By the third round, Silas tires. Jasper redoubles his speed. He’s just as fast as he was to start with, maybe even faster. But Silas is so massive that Jasper’s blows don’t have the same effect as they did on Kenzo Tanaka. Silas stumbles and reels without going down.
When the bell sounds, it’s clear that Jasper has won on points. Both he and Silas are a mess, blood raining down on the canvas.
By contrast, Dean makes short work of Kasper Markaj. Zoe wants to cheer for Kasper, even though he’s a Junior, but it’s clear from the start that he can’t keep up with Dean.
Dean moves through his footwork with balletic grace. Each blow is swift, calculated, and horribly strong. His fists are scythes, slicing through the air.
Miss Robin leans forward in her seat, her dark eyes locked on the fighters. Her cheeks are flushed, and she looked transfixed, barely breathing.
It strikes me that she might have come to this particular event because she likes boxing. It’s a curious preference for someone so gentle, but people don’t always resemble their interests. There are plenty of grannies that love wrestling, or bikers who like to bake.
Dean knocks Kasper to the canvas three times in the first round. On that third fall, Kasper doesn’t get up. He concedes the victory, stumbling out of the ring supported by Professor Howell.
Dean raises his own gloved fist in victory, stern and unsmiling. He doesn’t seem to get any joy from his wins. Yet I can tell how badly he wants them.
Professor Howell announces one more break before the final round.
Not a single person leaves their seat.
Everyone is wildly curious whether Dean will continue to prevail, or if Jasper will prove some kind of dark-horse phenom.
“I didn’t even know he was that good a fighter,” Leo says.
“I did,” Miles replies, unsmiling. “I’ve seen him in Combat class.”
“Still . . . taking down Silas . . .”
“Silas was pretty beat up from his first fight,” Ares says.
Hedeon isn’t joining in the conversation. The milk and cookies seemed to revive him slightly, but he’s still broody and pale.
Dean and Jasper take their places in the ring. Jasper is heavily marked from his battle with Silas, while Dean’s face is almost pristine. Neither boy shows a trace of nervousness—just cold intention. Dean has removed his shirt as well, his body is a testament to endless hours in the gym: focused, repeated training sculpting each muscle to superhuman perfection.
“God almighty,” Chay says quietly.
Anna shoots her a quelling look, probably for Leo’s benefit.
“I’m sorry!” Chay cries. “I know we hate him, but he’s a fucking specimen. Don’t worry, Leo, you are too—I saw you naked in the dining hall, so I know what you’re packing. I’m just saying . . .”
Leo doesn’t seem bothered, but Ozzy has fallen quiet on the opposite side of Chay.
The bell rings and Dean and Jasper close the space swiftly and silently. Like hawks they swoop and twist and dive at each other, clinging and breaking apart only to attack again, even faster than Dean’s fight with Zeke Golden. I have my hands pressed against my mouth, biting hard on my knuckle without even realizing it.
The blows hit in near-constant tempo, both Dean and Jasper wincing and spitting blood, but neither slowing for an instant.
Jasper pins Dean against the ropes and hits him with a punishing combination that seems like it might just win the fight. Dean fires back with a volley of punches that are the first Jasper truly seems to feel. He drops to his knee and Dean hits him again, knocking him flat on the canvas.
The fight is over. Dean won.
“Maybe Jasper could have made it if he didn’t fight Silas first,” Chay says.
“I doubt it,” Leo says, shaking his head. “Dean’s so fucking good.”
I know the animosity between Leo and Dean is still raw, but Leo’s pragmatism won’t let him deny Dean’s skill. He’s realistic, whether he likes the truth or not.
“You’re the one who picked him!” Anna reminds Leo. “We won the second challenge!”
“Dean won it,” Leo laughs.
“Under your excellent leadership,” she gives him a light kiss on the mouth.
I see Miles and Zoe exchange another glance. Probably wishing they could be affectionate whenever and wherever they like. Wishing that, like Anna and Leo, their marriage contract was a license to date and not a prison sentence.
“Well,” I sigh. “I’d better get going. I’m supposed to work on a coding project with Rakel this afternoon.”
“She talking to you now?” Chay laughs.
“Sometimes!” I say. “A lot, actually.”
“I bet poor Anna wishes I’d give her the silent treatment once in a while,” Chay says, grinning at Anna.
“Only after midnight,” Anna grumbles.
I climb down from the bleachers, planning to head to the computer lab in the Keep.
Heavy footsteps follow after me. I turn, expecting to see Leo or Miles, or maybe even Ares. Instead, I find Hedeon only an arm’s reach away.
“Oh, hello,” I say. “You have a class in the Keep, too?”
“No,” Hedeon says shortly.
He still looks pale and out of sorts. I don’t think he enjoyed the fights at all.
I don’t expect him to walk with me or talk to me either. We may have danced together at Halloween, but Hedeon and I are not friends. I’m sure the dancing was purely out of necessity—there’s a dearth of girls at Kingmakers, and Chay, Anna, and Zoe were already occupied.
So I’m surprised when Hedeon keeps pace with me, silent and scowling, like a grouchy, elongated shadow.
“You’re good at those hacking classes, huh?” he says abruptly.
“Uh, sure . . . good enough,” I reply. “I’m learning.”
“You have access to the school computers?”
“Yes . . .” I say hesitantly. “Limited access.”
“Could you get more?”
He’s watching me with sharp blue eyes under the straight, dark slashes of his brows. His voice is calm, but I hear the hidden edge underneath, like a razor blade buried in a cupcake.
I stop walking. “What are you asking me, exactly?”
Hedeon grabs my arm and pulls me into the shadow of the Armory, out of the flow of students heading toward the Keep.
“I want to know if you could hack into the school server.”
“I have no idea,” I say, staring up into his face. “I wouldn’t try.”
“I could pay you,” Hedeon says. I hear the urgency now, how badly he wants this.
I should just tell him no. I shouldn’t even be discussing this. But I’m prickling with curiosity.
I used to mind my own business. I used to be timid and safe.
Ever since I came to Kingmakers, I’ve become much more inquisitive. There’s a world of secrets and lies all around me. I’d like to know the answers to a few things . . .
Maybe the Spies are rubbing off on me after all.
“I have to know what you’re looking for,” I say. “Or else I won’t know if I can do it.”
Hedeon narrows his eyes at me, suspicious.
I try to maintain my innocent, wide-eyed expression. Like I only want to help him.