SWNOVELS Alluring Darkness: Chapter 40
Excitement pulses across the grass like a living breathing thing. And I swear half of it is coming from Jace. Standing next to me, he’s practically vibrating with anticipation. I get it, though. It’s his first year and he is eager to prove himself.
And he is not alone. The crowd is buzzing all around us. Most of the first-years look to be feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. The second-years look like they’re strategizing in their heads what they should do differently this time as opposed to last year. And the third-years are watching each other, marking their targets and preparing revenge for previous years.
My gaze finds Connor Smith across the sea of people, and we lock eyes. That forgettable face of his betrays no emotions. No fear. No excitement. Nothing at all.
Even though the bastard annoys the fuck out of me sometimes, I have to admit that he is incredibly skilled and that he has more than earned his place in the top three. I was looking forward to taking on his team, or rather taking out his team, during this tournament, but things are more complicated now.
Because of her.
As if he is thinking the same thing, Connor casts a pointed look at Raina, who is standing on my left, talking to Rico. Then Connor’s gray eyes lock on mine again.
The message is clear. Take care of my sister.
After holding his gaze for a few seconds, I give him a slow nod.
He nods back.
Truce, then. As long as his team doesn’t get in my way, I won’t come after them. And vice versa.
Parts of the crowd fall silent. Connor and I break eye contact and shift our attention back to the front of the gathering.
Up on the small makeshift podium, Professor Lawson approaches the microphone. Mr. Hansen is standing a few steps behind her, glaring at the students before them through narrowed eyes. When he notices that a few sections are still talking amongst themselves, he draws in a deep breath and opens his mouth.
“SHUT IT!” he bellows.
This time, Professor Lawson saw it coming and managed to tilt the microphone away from him while also covering it with her hand. It saves us from screeching electronic feedback, and Hansen’s shout still accomplishes its task.
The entire field falls silent.
Soft winds rustle the grass beneath our boots and blow light gray clouds across the heavens as we all watch Professor Lawson clear her throat and throw a small smile at Mr. Hansen over her shoulder.
“Thank you,” she says, looking both at us and at Hansen. Then she turns back to face us fully. “And welcome to this year’s tournament.”
An excited whoop rises from the crowd.
“You’ve been getting ready for this for weeks, and now, it’s finally time to showcase those skills of yours.” she continues. “Each team will be driven out to their designated starting point at the edge of Blackwater Forest. All starting points are located roughly the same distance from the center of the forest, and you’ll all be far enough away from each other that you won’t see any of the other teams. At least not until you start moving.”
She pauses, as if waiting to see if anyone has any questions. A few of the first-years look like they might be on the verge of asking something, but no one does. Probably because Mr. Hansen is glaring at them with uncompromising gray eyes.
“The objective is this,” Lawson continues when no one speaks up. “Get to the dummy that we have placed at the center of the forest, and put your mark on him. Knives, guns, rope… You can even go for blow darts if the mood strikes you. It doesn’t matter what tool you use, as long as you’re the first one.”
“As in, the first person?” a first-year calls. “Or the first team?”
“Excellent question. I know that many of you here are lone wolves and that you prefer solo assassinations, but for this exercise, you have to work as a team. In order to win, your entire team needs to be there when you put your killing mark on the dummy.”
“So if we want to prevent other teams from winning, we could make sure that parts of their team are, uhm… missing.”
“Now you’re getting it,” a third-year says while chuckling.
“Correct,” Professor Lawson replies. “If you see another team on your way to the center, you can either run or engage them in any way you choose. Except by lethal force.” Her eyes sharpen as she sweeps a hard gaze over the crowd. “Killing any of your fellow students is strictly prohibited. Understood?”
A low murmur ripples through the crowd.
“I said, is that understood?” she snaps in a commanding voice that she otherwise rarely uses.
“Yes, ma’am,” everyone quickly replies.
“Good.” She nods. “And while force is permitted, do try to keep any serious injuries to a minimum. We still have almost an entire school year to get through after this, and I would hate for you to miss too many of your classes.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Excellent. Any questions?”
A few first-years ask for some more clarifications of the rules, which she answers patiently. Once they’re done, she scans the crowd in silence for a few seconds. Then she smiles.
“Well, then,” she says. “Let this year’s tournament commence. And may the odds be ever in your favor.”
Excited cheers erupt from several sections. It quickly turns into chatter and murmured conversations as the crowd breaks apart and we all start towards the parking lot.
Next to me, Jace claps his hands once. “Let’s go! We’re gonna fucking crush this, guys.”
“Alright, calm down there, Golden,” Rico says, flashing him a smirk while we walk across the grass.
Jace gives him a shove. “Oh fuck you. You can’t tell me you’re not excited for this.”
“Of course he is,” Kaden interrupts. He has his customary psychopath’s smile on his face as he casually spins a knife in his right hand. “So am I. Mikhail Petrov beat me in the sparring ring by cheating last week. I plan to repay him for that now that there are no witnesses.”
“By cheating,” Rico snorts, and rolls his eyes. “Right.”
Kaden cuts him a glare.
“Uhm,” Raina begins before Kaden can stab him. “Look, there’s still time for me to fake an illness.”
I glance down at her. Today, I managed to convince her to actually wear a pair of pants and some sensible shoes. But she still looks thoroughly out of place in this crowd with her soft body and gentle fingers.
“And why would you do that?” I ask.
“Because I will just fuck everything up for you. You heard the professor. The whole team needs to be there to win and, well… Look, if you want someone poisoned without them realizing it, I’m your girl.”
I chuckle. “Don’t we know it.”
A small smile tugs at her lips for a second before she charges on. “But this…” Spreading her arms, she indicates the mass of athletic hitmen around her. “This is not my scene.”
“Oh you’ll be fine, princess.”
“No, I will slow you down. So maybe I should just pretend to be seriously sick and stay here while you—”
“Not gonna happen.”
I drape an arm over her shoulders and pull her flush against my side as we continue walking towards the waiting cars. She tries to pull out of my grip, but I only tighten my hold. An adorable huff escapes her lips.
“Fight it all you want, princess,” I say, smirking down at her. “But you’re mine now, and I’m never going to let you go.”
My heart surges at the expression that blows across her features. At the glitter in her green eyes.
I pull her more firmly against me.
Mine.