Fire Breather

8.

ONCE again, I found myself standing at the side of the wide black mat, watching Rhiannon beat the living shit out of her opponent. This time it was a guy from Second Wing, and to no surprise, she had him in a headlock, cutting off his lungs from oxygen.

Oddly enough, the hairs on my arms raised and I looked up to my brother beside me, glancing at his bored expression as he watched Rhiannon squeeze the neck of the Second Wing first-year tighter. But then I looked away from him, only to roll my eyes at the sight of Dain glaring daggers at my brother from the other side of the mat. Even Violet looked over at us, seeming surprised before I focused back on the match.

"You better be ready," Xaden said, keeping his eyes on the two before us on the mat.

I nodded, unsheathing my longsword from my back and holding it out to him. "I only need my fists. If it comes to it, I've got two daggers," I informed him, cracking my neck as he took my longsword. "There's no way in hell I'm letting someone win against me."

The Second Wing first-year passed out, making me smile as Rhiannon clapped hands with Violet before she leaned over the boy, taking the dagger from his side. "Looks like this is mine now. Enjoy your nap," she teased, patting him on the head.

"You're against Luca," Xaden informed me as I checked that my daggers were securely in their sheathes while the Second Wing boy was carried off the mat. But I couldn't help being confused. Usually, you weren't allowed to verse someone from your own squad. "Head in the game, Blizzy."

My eyes slightly widened at the use of my nickname, my heart swelling as I looked up at him. "You just called me—"

"Blaine Riorson." Professor Emetterio glanced up from his notebook to me. "Buchanan."

"Go," Xaden ordered me with a light push to my lower back.

"I know, I know," I muttered, snapping into gear as I stepped onto the mat opposite Luca who had a wicked smile on her face while my own remained blank, slipping on that mask of no mercy. You either fought to live or die here.

"I hope you like your hair," Luca said as we started circling each other with our closed fists raised and my two braids resting against my back, suddenly feeling more noticeable. "Let me rephrase that: I hope you liked your hair."

"Stop showing your crooked teeth and fucking fight," I snarled, feeling the adrenaline seep into my veins.

Her face quickly dropped at the insult and then she charged toward me, but I twirled away, finding enjoyment within myself as I dropped into a crouch, her back facing me. Muscle memory kicked in when I swiped my foot out, knocking her off her feet and she face-planted the mat with a loud groan.

"Did I straighten your teeth?" I taunted her, bouncing back up and palming a dagger. Cutting her seemed more enjoyable than toying with her.

Luca rolled onto her back, flipping herself up with a dagger in hand. "I'm going to enjoy killing you!"

"Good fucking luck," I laughed, waiting for her to charge again.

And she did exactly that with her dagger raised high in the air, announcing her plan too soon. I just managed to dodge her by stepping out of the way. But when I twirled around her again, my head tugged back for a split second before a swish noise filled my ears, followed by a light thud. A single gasp filled the crowding cadets and I turned around, glancing down at my feet with anger flowing through my body at the sight of four inches of my braided black and purple hair on the mat.

"Oh shit," I heard Bodhi in the crowd. I didn't even know he was watching but I did know he was cringing because we both knew how much I cared for my hair. It was the one genetic gene I had from my mother like Xaden.