Page 71 of Failed State

“I thought that was starting a land war in Asia,” Stormbringer mumbles as he rakes his hands through his golden locks. “Alright. Don’t irritate Vicious is rule number one—got it.”

The vampire taps his fingertips against his lips, looking thoughtful. “Seems like that rule is rather open to interpretation. I’m not sure it’s an achievable goal.”

“Maybe for you, fang face. The others might be able to do it,” she counters. “I like this points thing. I might just keep it. It’s like a demerit system for jackasses.”

I groan softly and she whirls around to look at me reproachfully. My smile is sheepish when our eyes meet. “Syd, I’m not saying it’simpossible, but I am saying it’s not really an objective measurement. You can be a little… volatile sometimes.”

“Ten point deduction for you, Thaddy. Nice job canceling out your victory, man.”

We all look at one another over her head, our expressions equally grim as the ding of the elevator announces the bottom level. Huck moves aside, letting Sydney walk past him with her head held high, then shrugs. “Looks like we hoisted ourselves by our petards, gentleman. This should be interesting.”

ROLL TIDE, BABY

SYDNEY

“Be faster,Calvin. Get those feet moving!”

I wink at Thad when Brick yells at him, then duck the punch he throws in frustration. “He’s right, you know. You need to work on foot speed for hand-to-hand when you aren’t shifted.”

The bear growls in irritation and I dance away, moving out of range, so he has to follow me. Thad and Huck have sparred with me many times during the past several years, which I told our professors. We’re all too familiar with one another’s moves, and it’s obvious when we’re able to anticipate what’s coming next.

“Thad, switch with Whitmore. You two are doing more circling than landing blows. That won’t help anyone.”

Thank fuck Lancaster sees it; I need to be challenged if I don’t have supe powers yet.

The vampire strolls over slowly, bare-chested in low slung black joggers and sneakers. I swallow hard as my eyes rake over his muscled yet lithe form up to his red eyes. Of course, he’s bone dry, unlike the rest of us, because his kind doesn’t sweat. It’s unfair as fuck and I hate him just a little more for it. “You won’t be fast enough.”

I snort, getting into position as he switches with Thad. The bear looks disgruntled as he moves to take Sebastian’s place with Rory, and I don’t blame him. Rory is quick for a decent-sized guy, and he definitely has had some formal training. He’s not as good as Sebastian or Elias, but he’s good competition. “That remains to be?—”

Before I can finish, Sebastian has me pinned to a wall with his hand on my throat gently. Our bodies are pressed together in a way that’s absolutely sinful, and I look at him indignantly as he smirks. One brow arches as he says, “You were saying?”

“That’s cheating. You didn’t even call it,” I growl as I try to ignore the throbbing in my body as his frame grips mine.

Rolling his eyes, the vampire flashes a fang, licking it with a smug glee. “Enemies in the Games willnotwarn you before they attack, Sydney. Fairness is not mandated in our world, and the other players willnotbehave with honor.”

I hate when this asshole is right.

“Fine,” I grit out as I push at his chest. The skin under my palms is cool, but the muscles are firm as fuck. It makes me heat up from head to toe, and I glare when he doesn’t let go. “Let me go and we’ll go again, dickface.”

Sebastian chuckles, his expression still full of pleased egotism as he looks me in the eye with his crimson stare. “You’re not scared. That’s interesting.”

Definitely not frightened, but I’m sure as hell not telling himwhatI’m feeling in this position. “Of course not. We’re just sparring, Whitmore.”

His fingers flex against the column of my neck, squeezing a tiny bit until I feel the pressure. “Not even now?”

I can’t respond; I’m too busy tamping down my response, so I just give him a dirty look. When he finally lets go, I give his chest another shove and move away. “You’re such an asshole. Idon’t know how you stand yourself, much less how anyone else does.”

“Oh, I have skills people enjoy,” he drawls as he wanders back into the sparring area slowly. “They more than make up for my occasionally abrasive behavior.”

Somehow, I believe him, but he doesn’t need to know that.

“Let’s go again,” I reply as I drop into my stance again. “And this time, let me work up to your stupid vampire tricks. I’ll get there if you actually work with me.”

“I highly doubt that,” he counters as he grins. “But we can try.”

Now it’s a challenge and I’ll get there if it kills me.

By the time the class is over, I feel like overcooked spaghetti. That damn bloodsucker stayed with me the entire fucking time, pushing me past every limit I thought I had. He was intent on driving me up the goddamn wall with his taunts and lack of exhaustion. Worse than that, he successfully beat me so many times that a lesser person with no pent-up fury would have given up. I, however, let the eruption of heat he made simmer inside my body with every one of his purposefully intimate dominations fuel me to continue fighting back.

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