Page 35 of Dissent

Wynters glared at Wes, taking several steps toward him. “I’m not putting up with any of yourshittoday, Calvernon. You got that?” He brought his face right into Wes’s, eliminating the space between them. “Now, you’re going to follow orders like the good little rich boy you are, got it?”

Wes’s face hardened, looking like a totally pissed off—andgorgeous—chiseled statue. “No.”

They stared at one another for an intense few seconds before Wynters shoved Wes back once, twice, again, until he walked him away from us. My heart quickened as Wes’s face grew colder, meaner. I thought for sure he was going to punch Wynters, but he didn’t. Not yet, anyway. He allowed Wynters to pull him away from us, far enough away that when they started arguing, we couldn’t hear much of it. Every once in a while, they pointed in our direction—mydirection—making no mistake that they were arguing about me.

I felt a gentle bump on my shoulder and looked to see Matias. The softness in his eyes was endearing. “You okay?”

My eyes met his, and I felt that increasingly familiar warmth grow within. He had the most wonderful shade of brown eyes, deep and rich. Eyes I could lose myself in. “Yeah,” I sighed, jerking my chin toward Wes. “I just can’t figure out how to get him tonothate me, you know?” I looked back at Matias.

Matias looked past me at the argument. “He doesn’t hate you, Mara. He’s just…he’s trying to figure out his own stuff, but he’ll get over it. Try not to let him bother you.”

“Easy foryouto say. You’re not the one with a target on your back and assigned to train with the leader of the pitchforked mob that wants you dead.”

He laughed. “Pitchforked mob? Is that a Telvian thing?”

God his smile was charming, and sweet—so gentle and enveloping. I couldn’t help but smile back. “Classics? Ever read any of the classics, likeFrankenstein?” The look of confusion told me everything. “What! Forreal?”

He shrugged his shoulders, smile still firmly in place. “When you grow up training for the rebellion, reading isn’t really at the top of the list.”

“You don’t read?”

“Icanread. I just don’t have time for it.”

“Oh.”

He leaned in close to me, his lips almost brushing my ears. And when he spoke, his voice was low, deep, and decadent. “By the way, you look hot in that jumpsuit.”

Wow!

If I thought I was hot before, I was burning up now. I could feel my cheeks radiating like a furnace while a shiver raced up my spine.

“Playtime’s over kids,” Wynters hollered as he came back.

I jumped, startled by the intrusion, feeling very self-conscious of my outfit and the look of mortified embarrassment that was blasted on my face. Matias chuckled lightly as he bit his bottom lip.

“Now that Calvernon has had an attitude adjustment, it’s time to get to work. Mara, follow the rich boy and get going. Matias will find you when it’s time for marksmanship.”

My eyes instantly fell to Wes, who I swore looked as though he was about to explode. He scowled, and without saying a word, he turned on his heels and headed back toward the training center. Trepidation filled every inch of me.

How could this day have gotten worse?

Matias gave me a quick wink and an encouraging smile. “I’ll find you later. Don’t worry, it’ll be okay.”

I gulped. Easy forhimto say. He wasn’t about to enter a wrestling match with a dude that hated his guts. This was going to suck.

***

The gym was more like a large, empty room. Mats lined the floor, creating a padded space for training. Much to my chagrin, Wes and I were completely alone. The realization that anything could happen to me, and no one would even hear me scream, caused my arms to break out in gooseflesh as my insides went ice cold.

Wes kicked off his shoes and stepped onto the mat, facing me standing in the doorway. “Well? What are you waiting for? Let’s get this shit over with.” Unsure of what he expected me to do, angst curled up in my core. “Let’sgo,” he growled.

“All right!Jeez, you don’t have to be such anassabout it.” I might fear him, but he didn’t need to know that. I held my head up high and stepped toward the mat. Guessing he wanted me to join him, I followed his lead, taking off my shoes and stepping onto the pad.

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Okay, we’re going to start with basic defense. I’m going to grab you, and you show me what you’ve got.”

“What I’ve got?What does that—” I never got the chance to finish. Before I knew what was happening, he had his arms wrapped around my neck, flipping me backwards, up and over, and then I was flat on my back, staring at the ceiling as his large, powerful hands gripped my neck. Pressure pushed down on my windpipe as my eyes grew wide. My hands instinctively flew to his wrists, gripping them, trying to push them away as the pressure intensified. He scowled and panic surged within me as memories of the river flashed across my mind. I opened my mouth to scream, to beg for life, to speak sense into him, but then…he let go. His hand gripped my wrist and pulled me up as he stepped back. I was on my feet, relief washing over me as the panic slowly subsided.

“Again.”

---