as I turned to face them. They ranged from disbelief to impressed. All but Professor Elara, whose eyes remained impassive as a marble statue.

  His eyes flicked up to my face. “Class dismissed. Take that embarrassment from my classroom and throw him into the infirmary.”

  Vitas’s friends, who I assumed had been accomplices in shoving me, hurried forward to haul his limp body up and drag him away.

  I hadn’t realized I was breathing heavily until Maksim came close to me and wrapped me in a fierce hug. “Badass,” he whispered. “You are a badass wrapped in a flowery package.”

  Ambrose stared at me like I held up all the stars in the sky for a moment. He shook his head back and forth. He didn’t say anything at all to me; but he did hand me my bag like it was an offering of peace and friendship.

  I took it with a soft smile and started to turn and stalk away with them. I’d done it. I’d bested that asshole and hopefully had gained respect by doing so. We neared the door to leave when Professor Elara’s cutting voice stopped me in my tracks.

  “Calliope Solandis, a word if you please.” It wasn’t framed like a question but was spoken with hard deference.

  I turned to find a tight smile pulling at his lips. He was leaning over his desk, his fists pressed into the wood, and he wasn’t looking at me at all.

  “Think you’re in trouble?” Maksim whispered conspiratorially.

  Shit loads of it.

  “Go ahead.” I jerked my head towards the door. “I’ll catch up.”

  I didn’t approach Professor Elara’s desk until Maksim and Ambrose were gone. Even when I did, I did so slowly, my heart pounding erratically in my chest. This was the moment he ripped through me. For cussing him out, for showing off in his class.

  This was the moment my fate was determined.

  I swallowed, looked into his eyes, and prayed to Triton for the best.

  Chapter Twelve

  Zathrian

  She looked as frightened as a deer caught in front of a hunter’s arrow. It wasn’t a pleasant sight, as I was not one to enjoy the pain of others, or even their fear. Not when it wasn’t warranted, anyway.

  I knew what she was probably thinking, and I probably should have put her mind at ease, told her she was safe... for now. I couldn’t seem to form the words. My tongue felt heavy in my mouth, and she looked...

  Vulnerable, regretful.

  Slowly I unfurled my fists, laying my palms gently over the rosewood surface of my table that had always seemed too small. It seemed infinitely smaller now. She was pressed close to the edge, her bodice grazing across the wood, her hair pooling over it as she hunched slightly.

  Was she trying to look pathetic, demure, or did that come naturally to her?

  I pushed myself away from the table and took a step back, crossing my arms against my chest. “Hard first day?” My voice was gentle yet authoritative.

  She blinked and looked up at me. Strands of her hair fell across her cheeks tantalizingly.

  She cleared her throat. “Professor Elara, I would like to apologize for snapping at you in the hall. I had no idea who you were and—”

  I waved her words off with a flick of my hand before lowering myself into the seat across from her.

  “Mister Lazos seemed to have it out for you. Why?”

  She swallowed, and I watched the delicate workings of her throat. Delicate and deadly. She had outmaneuvered a student three times her size with perfect grace; like a seasoned warrior who had already seen battle. The teachings of her father, one of the greatest generals in all of Atlantis, I was assuming.

  I leaned forward. “Your answer will decide your fate. I want honesty.”

  Her eyes flashed, and for a moment, I wondered what she was thinking. I even had the weirdest desire to be inside her mind and read those violent, precious thoughts.

  “There is not much to tell, Professor.”

  My eyes narrowed. “So, you’re a liar.”

  She winced. “I’d prefer to omit the truth. I won’t be deemed a whiner or an accuser on top of everything else I’ve been labeled today.”

  A smile curled at my lips. “That is a good answer.” I didn’t need to read her mind to determine what had happened. Vitas was a foul-tempered student; it was obvious she’d been baited into fighting, and she’d proved herself beautifully.

  I made a mental note to keep an eye on him and gruel him harder in our training.

  The results of that fight, while enjoyable, had also been unacceptable. Not because she was a woman, but because she was a first year and he a second.

  It was as if all my training from last year had gone through one ear and straight to shit out of the other.

  “Professor Elara…”

  I almost closed my eyes against the sound of her name leaving her lips, the soft sigh she gave at the end of the word. El-ar-uh. It was like the softest of music. I resisted the urge. “Yes, Miss Solandis?”

  “Am I in trouble? I really am sorry I snapped at you. My day has been literal hell. Every professor and student here has marginalized me and treated me like an incompetent fool.”

  “Noted.”

  “It was unladylike of me to do such a thing, and I promise you it will not happen again.”

  I was as new to the Academy as she was, having been working here for two years, but living the life of a Son of Triton ensured that I’d heard worse than whatever language she’d decided to slew at me in the hallway. It didn’t matter.

  “You aren’t in any trouble, Miss Solandis. On the contrary, I wanted to see how you were faring on your first day and commend you on excellent defensive techniques. Perhaps it’ll inspire the other students to work a little harder.”

  She blinked, and I wondered if she was surprised. Definitely. I knew how cruel men were, how they treated women, how they believed women deserved to be treated.

  “I’m... not in trouble?”

  My eyebrows rose. “Do you want to be?”

  She shook her head, causing the strands of her hair to sway against her face. “No, sir.”

  I cringed. “Don’t call me sir. Makes me feel old. I’m only twenty-six.”

  “Pretty young to be teaching at the Academy.” The words came out almost cheeky.

  I smirked. “I have friends in high places. Now, I suggest you get back to your dorm.” My eyes strayed to the bulging bag filled with books and papers and narrowed. “It looks like you have a lot of essays to write.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Vitas

  There was no sensation quite like the humiliation of waking up in the infirmary with blurry vision and fury twisting your gut.

  I felt it all. It rose and mingled inside me, demanding retribution.

  That little fucking bitch.

  One blow to her jaw and I’d knock her out. That’s what I’d thought. Maksim was such a damn loudmouth, I thought he’d been overestimating her abilities all because he was fucking her. But she was good, and it hurt to admit that even if it was just to myself.

  It was because she was the daughter of a general. She knew what to do with her fucking hands.

  I sat up in the infirmary with a groan. All the beds were empty, and everything was quiet. Good. I didn’t need anyone else to witness my embarrassment, even though I knew word would be getting around already.

  Vitas Lazos was bested by the first female in history to attend Triton’s Academy.

  I threw my legs over the side of the small bed and stood up, flexing my muscles over my head.

  What had failed? I replayed the scene over and over again in my mind. I’d underestimated the bitch, and that had been my first mistake.

  But her first and last would be thinking she could ever fucking cross me.

  A smile splayed on my lips as I walked out of the insufferable room.

  If she thought her little show of strength would dissuade me from taking what I fucking wanted, then she had another thing coming.

  I had my pride.

  And I wouldn’t let this stand.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Calliope

  I spent all night writing the essays to finish them on time. I didn’t crawl beneath my sheets until it was nearly dawn, and when the sun finally rose high in the sky, I stumbled out of bed on wobbly legs. My eyes were halfway squeezed shut, and my every limb was groggy and sluggish. I yawned, rubbing the back of my hand against my eyelids as I made my way to the bathing room door.

  Lazy palms pushed the door opened and I stepped through. A blast of steam shrouded around me, slowly awakening my senses. When my eyes opened fully, I froze. Entirely out of fear as I took in the sight of Rafe.

  Big Rafe.

  Big, strong, muscular Rafe.

  Big, strong, muscular, naked Rafe.

  Big strong, muscular, naked, handsome Rafe.

  My brain refused to comply because I was too busy staring.

 

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