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“How did you even end up here?” Rhett sneered.

Ansel rolled his eyes at him. “I was chosen, genius. How didyouend up here?”

I snorted.

Rhett pivoted sharply toward me. “You think that’s funny, do you, Savannah Winters? Well,everyoneknows how you got here. Zoe told us all about you, cheater.” His gaze snapped back to Ansel. “And you! You think you can be a Knight?” He looked at Zoe, and they both laughed. “You can’t even walk! So how are you supposed to fight? The Government never would have chosen someone so weak. This must be a mistake.”

“Yes, the Government has indeed made a big mistake. So why don’t you give them a call and ask them to take you back home?” Ansel countered.

“I am supposed to be here!” Rhett bellowed.

Ansel’s brows arched. “If you’re so confident of that, then why are you acting so defensive?”

Dante chuckled. “He’s got a point,” he told Rhett.

“Stay out of this, Winters,” he warned.

“Oh, it’s way too late for that. I told you not to mess with my sister.” When Dante folded his arms over his chest, his knuckles cracked. “You didn’t listen.”

Dutch and Zoe’s sidekick—who must have been the final Victory kid—flocked to Rhett and Zoe like seagulls to chunks of bread. They all looked ready for a fight.

“Back off,” Nevada told them. Her usually soft and velvety voice had hardened into a growl.

“Leave our friends alone,” Bronte said, steel in her voice and daggers in her eyes.

“I do believe you’re outnumbered,” Ansel observed casually.

Rhett’s gaze panned across the entourage that had gathered around me, his mouth twitching. “Come on, guys. Let’s go.” He turned, waving for his friends to follow him.

A few of them shot me menacing looks as they left. I’d have to watch my back or they’d stab me in it—hopefully not literally.

Zoe was the last to leave. “See you around, wheels.” She blew Ansel a sarcastic kiss, then marched off after her friends.

When they were gone, I turned to Ansel. “Thanks.”

He shrugged. “It was nothing.”

“It wasn’t nothing,” I told him. “You were pretty awesome back there, telling off those bullies. And thanks for being the voice of sanity in my rage, reminding me that it’s a really bad idea to punch Zoe.”

“Actually, I can’t think of a more fantastic idea.” Ansel winked at me. “But I guess we all have to be on our best behavior right now.” His attention shifted to the Scoreboard.

I wasn’t even tempted to look again. I already knew exactly where I stood.

“Thanks again, Ansel.”

He grinned at me. “No problem. I know what it feels like to deal with jerks.”

“Yeah, it does seem like most people forget to switch on their brains before they talk,” I agreed. “I’m Savannah, by the way.”

“I know.”

“Right. I guess it says so right on my t-shirt,” I laughed.

“That plus you’re kind of famous,” Ansel said. “You’re number thirty-one.”

“I…”

“Hey, you don’t need to explain yourself to me,” Ansel said. “I get it. You saw an opportunity to be something more than you were, and you took it. I would have done the same.”