Free The Raven Series 2 by J.L. Weil Page B

complete jackass of myself.”
    His usual smugness oozed from his half smile. “Princess, that’s inevitable.”
    In a jerk reaction, I punched him the arm. “Thanks a lot. I feel so much better.”
    Unfazed, his grin only widened. “Save it for the ring, Rocky.”
    The hall led to a circular steel room, with a set of stairs that led to what I guessed was a combat floor. A computer hub lined the wall to my left. Around the upper level was a sequence of large arched doorways, opening up to other areas of…I had no idea what went on in those other areas. “What is this, the Batcave?”
    “Something like that.”
    My gaze roamed to the other occupants in the room. I recognized only a handful, excluding my arrogant instructor. Aspyn was stretching her long legs on the mat. She caught my eye and winked.
    Venus, the ginger skank, was whispering to a group of girls huddled below in a corner. We’d never officially been introduced, but I didn’t need an introduction to know that Venus and I would never been friends. We both wanted to the same guy. Her eyes went straight to Zane, glimmering with elation, only to turn to disdain when they landed on me.
    Wonderful .
    Another enemy. Just add her to the long list of reapers who wanted me dead.
    I felt everyone’s eyes on me the moment Zane and I proceeded into the room. We hadn’t started and my head was already beginning to throb.
    As we eased down the stairs, I let my hand trail along the metal railing. The lower level was cool and smelled slightly of my school gym. Not what I would consider a pleasant scent. And the memories associated with gym class were ones I’d rather never relive. Cushioned blue floor mats covered most of the floor and squished under my tennis shoes. We wove in and around reapers, careful to not disturb their routine or get accidently popped in the mouth by a flying fist. If anyone were going to get hurt, it would be me. And it was going to be something as simple and stupid as tripping over my own feet.
    I should have been paying more attention to where I was going. As we passed Venus and her rotten groupies, I stepped on my shoelace, tangling my feet, and came inches from face-planting the mats. A sharp pain shot over my ankle, and I winced. “Dammit.” As first impressions went, I’d knocked it out of the park. Was it possible for me to start this day over?
    Zane’s struggled and failed to keep the amusement off his lips. He extended a hand. “You okay?”
    I burned him with a scowl and ignored the help, pushing myself up. “There was an invisible bump or something on the mat. I swear.”
    “Uh-huh,” he stated, finally stopping at an empty spot in the corner. “You ready?”
    I snorted. Did I look ready? My heart was jumping out of my chest. Securing my hair into a ponytail, I cleared my throat. “So, um, what do I do?”
    Zane smiled smugly. “First”—he tweaked the end of my nose—“we need to teach you the basics. Lesson number one: Never lose sight of your target.”
    “Thanks,” I said dryly. “I’ll try to remember that.”
    “You have an overabundance of enemies now, and learning to fight and use your inherited gifts will be crucial,” he continued. “Even though I’ve taken an oath to protect you, I might not always get to you in time.”
    I nodded. I fully understood the danger I was in, and I could admit there was a sense of security and empowerment in the idea of being able to handle myself with more than snappy words.
    He took a breath and backed up. “Now hit me.”
    “With pleasure.” I took advantage of the moment and plunged forward, curling my fist and then hurling it into Zane’s gut. God that felt good. At least it did for about two seconds before the pain started radiating down my hand, but I kept a stiff lip.
    “You hit like a girl, princess.”
    I angled my head to one side. “How about that? I am a girl, in case you haven’t noticed.”
    “Oh, I noticed,” he said low enough for just my ears.
    I