Page 538 of The Bonding Games: Part 1

Scotty raises a brow. “I’d rethink your wording there, brother.”

A wrinkle forms between my brows as I think over what I said. “What?”

“Little prick?” Cooper prompts, appearing offended.

“I didn’t say that,” I scoff, rolling my eyes at his dramatics. “Like your face pricks—stubble.”

“Just say that next time. No one calls facial hair a prick. At least use the plural.”

“Whatever, dudes. You need to chill.”

“Fuck,” Scotty curses, now looking at the digital clock on the wall, the numbers done in red, white, and green to match the social classifications. “We’re going to be late. Everyone done?” We all quickly nod, rising in a scrape of chairs across the taalk floor. “Let’s go.”

***

Ezzy’s murderous eyes bore into us behind the visor of her scary-but-sexy helmet, and I can just imagine the flames of hell in them.

Maybe her eyes do have real flames in them? Wouldn’t that be cool?!

“You are late.”

Alien head in one hand, tucked against his side like the rest of us, Scotty scratches the back of his head with the other as if feeling where the cut that Avri healed once was; his brow had also been split, but there’s zero evidence of that either. We’re not really meant be treated with Avri for minor injuries like that, but Ez asked very, very politely that the doctor fix him up with it because “it is embarrassing that one of the men she has trained was bested by a shard of glass”. She also made it clear there could be no evidence of what happened, that she wanted any and all records abolished, threatening him with major bodily harm if he disagreed.

He was so scared he obeyed without question.

I knew Deadly Nightshade was warming up to us.

“It’s five minutes.” I pout and bat my lashes, knowing I’m so adorable she simply won’t be able to resist going easy on us today.

All her attention falls on me.

Uh-oh. I can already tell my plan failed.

“Get on the ropes.”

I suck in a horrified lungful of air. “Why?!” I wail in despair. They’re my least favourite and she knows it!

“For talking back and for your first words to me not being an apology.”

“I’m sorry, Havoc, baby. I can lick your pussy to make it up to you,” Tate purrs, wetting his lips and looking our Bonded up and down lasciviously while my pout deepens.

“On the ropes. Now.” She points a gloved finger at the climbing ropes that reach another universe they’re so high up, and I whimper. “Up and down ten times.”

“Ten?!” I cry, palm flying to my chest. “I almost died last night!”

“Yes—last night. You are perfectly fine now.”

“Please, Ezzy!” I drop to my knees, uncaring when snickers sound from around the Training Centre as my display draws the attention of the other Evots and Exots here.

“Eleven.”

“No!” I shoot to my feet. “I’m sorry, DN! I’ll go!”

I start to rush away like a bat out of hell—but every inch of me stalls when Ez’s hand wraps around the back of my neck, yanking me backwards and drawing a shriek from me that sounds more excited than anything.

I just got manhandled by Wifey! Woohoo!

“No so fast, Player.”