the knife a snap with her fingers, turning the blade into a spinning blur. "I dislike humans." She watched the knife. "They're too weak to do anything but procreate like cockroaches. And too stupid to do anything but live short, futile lives that inconvenience others."
"What do you want, Rosalind?" I asked, relaxing my body as I prepared for the knife throw option.
"As repulsive a thought as it is, I have to know. Are you and Cooper lovers?"
Somewhere at the front of the library, Noah dropped a book.
"It's not against the law," I said.
"Yet," she countered.
We sized each other up.
With the lightning fast reflexes that only paras could manage, she slammed her hand down on the knife, stopping it. I flinched and she flashed a cold, predatory mockery of a smile at me. "Tell me I'm wrong and I'll force Deg to withdraw his challenge."
"Okay, you're wrong. Cooper and I are only friends. Barely acquaintances, really." I watched her nostrils flare as she tested the air. Then her mouth compressed into a thin line. Yeah, that's right, bitch. Flat out lie. In your face.
Her eye twitched and I snapped the book up in front of me, the impact of her knife burying into it, knocking me back a step. Before the handle stopped vibrating, she was beside me, her pale green gaze boring into me. "Die today and prove it."
Turning, she strolled out of the library. I flipped the book over and pulled the knife out of it. The inlaid onyx along its handle formed the shape of a claw-tipped wolf's paw. The blade looked strong and sharp, probably titanium, which meant it could do some serious damage to any para that got in its way. I hefted the knife in my hand, appreciating its perfect balance.
Sweet.
Noah came up to me, his wide-eyed gaze on the weapon. "Wolf's Blood," he whispered, awe and fear in his voice.
"Watch your language." Pulling my old knife from the sheath in my boot, I slid Wolf's Blood in to replace it.
"It's the name of her knife," he protested. "She's marked you for assassination."
"And giving her intended victim a cool new weapon doesn't seem like a conflict of interest to her?" I finished tucking my jeans into the top of my boots to give myself easy access and straightened up.
His distressed gaze caught mine. "It's an insult. She's telling everyone that it doesn't matter what you have, what you do, or where you go, she'll kill you in the end."
"And here I thought she didn't care." I gave Noah a reassuring smile and handed him my knife. "A gift. You can even name it."
Turning, I headed for the door. "And don't worry," I said over my shoulder. "Maybe Deg will beat her to it."
* * *
Cooper trudged between two guards and focused on keeping his back straight as he climbed the steps to the top tier where his brother's quarters were. He tried not to think about the scorching pain in his shoulder, the sweat beading his forehead and the nausea churning in his stomach. His respect for humans had grown considerably during the long hours that he'd laid in his cold cell slowly dying from an infected wound.
In another day or two he'd go into a coma if the collar didn't come off. Then his organs would shut down one by one until he was gone. For the second time in his life he'd be dead.
Normally, he might be able to stir up some kind of concern about that possible outcome, but all he could feel was the agonizing loss of Addison's presence in his heart. The only regret he had was that he hadn't had a chance to finalize their bond and make her truly his in the eyes of his Clan.
The guards took him down the hall and brought him to a stop in front of the Alpha's quarters and exchanged greetings with their comrades. Cooper studied the heavy wood door carved with the faces of all the past Alphas. He found the likeness of his father, remembering the bizarre experience of standing beside his body and watching while the little practitioner tried to save his life.
His father had been beside him then
"What do you want, Rosalind?" I asked, relaxing my body as I prepared for the knife throw option.
"As repulsive a thought as it is, I have to know. Are you and Cooper lovers?"
Somewhere at the front of the library, Noah dropped a book.
"It's not against the law," I said.
"Yet," she countered.
We sized each other up.
With the lightning fast reflexes that only paras could manage, she slammed her hand down on the knife, stopping it. I flinched and she flashed a cold, predatory mockery of a smile at me. "Tell me I'm wrong and I'll force Deg to withdraw his challenge."
"Okay, you're wrong. Cooper and I are only friends. Barely acquaintances, really." I watched her nostrils flare as she tested the air. Then her mouth compressed into a thin line. Yeah, that's right, bitch. Flat out lie. In your face.
Her eye twitched and I snapped the book up in front of me, the impact of her knife burying into it, knocking me back a step. Before the handle stopped vibrating, she was beside me, her pale green gaze boring into me. "Die today and prove it."
Turning, she strolled out of the library. I flipped the book over and pulled the knife out of it. The inlaid onyx along its handle formed the shape of a claw-tipped wolf's paw. The blade looked strong and sharp, probably titanium, which meant it could do some serious damage to any para that got in its way. I hefted the knife in my hand, appreciating its perfect balance.
Sweet.
Noah came up to me, his wide-eyed gaze on the weapon. "Wolf's Blood," he whispered, awe and fear in his voice.
"Watch your language." Pulling my old knife from the sheath in my boot, I slid Wolf's Blood in to replace it.
"It's the name of her knife," he protested. "She's marked you for assassination."
"And giving her intended victim a cool new weapon doesn't seem like a conflict of interest to her?" I finished tucking my jeans into the top of my boots to give myself easy access and straightened up.
His distressed gaze caught mine. "It's an insult. She's telling everyone that it doesn't matter what you have, what you do, or where you go, she'll kill you in the end."
"And here I thought she didn't care." I gave Noah a reassuring smile and handed him my knife. "A gift. You can even name it."
Turning, I headed for the door. "And don't worry," I said over my shoulder. "Maybe Deg will beat her to it."
* * *
Cooper trudged between two guards and focused on keeping his back straight as he climbed the steps to the top tier where his brother's quarters were. He tried not to think about the scorching pain in his shoulder, the sweat beading his forehead and the nausea churning in his stomach. His respect for humans had grown considerably during the long hours that he'd laid in his cold cell slowly dying from an infected wound.
In another day or two he'd go into a coma if the collar didn't come off. Then his organs would shut down one by one until he was gone. For the second time in his life he'd be dead.
Normally, he might be able to stir up some kind of concern about that possible outcome, but all he could feel was the agonizing loss of Addison's presence in his heart. The only regret he had was that he hadn't had a chance to finalize their bond and make her truly his in the eyes of his Clan.
The guards took him down the hall and brought him to a stop in front of the Alpha's quarters and exchanged greetings with their comrades. Cooper studied the heavy wood door carved with the faces of all the past Alphas. He found the likeness of his father, remembering the bizarre experience of standing beside his body and watching while the little practitioner tried to save his life.
His father had been beside him then
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