Wicked Wings

21

The students stand around and chat, and Araceli and I make our way to the back wall to wait for class to start. That’s when an angel I don’t expect to see walks into the room. Callan doesn’t look like he belongs in a combat training class for beginners. No, he looks like he should be out there on a battlefield swinging a broadsword and cutting down his enemy. Maybe that’s why he walks to Hilda and begins talking to her quietly.

I nudge Araceli and nod at Callan. “What’s he doing here?”

“I’m not sure. He should be in the Second Year class, not this one.” A handsome guy in front of us with dark skin and friendly eyes turns around and grins. “I heard he’s so advanced in combat that he tested out of even the Third Year class. All that training from Michael, I guess. But they need him to do something, so he’s working as Hilda’s assistant during the combat classes.”

Well, that’s just great. There’ll be no escaping him now. I thought since the Princes were all Second Years we might not have any of the same classes, but no matter where I go or what I do, one of them always seems to be in my face. But hey, at least I have a chance to beat Callan up in this class. Okay, who am I kidding? Look at the muscles on his arms, and the six-pack straining against his gym shirt. Even his thighs are impressive, from what I can see under those shorts. There’s no way I can beat him up. If I do manage to land a punch, he’ll probably laugh it off.

Hilda claps her hands, and when she speaks she has a strong accent that sounds German. “Welcome to Combat Training, First Years. I am Professor Hilda, and this is my assistant, Callan. We’ll skip the part where I explain my history and why I’m qualified to teach this class and get right to the point. You’re here to learn to fight, because even if the Great War is over, it’s never going to be safe for us. There are still demon attacks we must defend against, and the humans grow bolder every day as they try to hunt us down. And who knows, maybe the fae will decide they want Earth next. We must be vigilant at all times.” She slams a fist into her hand, and some of the students jump. Yep, this is definitely a lot more intense than my self-defense class.

“First, I need to see what I’m working with here,” Professor Hilda says. “Some of you have had combat training before, and some of your parents have sorely neglected this vital part of your education, but no worries, I’ll get you all up to speed in the next three years. When you graduate, you’ll be ready to enter the Angelic Army, should you so choose. That is my guarantee.”

Callan crosses his arms and surveys the students with an impassive, hard look on his face. When his blue eyes land on me, his jaw clenches. I wait for him to look away, but he doesn’t. He just keeps staring, and I refuse to look away either and instead narrow my eyes in an open challenge. Heat spreads through my body to my core as we face off across the gym, and everything else around me fades away. It’s just me and him, and the arousal growing between us. The staring turns from hostile to something else, something that makes my inner succubus hungry. Does he feel it too?

I can’t help it, I lick my lips. Only then does he frown and look away. One point for me.

“When I call out your name, step forward and you’ll be assigned a partner,” Hilda says. She begins going through her list, and Araceli is paired off with the friendly guy in front of us, whose name is Darel. He gives her a big smile and seems like a nice enough guy, which has been rare so far at the school.

As Araceli walks to the front, someone mutters, “Glad I’m not paired with pointy-ears there.”

Araceli’s smile falters and she touches the hair by her ears self-consciously, but then she keeps going like we didn’t all hear that line. I find myself angry on her behalf, even though I barely know her. Maybe because I can relate to what she’s going through. I shoot a glare at the Valkyrie who said it, but she ignores me.

Hilda calls Tanwen’s name, and the blond saunters to the front of the class with an arrogant smirk on her face. As the daughter of a Valkyrie, she’s obviously had plenty of combat training and is ready to show it off.

“Your partner is Olivia,” Hilda calls out.

My stomach stinks. Seriously, me and Tanwen as partners. Did Hilda do this on purpose? She must know Tanwen, and she must know about my situation. Why would she pair us up if not to humiliate me?

Once the entire class is paired up, Hilda moves to the side and crosses her arms. “Try to take down your opponent however you can so I can see what I’m dealing with here. Once they hit the floor, it’s over. And remember, you may not use any of your angelic powers. That means you, Erelim. Don’t make me send anyone to the healing room.”

We spread out around the room and I face off against Tanwen, whose blue eyes take me in with disdain. My parents gave me a tiny bit of combat training, but not much. Just enough to get me out of a tight situation so I can escape and hide. I have a feeling that won’t be good enough here.

A whistle sounds, and my back hits the floor of the gym, while Tanwen’s pretty face sneers down at me. It happens so fast I don’t even have time to react.

This does not bode well for me.

As pain courses through my back, Tanwen shakes her head. “That wasn’t even a challenge. Surely you can do better than that.”

I pick myself up off the ground, already sore in numerous places. It’s a good thing angels and demons heal quickly, although it still hurts like hell when we get our asses handed to us.