Page 74 of Sweet Violence
He certainly couldn't stay at the base of the bed. That was where I planned on getting very, very lucky.
"You'd make a decent football," I mused, but shook my head. No, far too heavy. "I'll think of something, don't worry."
I patted the top of the head on my way out the door. I needed a damn shower.
24
When my new friends said Izan let them run wild, I hadn't pictured that included drills. But here I was, sandwiched between X in front and Joseph behind, slamming my foot into the ground like a good little soldier and awaiting further instructions. Miraculously, X hadn’t started any trouble this morning. I was proud of him.
Sweat soaked through my shirt an hour ago, and every breath was a wheeze. And I was in shape, dammit! I might have taken a break to visit Orchid Vale, but I trained every day in London. This training nightmare made me look like a slob.1
Giving up already, babygirl?Dev's low voice rippled through my head, making me jump as the drill bastard barked to march forward—and backwards—and forward again. He had a grin on his dark green face the whole time, enjoying taunting us.
You try not giving up when you've walked back and forth so many times in the past hour, you could be in Tokyo by now,I huffed, even my mental voice out of fucking breath.
It's beentwohours, actually,Dev replied.
I growled wordlessly, and glared at the dark green fucker training us. If he'd seen the look on my face, he'd have dragged me out of the formation and punished me, but I no longer cared. I'd strangle him—problem solved. It would certainly boost my mood.
But I made Joseph swear not to kill anyone today. I couldn’t break my own rule.
I want to skip to the fun parts,I whined.
You're on the right track, babygirl,Dev replied.Just dig a little further. I want you to get close to Izan.
Hell, no. I'm not jumping on his crusty dick, not even for you—
His dark laugh filled my head, making it hard to concentrate on drawing up fire when the drill bastard shouted for magic.I meant earn his approval. Or break into his office; whichever presents itself first.
Can do,I agreed, and closed my fingers into a fist to extinguish the fire. Which didn't extinguish.
Ah. Shit.
I shook my hand subtly by my side, ignoring X's low chuckle. It wasn't my fault this courtyard was full of violence, empowering me until my magic was eager and greedy to be used.
Down, I mentally snarled, and the fire finally winked out. Some dick in the line next to me smirked but I ignored him. His days were numbered if Joseph spotted the sneer, too.
"March!" Drill Bastard yelled, his eyes zeroing in on someone in the back of the formation when he groaned in frustration. "You! Out!"
Wow. He must have loved the sound of his own voice, because he never stopped yelling. I wanted to exchange a look with X, but I didn't want to draw the dickhead’s wrath. I wanted a nap. And a banquet; my breakfast was long gone.
There's too much training in this training hall,I groused.
Think of massacring these people later,Dev coached calmly.
Later, when I had energy. I imagined their skin turning dark and mottled, blood pooling in their faces as I choked off their oxygen.
"Again!" Drill Bastard yelled, and this time I was the one who almost groaned. My arms were going to drop off from lifting them, wreathing my fingers with fire, and dropping them back to my sides. And my legs were quickly becoming jellified.
I wheezed through the last march forward, march back, march forward, march back, draw magic, extinguish magic, march forward, march back. Jesus fuck, this was tedious. Dev better pay me handsomely for this. I didn't want to rent a private island; I wanted toownone.
When the Drill Bastard announced we were done, I was one false move away from flopping gracelessly on the ground with a moan. Say what you will about serial killers, but at least no one ever made me run drills.2
Joseph snuck an arm around me from behind, holding me up as I went weak and wobbly, and I gratefully leaned back into his warmth.
"So what now?" X asked as the formation began dismantling, every bit as wobbly on his feet as I was. Drill Bastard watched us with a keen eye, however. Me, especially.
Oh, goody. My reputation seemed to have preceded me.
