Taking orders from a woman...

I jumped the fence just in time to brush my teeth and pull on the gray uniform. Life couldn’t get any more boring. Then the yells began. I grinned and gave Kara a quick wink.

We got breakfast and took our usual seats. Sienna was there, scratching at her blisters until her skin looked raw.

I dumped my tray and walked past her table. I stopped, then turned around.

"Try me again, and you won’t wake up." I flashed teeth. "Sweet dreams."

Anger burned under my skin, hot and restless. I had nowhere to put it.

Kara smirked as she watched Sienna scratch herself.

Good. She deserved it, especially with that pretty face of hers.

Only six more months and I’d be free. But then what?

"Victoria," Kara cut in, "where the hell have you been?"

I listed off the day’s crap, classes, drills, and all the academy’s boring routines.

"Victoria?" Kara’s tone lowered. "You kissed him?"

"Yeah. And…"

"You like him?" She sounded almost wounded.

"Kara, we’ve talked about this." I sighed. "I like guys. What we have is fun, but it’s not forever." The words came across as bitter the moment I said them. We fooled around, but Kara cared more. "Sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you."

"No, you’re right." She shrugged, acting excessively casual. "You were clear from the start."

"It’s not about choices," I said, snorting. "I’m still a virgin. Maybe it’s time to change that."

"Victoria, don’t," Kara’s eyes narrowed. "You’re pissed."

"You have no idea."

Weapons class.

Perfect. I could finally let out some frustration, I thought.

Then Balthazar walked in. He was the academy lead, always stern, probably in his mid-forties, and looked like he hadn’t smiled in years. He brought in a cart full of wooden sticks, thankfully not sharp.

I glanced at Kara. What was going on?

“You,” he pointed to some woman, “and you,” to Kara. Then his look fell on me. We stared each other down for a solid second.

“It’s all in the posture and core,” Balthazar barked. “Pay attention.” He threw a stick to each of them.

“Read your opponent, predict their next move. That’s the goal,” he continued.

It looked brutal and probably hurt. But I already knew how to use a stick, thanks to Drystan. I’d bugged him until he finally taught me. I smiled at the memory.

“Victoria, you’re up,” Balthazar said, tossing a stick my way.

I glanced at my partner. He grabbed a stick. “You, sir?” I asked.

Balthazar smiled. First time. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

He charged, and I blocked. Watch him, I told myself, look for his weakness. He attacked again, and I blocked most of it, but one hit caught my shoulder. Pain shot through my heart, and anger flared up. Drystan always said anger messes with your focus.

I moved back and noticed his left leg was always in front; he was lefty. Perfect. I lunged and hit his right ribs with my stick.

"You’ve got quick hands, Victoria,” Balthazar said, eyeing me. “But this isn’t your first rodeo with a stick, is it?”

“No, sir,” I replied flatly.

“You,” he pointed to Sylvia, “pair up with her.” He came closer to me, softening his voice. “Tighten your core, Victoria. You’ve got this.”

Sylvia was tough; I’d seen her fight before. But even a five-foot stick could take down someone twice your size. Maybe I was exaggerating, but it felt true.

I watched her movements, zeroing in on her right knee. One hard strike and she was down; my stick aimed at her face.

Balthazar appeared behind me. “Hit her,” he ordered. “You’ve got to show strength, or they’ll tear you apart.”

I wavered, then turned to him. “It’s just practice, sir. I’m not going to hurt her.”

He looked at my neck, his face turning confused. He’d seen my birthmark, a perfect circle, almost like a brand.

"Alright, that’s enough for today," he said sharply. "Dismissed." He left the room before I could react.

“Kara,” I said, grabbing her arm. “Cover for me. I’ve got to go.”

I climbed the fence and ran into the forest.

Thane was waiting for me, still limping but looking better. He smiled when I got close.

“Victoria,” he said, extending out to touch my face. “How am I ever going to repay you?”

"You don’t owe me anything, Thane. Sit down and eat. I need to change your bandage. Take your pants off."

He laughed, low and rough. "Taking orders from a woman…"

"Got a problem with that?" I answered, smiling.

"First time for everything," he said, pulling me closer. His lips touched mine, soft at first, then deeper. I kissed him back, wanting that rush of feeling alive. But then guilt turned in my stomach, like I was double-crossing Drystan.

"You’re feeling guilty," Thane murmured, pulling back just enough to meet my eyes.

"I shouldn’t," I said, focusing on unwrapping his old bandage.

"Who took your heart and broke it?" he asked, his speech quiet.

"I’m not weak," I told myself, but the tears still came. I wiped them away, angry at myself.

"Thane, I don’t want to talk about it. He left me. He’s not worth my tears." I looked at his stitches. "Hey," I said, forcing a smile, "they look good."

"You’re something else," he said, his hand stroking my cheek. "People see you and think fragile, but you’re a force not to be messed with.

My face grew warm as I finished wrapping the new bandage. When I was done, he put his arm around me and pulled me close. His lips touched my neck, his breath warm on my skin. He breathed in deeply, like he was trying to remember my scent.

"Ever done this before?" he uttered, his voice husky.

"Yeah," I lied, then added, "Well, with a girl."

He paused and pulled back a little. "With a girl," he repeated, lifting an eyebrow. "Should I keep going?"

I didn’t answer.

"Your body," he said as his hand slid under my shirt, "is telling me yes."

"Thane," I spoke quietly as his hand moved lower, "don’t stop."

His kisses turned desperate, hungry. He lay me down, wincing as he shifted to get on top of me. "Fuck," he mumbled under his breath.

His lips moved down my body, stopping just above my navel. He took off my pants. My mind races. Did I really want this, or am I just mad at Drystan?

"I won’t," Thane said, as if he could read my mind. His mouth moved to my thigh, finding the spot that made me gasp. I could feel his arousal lying against my leg. He moved on me, his lips caressing my nipple while he touched me. My body shivered as I gave in, my hand stretching for him, helping him lose control.

"Victoria," he said, breath heated against me

After a while, he said, "Come with me. Leave this place.

"Thane," I spoke softly, my hand on his face, "I want to, but I can’t."

"You still think he’ll come back for you?"

"No," I owe up. "Four years, not a word. I’m done hoping."

"Come here," he said, wincing as he sat up. I straddled his good leg. He held me close, his hand tracing gently along my back.

Why did it feel so right to be in his arms?