Axel shrugged, trying his best not to interfere.
“Yes, sir!” Yelena and Nat answered and rushed forward.
I scratched my head—damn this head since it suddenly felt itchy—and picked up my pace to catch up with my friends. This time, I really didn’t want to stand out, though that ship might have sailed when I walked in hand-in-hand with a demigod.
But it didn’t mean I wouldn’t salvage what was left of my dignity.
I lifted my chin and walked straight to show that I could be good soldier material. I had tried not to be soldier material, but the Academy had beaten me into the mindset after only two weeks.
The military was no joking matter, man. Once you got in, it was hard to get out without a body bag.
Yelena and Nat were assigned to spar each other with wooden swords. I was left behind as we once again had an odd number of people.
“You, girl,” the instructor said. “You’re the only one left.”
His hard eyes landed on me, evaluating me as if not sure what to do.
“My name is Marigold.” I offered.
“I know who you are,” he snapped.
“I can solve your problem,” I said, smiling in an attempt to create a good impression. I’d turned a new leaf since I’d decided to settle in the Academy with the demigods. “I can parry with...” I looked over my shoulder. My gaze caressed Axel but skimmed over him. He was in a corner engaged in a mental conversion with his cousins, irritation across his handsome face. My eyes landed on my guard. “Marie. She’d like that.”
Marie snorted.
“What?” I grinned at her. “Not up to the challenge, soldier? Did you see the action earlier? I cleaved a giant in half. That move isn’t easy to mimic and not for the fainthearted. I hope there’s a camera around the area and it caught the act. If so, any instructor is welcome to show it to the class.”
“To add more craziness to your name?” Marie asked.
She wouldn’t dare put crazy and me together in front of Héctor, even in teasing. The death demigod was super protective of me. He’d demanded his demigod cousins apologize to me when he thought their words didn’t please me.
If Esme hadn’t put a stop to it, he’d have thrown Demetra into the dungeon for throwing a few threats at me.
“Is this a military class or a women’s gossip club?” the instructor asked without humor.
“Simmer down, Murphy,” Marie said as she went to grab two wooden swords. That soldier was always effective. “You might as well get used to chaos whenever Marigold is in your class. Even though I ain’t a psychic, I assure you your class won’t go smoothly and won’t keep order, no matter how much you like everything to be in order.”
“Hey, Marie,” I called. “Whose side are you on?”
“This is my classroom,” Murphy said, darting his annoyed stare from Marie to me. “Marie, stand by. And you,initiate, you’ll learn your place and appropriate discipline.”
“You’ll parry with someone your level,” he continued, his unsympathetic gaze surveying the rest of the class. “Who’s willing to accept Marigold into their ranks and enjoy a three-way engarde?”
Both Nat and Yelena raised their wooden swords eagerly.
“Not you two,” the instructor said. “This isn’t a friend zone where the three of you can have a tea party. Anyone else?”
Silence.
Either I wasn’t popular or no one wanted to parry with crazy. Probably both.
I grinned at the instructor. “Looks like Marie has to step in unless you volunteer, Sir Murphy.”
Marie snickered.
The instructor gave me a hard look, then pointed at Demetra’s group. “You’ll join them.”
“What are the rules, sir?” Demetra asked.