Page 50 of Rebellious Royals

"Same," Bran said. "Mostly because I want to know how Torian Hunt fights."

"Magically," I told him. "I'm trying to figure out how to stop him."

And again, Pascal gave me a measuring look. "Which means the lot of you aren't trying to prepare for another Hunt attack."

"Exactly," Hawke said. "We're also not trying to hide it."

"I'm just trying to figure out how much my friends want to say," I explained, thankful for the excuse. "I know they said it was ok to talk about, but I don't want to speak for them either, you know?"

"What?" Axel asked. "So this is a big deal?"

"The biggest," Keir assured him.

"But I thought you hated monarchies?" Pascal asked, clearly reading between the lines well enough.

"I do," Keir told him. "I'm willing to fight for a few other things, though. My friends are at the top of the list. My girlfriend, my partner, and so on."

"Who's the partner?" Bran asked. "I'm guessing Rain's the girlfriend?"

"I am," I agreed.

"Aspen's my partner," Keir said. "Now, good luck figuring out how that tie works." Then he lifted his practice weapons. "You three ready to go again?"

"Wait." I shifted over so I'd be across from Hawke. "Ok, now I'm good."

Pascal jerked his chin at Keir. "You know I don't suck. If you need someone who won't break the ice queen, I'm your guy."

"Getting closer," Hawke said as he set up in his guard position. "Axel, call it when you're ready."

"Losers help Torian," Axel said. "And go!"

Immediately, the six of us rushed at each other. This time, Keir and Hawke weren't going easy on us. The first clack of wood against wood said enough. By the second, I was sure of it. Axel had just thrown down the gauntlet.

Sadly, I was pretty sure my side was going to lose. I also had no intention of giving up easily - because I really didn't want to work with Torian yet. Especially not with these guys hanging around to see him destroy me easily.

Chapter Fifteen

RAIN

Bracken worked us hard. Even harder when he saw how the six of us were practicing. About halfway through the class, he sent us to the back of the room with orders to swap one person at the end of each round. Needless to say, when Keir, Hawke, and I were finally on the same team, we decimated the other three sentinels.

I pushed myself too. My shirt was sticking to my skin when Bracken called for all of us to start cooling down. I bent to stretch, but I wasn't done yet. When everyone else got to go home, I had one more class. That didn't get me out of helping clean up, though.

Once the students were released, most headed for the door. The building began to empty out, but Axel dropped down onto one of the benches. Pascal put his stuff away, but then he also came over to wait.

"What are you doing?" Keir asked, seeing them too.

"Helping," Bran answered as he made his way over with another guy beside him. It was Daivon. "I mean, the court is all working late, so shouldn't the sentinels?"

"And I want to help," Daivon said.

"The sentinels are more than you four," Bracken said as he came around the corner.

"Maybe," Pascal agreed, "but Keir, Hawke, and Rain makes seven. If Beverly, Iris, Asher, and Marlowe want to fuck off, that's their lives they're risking."

"And all of ours too," Keir pointed out.

Bracken just waved him down. "They've all put in the time and know what they're doing. Plus, this lesson isn't for - " He paused as the door opened. "... sentinels."