~The Medeis Challenge Begins~

[Valerie]

I woke up to my phone blaring obnoxiously somewhere close to my ear. Groaning and extremely annoyed, I groped for the device without opening my eyes. I had a fitful sleep anyway and it was too early, judging by the fact that the four consecutive alarms I set last evening hadn't desensitised my eardrums yet. I regretted keeping the gadget near my hearing vicinity. By the time I could actually locate my phone, the ringing had stopped. My fingers loosened their hold, and I buried my face further into the pillow. Anytime now, I would have to get up and face the day for which I was not fucking ready.

The ringing started again, waking me once more from my drowsy state. Bleary-eyed, I lifted the device and saw Xyan’s name flash on the screen.

“What?” I groused in lieu of a greeting.

“So you woke up and chose violence?”

“And you chose to be an ass, as usual,” I snarked. He should be happy I did not greet him by cursing.

“It takes one to know one,” he quipped.

“Why did yo