Page 45 of Knot What She Seems
The answer, surprisingly, comes from Teddie, whose quiet voice cuts through the air like the crack of a whip.
Ridge’s eyebrows lift, but I can’t tell if he’s annoyed or impressed.
“It seems someone has done more than played with his tiny cock during his lessons,” Ridge muses. Some of the alphas chuckle, though the majority remain perfectly still, awaiting further instruction.
“Awww. Don’t say that to my man Teddie.” Kylian materializes directly beside the prince and slings an arm around his shoulders. Teddie winces nearly imperceptibly as Kylian’s dark arm squeezes the prince’s pale neck like a boa constrictor, and I have to bite down on my grin. It seems as if the little bastard got hurt during our last class. Can’t say I’m too disappointed. “I’m sure he was able to fiddle with his microdickandlisten during the lessons.”
Teddie’s cheeks begin to turn red, and his eyes flash with rage.
But still, he remains silent.
Kylian simply laughs, releases the prince, and moves toward the front of the clearing, standing shoulder to shoulder with Ridge.
“Theodore is right,” Ridge says, apparently deciding that he’s had enough of making fun of the shorter man. “A lot of times, when you’re on the defensive, you don’t have time to create and implement a strategy. You’re simply reacting. However, when you’re on the offensive, you’re able to assess and analyze the threat at hand.” A wicked grin curves up his lips. “Which brings me to your end-of-semester assignment—and the only thing you’ll be graded on.”
Anxious murmurings ripple through the assembled alphas.
“Over the course of this semester, we’ll teach you how to pick out weaknesses in your opponents and how to utilize that information to your advantage. Then, on the last day of class, you’ll face the ultimate challenge.” The smile that spreads over Ridge’s face then would make a lesser man piss himself. “Colter, come on out.”
The largest member of our group lumbers out of the academy, his mask firmly in place, only his eyes visible. His huge muscles flex as he levels a glare at the pale-faced runts staring back at him.
“You’ll each step into the ring with Colter for five minutes,” Ridge says, smirking. “You don’t have to defeat him, but youwillhave to survive with no more than two broken bones.”
Kylian laughs uproariously, throwing his head back, and I feel my own lips twitch.
Ridge claps his hands together, a mischievous glimmer in his eyes. I suppose if we’re forced to be here, we may as well have fun with it. And what’s more fun than torturing a bunch of young, bright-eyed, hopeful alphas?
“Let’s get started.”
* * *
After Offensive Training,I head to the cafeteria. Eros Academy has a large selection of food, but most of it is so healthy I feel as if I’m walking through a fucking meadow. There’s greeneverywhere. I’m not complaining too much—I’ve been telling my team for years that we have to eat healthier—but would it kill them to put out a brownie or something sweet?
All of the students are still in class, so it’s just me and a handful of instructors. Kylian himself is teaching a firearm class with the help of Ridge, and Colter has retreated to our cottage.
I grab a pre-packaged salad and two grilled chicken breasts, my nose wrinkling when I see a brown spot on one of the leaves, and then claim a seat near the back of the room.
As soon as I’m seated, I pull out the file Kylian managed to snag from the headmaster’s office. I’ve just started reading over the contents when a shadow looms over the table.
With perfect ease, I slide the file closed and offer a feigned smile at the newcomers, though it quickly turns genuine when I see who’s here.
“Brock? What are you doing here?” I thought I’d perfected hiding my emotions over the years, but I can’t help the shock that seeps into my voice. I haven’t seen my old friend in…ages.
Brock and his alphas both attended the academy at the same time as me and my team. Our two groups quickly became close. However, my unit moved to the front lines, while Brock’s stayed within the safety of our borders. His father, a close friend of the queen herself, would never put his son in harm’s way.
I don’t blame Brock for that. If anything, I envy him. It would be nice to have someone vouch for my team the way his father did his.
Jamie stands on one side of Brock, nervously scraping a hand through his white-blond hair, but I don’t see their third and final member.
Brock smirks and throws himself into the chair opposite me. Jamie quickly steals the one beside him.
“Last I heard, you guys were up north making peace with Tutla,” I continue, speaking of one of the other countries that border Hypso. We actually have a pretty good relationship with Tutla, though their president refuses to help us in the war with Nóthos. He claims that it’s not his duty to involve his people in a war that doesn’t concern him. Can’t blame him, but it would be nice to have those resources at our disposal.
“We came down for…reasons.” Brock waggles his eyebrows suggestively, a grin tugging up his lips.
“Wait.” I frown as understanding dawns. “An omega? You’ve left Tutla for anomega?” I recline back in my chair and fold my arms over my chest. “What happened to living the single life?” When I first met the three of them, they were the biggest players I’d ever known. They only had a few serious relationships that I can think of—with an omega named Maverick, which lasted for only a few months and then with a beta named Tina. Both relationships ended horribly, and the alphas swore off “love” and “flowers” and all of that romantic shit forever.
“Let me guess.” I tap my fingers against the edge of the table as a smirk dances across my face. “Your daddy called and asked for you to procreate?”
