Page 67 of The Incendiary

Mavic frowned, visibly taken aback. “But⁠—”

“Trust me when I tell you I can take care of myself,” I insisted, intent on getting them both to agree. “I’m not your priority.”

They gave each other a sidelong glance, communicating silently in a way I was convinced only twins could. They did it often. Sometimes I wondered what they said about me when I wasn’t around. It wasn’t really my business, and there was no shortage of things I was keeping from them. But Mavic and Mina were two friends I could be sure wanted to be around me without my title or power.

After we gathered in the courtyard, one of the lieutenants let out a shrill whistle, and we filed toward the northernmost end of the fortress.

After discovering the body, Elias announced a new rule against cadets venturing beyond the fortress walls, so I was shocked when we were led outside the gates. Then again, he seemed the type of man to thrive on control. He’d probably mapped out every detail of these tests months ago.

We were halfway through the month of Rainar, and I had the urge to close my eyes and bask in the sun’s pleasant rays. I couldn’t remember a time when the sun had felt so warm, but warmth made me think of him. I wondered if he was feeling the same sun I was. Chances were, he had spent most of the bitter winter alone in the cold. Though he was more than capable of surviving, the thought of him trapped alone in frigid solitude made my chest hurt.

My smile disappeared when my hair bristled and pulled me from the comfort of my thoughts. Someone was watching me. I turned to see Elias staring me down with sharp eyes. His annoyingly beautiful mouth was curled with disdain. Or intrigue. I couldn’t tell.

“What’s going on there?” Mavic bumped my shoulder with his elbow.

“What?” I replied. Twigs crunched beneath our boots as we joined Mina in the waiting crowd.

Mavic shot me a sideways smirk, not believing my ignorance. “The commander. He’s looking at you like you took a shit in his breakfast.”

I snorted. “He only harasses me for his own entertainment.”

They handed us sheets of parchment with assessments from the first two weeks of training. Elias gave me one point for strength, three for speed, and four for cunning. Mavic scored between seven and nine on all three, Mina between five and eight. I was proud of Mina for the improvements she was making, but this wasn’t quite right.

Elias was calling me weak. The words on the bottom of my parchment confirmed it.

Will you yield, Fera?

My eyes snapped up to find him already glaring at me. The subtle tilt of his lips made my blood boil.

My heart had been broken, ripped out, and regrown. I had come back from the dead and worked too hard to let this smug asshole make me feel like less.

“Oh, thank gods! Mav and I are on the same team.” Mina slumped in relief against her brother. She looked like she was about to cry. I folded over Elias’s writing before they could see it.

When I was sure Elias’s eyes were still on mine, I ripped up the parchment and shoved the pieces into the back pocket of my leathers.

Mavic hummed in thought. “Harass you for fun, huh?” He laughed and shook his head. “You know, when we were eight years old, there were a few boys in our group of friends that liked to tease Mina. Our sister used to tell us that they probably thought she was cute. I’m sure you know what I mean, right?”

I didn’t remember anything from my childhood.

“Marin also called them pricks and told them to leave me alone,” Mina added.

“That’s what this feels like.” Mavic gestured toward Elias. “Just saying.”

My ears heated in embarrassment.

“Are you saying the commander has the emotional maturity of an eight-year-old?” asked Mina.

“Yeah,” Mavic chuckled. “I guess I am.”

A lieutenant released a shrill whistle that sent a flock of birds scattering out of the trees above.

“You’ve received your team assignments,” Elias announced. “When on duty, many of you will be given tasks that require you to track down specific targets. Today’s challenge is meant to assess how efficiently you can do so. Almost all of you will benefit from working together with your teammates.” Shoulders postured and head held high, Elias walked toward me. “We must take into consideration that in most cases, your target will be moving.” He stopped two feet in front of me and smirked. “And there’s no better way to practice than with live bait.”

Excited chatter erupted around me as the sea of cadets parted to leave us alone in the center.

“Five different colored banners, one belonging to each team, have been placed within a five-mile radius of this location,” he continued. “Fera must obtain the black banner on her own, but she is also the second objective.” My face grew hotter and my jaw tightened as hatred burned a hole in my gut. “Capture your team’s banners, capture Fera before she captures hers, return to the fortress, and then—” He paused, his beautiful features ruined by spite. “—bring her to me.”

Was this because I’d rejected his threesome? That would be ridiculous. He had plenty of women to choose from.