“You get to torture each other.”
Fuck.
I glance at Alek and Armani, then my eyes flick to the other four attendees.
“The sooner you get used to inflicting pain and ignoring the agonizing screams of your enemy, the better,” Instructor Volkov adds. “You can leave.”
We all get up, then he says, “Oh, I suggest you skip breakfast tomorrow morning.”
Walking out of the room, Alek looks at his hand, grumbling, “I just got a manicure. Whoever tortures me better not decide to pull my nails. The last time that happened, the fuckers took a year to grow back.”
“Initiation,” I chuckle. “I don’t miss it.”
“Me neither,” Armani comments, then he exhales loudly. “If you’re given a choice, what torture method are you willing to be subjected to?"
“None.” Alek lets out a burst of laughter. “I’m kind of attached to all my body parts.”
Just then, Aurora and Abbie come walking down the hallway, heading in our direction. They probably have a lesson to attend.
I’m looking at the torture method I’d like to avoid.
Armani glances at me, asking, “And you?”
Red blemishes on Aurora’s neck catch my eyes and keep them imprisoned.
Jesus. I did that to her.
Intense regret rears up in my chest.
“Misha,” Alek whisper-hisses when we’re in hearing distance of the girls.
My eyes lift to Aurora’s face, but she’s not looking at me. However, she seems pissed off as her eyes flick from Armani to Alek.
Nobody makes an effort to step out of the way, and I’m honestly surprised when Aurora passes by me, suddenly shoving hard at my shoulder with both her hands.
For a moment, I’m caught off guard and bump into Alek before catching my balance.
“Asshole,” she snaps, right before her palm burns across my face, the slap resounding in the air. “That’s for leaving marks on my neck.”
I’m still blinking when she continues to walk down the hallway, her head held high.
Armani lets out an incredulous bark of laughter while Alek watches everything with simmering anger.
Blyad'! Just what I fucking need today.
Knowing I can’t let her get away with slapping me in front of my friends, I set after her.
I grab her arm and almost yank her off her feet before I slam her against the wall. My body crowds hers, and her eyes meet mine, rage darkening her green irises.
“Let her go!” Abbie shouts as she comes at me.
Alek and Armani grab hold of Abbie, restraining her, and it leaves me to deal with Aurora, the little deer that’s too brave for her own good.
She lifts her chin, then taunts me, “What are you going to do, Misha? Choke me again?”
Christ, this woman!
My fist slams so hard into the wall I feel the skin over my knuckles split. With the blow inches from her head, she at least has the commonsense to flinch.