Chapter 201
Chapter 201
ARIA
50%
Finished
I felt a little burst of vindictive satisfaction at seeing her in similar state to what I’d just experienced. At least I wasn’t the only one who’d been subjected to ice water torture this morning.
Kael saw them and his face lit up with amusement. “What happened to you?” he called out, clearly already suspecting the answer p>
“What do you think happened?” Ivory snarled, shooting Nina a glare that could have melted steel. “I was sleeping. In my bed. And these two-” she gestured at Nina and Margo, “-decided that dumping ice water on me was an appropriate wake-up method p>
“It worked, didn’t it?” Nina defended, still grinning. “You’re awake. You’re vertical. Mission accomplished p>
“You drenched my bed!” Ivory protested. “My sheets, my blankets, everything! I’m going to have to completely remake it before I can sleep tonight p>
“Two birds, one stone,” Nina said cheerfully. “Woke you up and got you bathed. Efficiency p>
Kael was laughing again, that same uninhibited amusement from earlier. “Now it’s payback for all those times you did it to me,” he said to Ivory. “Remember? During my curse? When you’d wake me with ice water and then act innocent when I’d chase you around the den p>
“That was different,” Ivory muttered, but I saw the corners of her mouth twitching like she was suppressing a smile. “You needed the wake-up. You’d sleep for sixteen hours straight if I let you p>
“And you need wake-up now,” Nina countered. “You were dead to the world. I tried the gentle approach first -calling your name, shaking your shoulder, pulling off your blankets. Nothing worked. So I escalated to
extreme measures p>
Kael reached out, using his towel to ruffle Ivory’s wet hair with the casual familiarity of someone who’d done this countless times before. “You need to dry this before it frizzes,” he said. “Otherwise you’ll spend the whole morning looking like you stuck your finger in electrical socket p>
“I’m waiting for the sun,” Ivory replied, her teeth chattering slightly from the cold. “Natural heat and light. Better for hair than aggressive towel assault p>
Kael rolled his eyes and continued patting her head with the towel-harder and harder strokes that were probably more aggressive than helpful. Like he was trying to annoy her into reacting.
Finally, Ivory grabbed the towel out of his hands with a growl. “Would you stop? Leave. Go away. Why are you still standing here in a group filled with women anyway? Keep this up and you’ll grow a pussy p>
The crude comment made me blink with surprise. I’d never heard Ivory curse or use that kind of language. But the familiarity between her and Kael-the ease with which she could insult him and he’d just laugh—it spoke to years of connection I’d never have.
“Jokes on you,” Kael shot back with a grin. “I look good in drag p>
“Truly, he does,” Nina confirmed, completely serious. “Ivory and Kael infiltrated an enemy pack once, dressed as women. Kael made a surprisingly convincing lady. Had pack members hitting on him all night until Ivory finally knocked the target out before Kael’s dignity perished entirely p>
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19:39 Sat, Jan 10 GGO
Chapter 201
50%
Finished
I stared at them, trying to process this information. Kael had dressed as a woman? To infiltrate a pack? And apparently looked good doing it?
“That was one mission,” Kael said, though he was still grinning. “One time. And I maintain that the wig was unflattering p>
“The wig was fine,” Ivory countered. “Your dignity was what was unflattering. You kept adjusting the fake breasts like they were uncomfortable p>
“They were uncomfortable!” Kael protested. “Do you know how much those things weigh? How am I supposed to function with pounds of silicon attached to my chest p>
“Women manage it,” Nina pointed out dryly.
“Women are stronger than me,” Kael conceded. “Obviously. Anyway-I’m leaving before this conversation destroys what’s left of my masculine image. I’ll see you all at the end of training p>
“Don’t expect us in full condition,” Ivory muttered, still working on drying her hair with aggressive towel
movements.
Nina turned her attention to me then, her expression becoming more assessing and less amused. “How are you holding up for your first day ever?” she asked. “Training at this level is intense. Not something most people jump into without significant preparation p>
The implication was clear-I was unprepared. Out of my depth. About to demonstrate inadequacy in front of everyone watching.
“I’ll manage,” I said, trying to sound confident. “I might not be as skilled as everyone else here, but I’ll do my best p>
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