Heartless Angels

hapter 29 Oakley

Chapter 29 – Oakley

I wake up, groggy and stiff, in the infirmary. To my great surprise, Trainer Ethan is sitting beside my bed

“Moon Good You’re awake. He smiles down at me, but the smile doesn’t reach his eyes Trainer Ethan has always been very standoffish with me, not speaking unless he had to, and rarely staying close enough to have that type of conversation mean, not all the trainers are the warm and fuzzy type, but most will have a conversation with you to help during trainings Trainer Ethan doesn’t even attempt that much with me, though he seems nice enough to everyone als

No, the look in his eye is pure worry like he’s afraid of something that has to do with me i don’t understand the look and f’m not sure what to make of the fact that he’s sitting here at my bedside as opposed to my friends or even a trainer that we been more friendly with S hit, I honestly would have expected Bay to be here, especially with what I’ve just found out is going on with

I nod to Trainer Ethan my hand coming up to rub my ayw long have

ext to Taer than me and remind up to us

at My words are slightly slurred and

the world around me moves a bit before settling back into place at up t’s an uning feeling

“A little over an hour. The Now to psa

need to put you, the

are mesmerizing

Of course, they don’t hold a candle to a certain set of toffee brown eyes that fie been trying to evont thit that is neither here

nor there

It does make me wonder where Ray is and why het Or any of my other frantis

Tveryone

yone being

I

ng directly into

Oh s hit! Does that mean this is it? Am I kicked out?

He sees the panic flash over my face and he

recuperate and then join i

bay here to

1 flush with relief, a smile brightening my face I’m still here I know I have this choice. I have to figure out what I want. I just

don’t want that choice taken away from me

Trainer Ethan looks me in the eye for a few moments before saying, “I think that you should take this as a sign”

I look at him, confused, thinking I didn’t hear him appropriately “A sign of what?

He stands and starts to walk out That you aren’t cut out to be a part of the Elite 10”

And then he’s gone.

For a bit, i just

stare after him, my mouth wide open. Well, f uck you very much, too.

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Chapter 29 Oakley

I make it through the rest of training fairly easily for the rest of the day. By dinner, I’m feeling back to normal. My friends, who have been checking in on me all afternoon, treat me like I’m made of glass, especially Je rry. They get me food and drinks and Mary even tries to feed me, but I put the kibosh on that.

“I’m not an invalid. I can feed my own da mn self,” I huff at her, pouting a bit.

“Girl, you didn’t see how pale you got, Cassie says.

“It was scary as hell, Oakley. You had all of us freaking out, ok? Don’t don’t do that again.” J erry turns away from me and I

see him wiping his face.

“Oh, Jer!” I chuckle, pulling him in for a hug from behind. “I’m ok, I promise.”

to his

He hugs my arms to

minute.”

chest before pulling away. Over his shoulder, he says, “I need to get some fresh air. I’ll be back in a

“Jer ry? Je rry! I’m sorry that I scared your I call after him, but he doesn’t turn back.

I look back at Mary and see that her face is flushed with tears in her eyes. Her eyes are still on her twin as he hurries out of the mess hall. “You looked just like her when the plague took her. The pain was too much for her and she passed out at the end. It was the last time that we saw her”

Cassie, who is seated beside her, tries to put her arm around Mary. “Who, honey?”

“Mom.” Mary doesn’t even acknowledge Cassie’s attempt at comfort. She just gets up and walks after her brother.

“Mom.”

“Well, sh it!” I say. Thad no idea.

Cassie shakes her head, a worried look in her eyes. “Me either. Do you think we should go after them?”

I’m about to answer when I feel a hand on my shoulder. I look up to see Harry smiling down at me.

“Hey, Oakley. I was just coming to see how you were. The last time I saw you.” he has the grace to look a bit embarrassed

for me, “well, we’ll just say that you weren’t up to talking.”

“I’m fine, Harry. Thanks for the assist out there,” I smile up at him.

“Harry!” I hear from the other side of the cafeteria. The shrillness of the sound lets me know that it’s Lisa before I have to even look up. “I found a seat over here!”

I can’t help but roll my eyes. I look up at Harry and seriously can’t understand how someone so amazingly sweet could get together with that dragon. Looking earnestly into his eyes, I ask, “What do you see in her? She’s not very nice, like to anyone but you. And you’re a really nice guy

He smiles at me and then looks back at Lisa, who seems extremely tense until she sees his smile. Then her entire face

lights up when she sees the look on his “That’s just her tough exterior. She’s really great once you get to know her.”

I’ve seen that look before. That glassy-eyed, goofy-as s smile. “She’s your mate, isn’t she?”

“Yeah,” he breathes out. “She is. Looking back at me, he says, “I’m glad that you’re ok. I’ll talk to you later. And then he’s gone. I doubt that he even heard our calls of good bye.

Cassie and I look at each other wide-eyed, laughing our as ses off. We gossip and laugh for the rest of the meal until Ray

comes up to the table.

“Trainee Moon. It’s time for your spar.” He doesn’t look me as he makes the announcement, though I can feel his b*dy leaning towards mine.

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Chapter 29 – Oakley

Goddess, I know I’m pis sed at him, but my traitorous b*dy keeps reminding me what it’s like to have him touch me. To have him hold me. To have him k*ss and caress and make love to me. I want him to do that now.

I nod and get up, following Ray out the door.

As we’re walking to the field, his hand lightly touches mine, just the barest brush of fingertips. “Are you ok?”

“I am,” I whisper back.

After walking a few more steps, he says, “I miss you.”

“I miss you, too.” I catch one of his fingers with my pinky, immediately feeling the sparks moving up and down my skin. “I’m not angry like I was. I just I need a minute to try and figure out what I want, especially with Levi and my family here.”

He nods and I hear him blow out a breath. But then he stops and turns to me. “You know that you’re going to make it through this round of cuts. It’s something that your mother has already told you. The Goddess has deemed you worthy of being a part of the Elite 10. What if…what if we go out on a date after your test? Then we have a chance to get to know each other better.”

I smile at him. Td love to. But, could we also do lunch every day until then?” Task “I just miss talking to you.”

His smile lights up his entire face. “Thank the Goddess. Yes.” He lifts up my hand and k*sses it and I feel the sparks intensify by his intimate touch.

We turn and walk a little more until we get to the field. I’m just about to walk into the square sandpit to spar when Ray whispers in my ear, “Don’t psych yourself out. You’ve got this.”

I turn and see Trainer Sophia in the center of the pit, two staffs in her hand. She tosses one to me that I catch easily enough. Take your stance trainee,” she says.

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