11. Adrianna

ADRIANNA

Professor Tora claps his hands, gathering everyone's attention as a circle forms around him. Those eager to participate stand closer, fingers twitching with excitement and anticipation, while those nervous about what they're about to go through edge closer to the back.

Kryll mentioned earlier that combat class was about to get more intense, and although the professor hasn't said a single word yet, I can tell it's true from the sparkle in his eyes. It's a glint reserved for chaos, destruction, and war. A glint that will make us push harder, bite back the pain, and come out of the other side stronger. If at all.

I like it.

A shiver runs down my spine as Professor Tora's gaze sweeps over where I stand. I have no idea what's about to come, but the exhilaration thrumming through my veins is exactly what I need.

No bullshit girl drama, no guys trying to wreak havoc on my soul, no secrets spilling over the walls I've worked so hard to build. It's just me and my body.

"Good morning, class. I hope you're ready for me to put you through your paces," he says with a grin.

Flora laces her fingers together nervously at my side as she tries to shuffle back a step, but Arlo's right there, making it impossible for her to disappear into the crowd.

Sass is her thing, mind power another. Combat, however, seems far off her list.

I tilt my face to look at her. Her pupils are dilated with worry, her teeth nip at her bottom lip with concern, and her gaze darts anywhere but at the professor. The guy beside her, a human, is bouncing on the balls of his feet, hands curled into fists as if he's ready to pummel someone right here and now.

They're a stark contrast beside one another. My chest tightens. It's hard. No two people are alike. We're all unique. Made with different strengths, weaknesses, and beliefs. What we may excel at, someone else may fail miserably, while they may rise to a challenge that is your greatest weakness, balancing the scales.

The whole reason we're all here is to find the new heir. Shit, it's in the damn title. Heir Academy. Are they going to factor in what strengths and weaknesses people have, or do you have to be able to battle with every fiber of your being? Do you have to be more victorious than anyone else, or are we given chances to learn and improve? On the flip side, is someone so eagerly bloodthirsty, like the guy standing beside Flora, considered a risk because there's more to controlling an entire kingdom than war?

Shaking my head, I pull myself from my thoughts and turn back to Tora. None of that matters. Not when I'm determined to be who my birthright declared I would be the moment I was born.

"Today, we're going to have you take to the fighting rings. Death or submission."

Gasps echo around me, starting from Flora as fear gets the better of her. The word death will do that, and that's likely why Professor Tora said it. It will either make you sink to your knees in panic or make you rise above the terror threatening to consume you.

Tora points toward the mats set up behind him in the grass. They don't live up to the name he just gave them. There's no fear in a blue mat surrounded by soil, but the damage that can take place on one, and the blood that can coat it once someone is done, is a lot closer to his description.

"Names will be called at random. There's no option to change so don't bother asking. Origins weren't taken into consideration. This isn't about pitting you against like-for-like peers; it's about the surprise of battle, the ability to adjust, and the desire to survive."

"Fuck, Kryll, you said he was upping the game, not setting us up to stop breathing altogether," Brody murmurs, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. The need to turn and look is real. I didn't know they were so close.

"You don't know Beau like I do. This is going to be light in comparison to how far he will go," Kryll replies, and I can almost see his smile in my mind. The awe in his tone paints the perfect picture.

I wonder if I sound that whimsical when I mention Nora. Not that I would, nor would I be discussing something so deadly… I don't think.

"What are the rules?" Vallie asks, smirking from across the circle. Her eyes fix on mine, a promise of chaos burning just for me, but I ignore her as Tora replies.

"There are none. You simply stop when someone submits or one of you dies."

Vallie's lips tug up at the corners as she winks at me.

Bitch.

Professor Tora starts tapping away on his device at the same time Flora nudges me. Glancing at her from the corner of my eye, I can see her worries floating more to the surface.

"How do you do it, Addi? How do you stand so tall and proud, like none of this fazes you? And don't say because it doesn't, I can already tell that, but I've definitely got at least five people looking my way, seeing me as an easy target."

My gaze darts around the circle, skimming over every single person.

She's wrong.

There are at least twelve, but I don't mention that because I don't think it will help her right now

"Stand tall," I murmur, not turning my gaze to her, just peeking out of the corner of my eye. She does as I say immediately, her body as stiff as a rod. "Now relax your shoulders… more… more… that's it." I rub my lips together, still watching the blond-haired vampire a few yards away who continues to stare at her like she's his next meal. I would love to say it in the hot as fuck way and tell my girl to go get some, but the sinister blaze in his eyes tells a different story entirely.

"I don't think it's making a difference," she breathes, audibly gulping.

"Inch your feet apart so they're the same width as your shoulders." She takes the order and moves subtly, nodding when she feels in position. "Now, loosen your hands. Keep them at your sides. Don't hold your fingers straight, but don't ball them into fists, either. Let them sit slightly curled as if you could slam your knuckles into someone's face at any given moment."

A small snort vibrates from her, as if the idea of it is ridiculous, but she quickly tamps it down, understanding the seriousness of the situation.

"What now?"

Peering around the group once again, at least five of the twelve people are staring down a new prey. It's not enough, but it will do. "Now, relax your jaw, stop averting your gaze, and stare right back at those motherfuckers. The more you let them think you're the prey, the more they'll treat you like it."

"But I am the prey, Addi." The desperation is clear in her voice, forcing me to give her my full attention.

"If that was true, which I don't believe it is, then they don't need to know that fact. You're as strong as you believe yourself to be. If you make a mistake, so be it. If you fail and fuck everything up, so be it. If you have to submit, so be it. You get your ass back up, strengthen your resilience, and persevere."

She nods softly, the tremble that was running through her moments ago simmering down as she smiles. "Thanks, Addi."

I offer her a smile back before turning toward Tora. I want to be ready for the moment he says my name.

"Why would you do that?"

I stiffen at the curious tone on my other side. My body stiffens, but I quickly make myself relax before I turn to stare at the irritating vampire that drives me insane.

"What do you want, Raiden?" I sigh, cocking a brow at him.

"I want to know why you would do that." He peers past me to where Flora stands.

"You're going to have to be more specific."

He rolls his eyes like I'm the inconvenience in this situation, but to my surprise, he doesn't just wash his hands of me and saunter off. Instead, he inches closer. "Why would you hype her up like that? Make her feel strong? Why not let her know who you are and make sure she knows she is beneath you?"

My head rears back at his words as my eyebrows pinch together in confusion.

What the fuck?

"Why would I do any of those things?" I mutter, shocked that his head would even go there.

He shrugs, standing tall as he looks toward where Vallie and her friends are standing. Her gaze is narrowed on me, much to my enjoyment, but I'm too focused on waiting for Raiden's response to truly care.

"That's what a vampire would do." Tension builds in my head as I frown deeper. "A vampire's status is everything. We're not a team. We're all out to fight our own battles. Sometimes, they may be among each other."

That is some backward shit if I've ever heard it.

I shake my head. "We're at an academy to find a new heir for the kingdom, Raiden. That means someone who is going to not only take care of themselves, the wars, the battles, and the castle itself, but someone who is also going to take care of the people who make this kingdom what it is. Every origin, no questions asked. You're only as strong as your weakest link, and the fact that The Council acts exactly like what you just described explains why it's not currently working. I want a better life for the people of Floodborn Kingdom. I'm only going to be my best if they are theirs too, and as a leader, it is my responsibility to ensure everyone is given the time and knowledge to achieve that."

My chest falls harder than I prefer as I stop my rant. His eyes search mine, for what, I don't know. I feel like I just revealed a piece of myself and I want to take it back. Thankfully, Professor Tora takes that moment to start reeling off names.

"Franklin and George. Arlo and Flora." My gaze whips to theirs and I see a sense of relief flash through them. At least Arlo will go easy on her, but we may need to figure out how to get her up to snuff with her fighting. I'm not expecting her to be a warrior overnight, but we need to see what abilities she has. "Vallie and Raiden," Tora calls out next, and the audible huff of frustration from beside me is undeniable. He doesn't glance my way as he saunters off, but I could swear I could hear him chanting, "Don't kill her, don't kill her, don't kill her."

"Imagine if it was me and you, Dagger. I could show you a good time," Brody murmurs as he fills the spot Raiden just vacated. I roll my eyes at his cheesiness, but a part of me is glad it's back after our talk over the weekend.

"You would either die or submit, so you're right, it does sound like a good time." I smile teasingly as I turn to look at him. His blue eyes dance with mischief as his lips part, but once again, I'm saved by the professor.

"Brody and Addi."

Or not.

Gaping at the grinning mage beside me, my feet carry me toward the setup Tora pointed out for us. We come to a stop, and my facial expression hasn't changed an inch, and neither has his.

Fucker.

"What was that about a good time, Dagger?" he says with a smirk, wagging his eyebrows at me.

"Do you want to practice tapping the mat now, so you've got the hang of it before I send you to the brink of death?" I retort, and his head falls backward as he laughs. Irritation threatens to claw up my spine, but when his eyes reach mine, I don't get the sense that he's mocking me. If anything, he looks excited.

"There's no going back once we step foot on the mat," he states, and I nod, watching the grin fall from his face. He waves his hand, offering for me to lead the way.

Clearing my throat, I take a deep breath, shutting off my mind from the rest of the world before I take the initial step. The second I do, he follows after me. I'm wrapped in gray sportswear, while his purple is like a beacon, edging me closer.

"I know you're a girl, but I'm going to fight you like you're a ten-foot tall man with a dick bigger than my right arm."

I shake my head at him, completely distracted by his declaration, and he uses the opportunity to his advantage, charging at me before I can piece a single action together. We crash to the ground, a grunt breaking past my lips as I hit the mat. His weight on top of me is distracting, a reminder of the last time we were in a similar situation, and irritation claws at me.

Fucking focus, Adrianna.

I clench my eyes closed, taking a deep breath as my body warms and my vision clears. My body is no longer in control; my mind is.

He wrestles to grab my arms and pin them at my sides, his legs bolting mine to the ground. But before he can get a good grasp on my wrist, I jab at the delicate spot at his side. It does nothing more than make him grunt, but I repeat the process on the other side, and that earns me a glare.

"Feisty, Addi. I like it," he rasps, pressing his knees into the ground so he can adjust his feet, spreading my legs wide with the move.

Fucker.

I aim for his stomach with one hand, meeting rock-hard muscles, while my other fist swings toward his face. The crack from the contact vibrates between us as he leans to the side, and I press the opening, shifting my weight to slip out from under him.

Rushing to my feet, I circle to face him, knees bent, arms tucked in close, and my eyes darting over him from head to toe.

"Did you really have to hit me in the face? It's my best asset," he grumbles, rubbing at the reddening mark on his face.

"Oops," I whisper, batting my eyelashes at him.

He shakes his head, trying to smother the grin on his face as he charges at me once again. I sidestep him this time, knocking at his leg as he passes, but no sooner does he hit the deck is he back on his feet, circling me again.

"You're not too bad at this, Dagger," he assesses, nipping at his bottom lip as he stares me down.

"I'd say the same for you, but… it would be a lie."

It's my turn to charge at him, arms low as I aim for his stomach. He lets me get close, but as I connect with him, his arms wrap around my waist, putting him in control of our fall to the ground. He's quick to shuffle around, fighting to get on top, but I push back with every ounce of strength I have.

The second I have the upper hand, he sweeps it away from me, taking me to the ground again before we repeat the process. Not once does he hit me. He just guides control, and it almost makes me feel bad for aiming for his face.

Almost.

"Are you two fucking or fighting? I can't tell." The question comes from Professor Tora, earning a few chuckles, but I don't pay him any attention as I zero in further on my target.

Sweat clings to me, and loose tendrils of hair float around my face as I hit the ground beneath Brody once again.

"Submit, Dagger, and this will all be over."

I scoff. "Like fuck am I doing that." He's right, though. This needs to come to an end, and quickly. Especially if people are watching.

This time, when I twist to gain leverage, I wrap my arms around his neck, locking behind his arm and holding him in position. As we turn, I roll us completely over so he's still technically on top, but his back is to my chest, and he can't move.

"Sorry, Brody. It's not personal. If anything, you're one of the few people here I almost don't hate, but winning is winning, and you're in my way," I whisper in his ear, tightening my hold with all my strength.

His legs flail, but it's pointless. I've done this move too many times on men far bigger than him. I sense the moment defeat kicks in, and a split second later, it's followed by the sweet tapping of his hand on the mat.

One.

Two.

Three.