“I know. I’m so sorry I haven’t called you. It's my dad,” Bree said, preparing herself to once again lie to Zoe. “He was in a car accident the night before last. He was hurt badly, but he's okay now. He’s going to be fine. I was at Declan’s place when I got the call from my mom. I freaked out. They weren't sure he was going to pull through for a while there. Declan calmed me down and brought me home.”
Zoe’s voice was filled with worry and concern. “Oh my God, Bree! Do you need me? I can be there in a couple hours.”
Bree quickly stopped Zoe before she started packing her bags. “No, Zoe. I’m fine. Really. You don't need to come. Dad’s going to be okay. He’s just going to need some time to recover. I want to be here for him and my mom so I’m staying for a while to give them a hand. We’re fine, though. Really.” She worked to make her voice sound convincing.
Zoe wasn’t easily dissuaded. “Are you sure? You don’t sound like everything is okay, B.”
Bree closed her eyes and tried to push down the knot in her stomach. She was lying to her best friend. Again. And Zoe could tell something was wrong. She sighed and let a little of the worry creep into her voice when she spoke again. “I was so scared, Zoe,” her voice cracked and she took a shaky breath as she remembered her fear from that day. “He almost died and there was nothing I could do,” she said. “I’m just dealing with all these emotions. I promise, I’m okay now.”
Zoe sounded close to tears when she spoke again. “Bree. I can’t imagine what that was like. And your poor mom! She must have freaked. Is she okay? Is Declan still there with you?”
Bree thought back to that day when Declan had saved them all. His quick actions were what had bought them the time they needed. He was the reason her father was still alive. She would never forget that. Her heart sped up when she remembered him holding her in his lap when she was too shattered to even speak. She would be forever grateful for that moment of comfort. The smile in her voice was real when she answered Zoe. “My mom is fine. She’s sticking close to Dad’s side. Declan is staying for a while to help out. He’s been amazing, Zoe. Really. I don’t know if I would have made it through that day without him.” She wasn’t lying now.
Zoe’s voice now held a teasing note. “Hmm. Have you told him yet?”
“Told him what?’ Bree asked, confused.
“That you’re in love with him, obviously. That you want to marry him and have his babies. Duh.” Zoe said it as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Bree rolled her eyes and laughed. “Shut up. No one is getting married or having babies.” She could feel her face heat and her heart was hammering. She was glad no one was around to see her flustered expression. She spent the next 15 minutes talking to Zoe about everything but Declan. She didn’t give a clear date as to when she would return to school. Bree just hoped she would live to see her best friend again. Hours later, as she lay in bed trying to sleep, Bree’s thoughts kept coming back to that one sentence. “You’re in love with him.” She hadn’t denied it.
Bree could feel Declan’s fingertips lightly brushing the bare skin of her back. She smiled as her skin broke into gooseflesh. She heard his quiet chuckle before he said, “Ticklish?” Bree felt his warm breath on her skin and closed her eyes.
“Maybe,” she said, teasingly.
“Hmm,” Declan said, thoughtfully. “Is that a challenge?”
Bree felt anticipation coil low in her belly at his words. They were lying in his bed, the lamp lending a soft glow to the darkened room. She lay on her stomach, her head turned away from him, but now she shifted to face him. He was propped up on one elbow, gazing down at her. Reaching down, he brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear. Bree felt her pulse jump at the hungry look in his eyes. She bit her lip and her eyes travelled lower, down the expanse of his bare chest, to where the gray bed sheet rested at his waist. She dragged her gaze back up to Declan’s face.
He smiled mischievously and leaned closer to Bree. “I think I’ll take that challenge,” he whispered before she felt his lips brush against her bare shoulder. She felt a rush of heat spread outward from the place his lips touched. Her eyelids fell closed again and she gave a murmur of approval. She felt his tongue against her skin and resisted the urge to squirm. Her every nerve was alive with sensation and the anticipation of his next touch. She sucked in a breath when he blew softly on the patch of damp skin. Waves of goosebumps rippled over her body and she clenched a handful of the sheet in her fist.
Now Declan began to trail his hand lightly down her spine as though he were counting each vertebra. She fought to remain still, not to arch into his touch like a cat. She felt him shift slightly beside her and her toes curled waiting for his next teasing touch. His fingers left her back and she immediately missed the feel of his warm skin on hers.
“The thing is,” he whispered. “I’ve never backed down from a challenge.” She could feel his lips on her back, his stubble grazing her sensitive skin. She couldn’t remember ever needing anything more than she needed Declan’s touch right now. “Bree,” he whispered.
“Hmm?” she said.
“Have I told you how beautiful you are when you laugh?” he asked. She felt a moment of confusion before he began to viciously tickle her ribcage. She burst into shocked laughter and squirmed to get away.
“Declan!” she shouted through her laughter as she squirmed. “Stop!” More laughter. “Ah! Okay, okay!” she gasped. “You win!” She managed to turn onto her side facing him. She was laughing so hard she found it hard to catch her breath and her cheeks hurt from smiling.
Declan was laughing as she tried to grab his hands. She rolled onto her back, still struggling to catch her breath. He stopped tickling her and rested one hand on her waist. She was still smiling, her breath coming in fast gulps as she looked up into his eyes. His expression turned more serious and he brought his hand up to cup her cheek. “Marry me,” he said. He said it simply, as though his words weren’t the life–changing declaration they so obviously were. Bree’s breath stopped in her throat.
“What?” she managed to squeak out.
Declan’s smile grew. “Marry me,” he repeated. “I love you. I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow but I know one thing for certain.” He leaned closer, his thumb gently stroking her cheek. “I can’t imagine my life without you in it. Will you marry me?”
Bree was struck by the look in his eyes. Full of love and hope and tinged with a small amount of doubt. He wasn’t sure of her response. It was true that the thought of marriage hadn’t crossed her mind before now. Now that he’d voiced it, however, she couldn’t think of anything else. Her mind rushed through a distant hazy future and she pictured Declan in a tuxedo, waking up next to him every day, her holding a little boy with those same blue–green eyes and serious expression. Her heart swelled at the images and the intensity of emotion was nearly overwhelming. She opened her mouth to speak, but at first the words wouldn’t come.
“Bree,” Declan’s voice held a hint of alarm now at her silence. “It’s okay…”
Her hand came up and covered his mouth, stopping whatever he was about to say. “It’s my turn to talk,” she said. He nodded. Bree took a deep breath, trying to find the words she needed. “Declan,” she began. “I love you so much. More than I ever thought possible.” She trailed off, unable to find the right words to tell him how she felt. Suddenly, she felt tears prickle at the backs of her eyes and she briefly closed her eyes against them. When she opened them and looked at him, the right words came to her. “Yes,” she said simply. “I’ll marry you, Declan.”
The smile that broke across his face sparked her own. “Really?” Declan asked, his voice so eager that Bree gave a little laugh and nodded.
“Yes!” The word came out on a laugh. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him toward her. Just before their lips touched, she whispered, “Kiss your future wife.”
Declan smiled against her lips. “If you ins
ist,” he said.
Bree came to slowly, trying to make sense of the incessant buzzing sound near her head. Her brain finally registered that it was her alarm clock. She managed to reach over and press the button to stop the annoying sound but her eyes remained closed for a moment longer; wishing she could return to that place in her dream, but knowing it was a useless effort.
That was a new one, she thought, taking a shaky breath as she stared at the dark ceiling. Over the last several months, she’d had a variety of dreams involving Declan. In her dreams, the two of them had kissed, danced, confessed their love for one another, made love and watched one another die. Each time, the dreams had felt as real as anything she’d ever experienced in her waking hours, but this had been the most intimate, by far. She sat up and ran her hands through her hair, trying to get control of her racing heart. Her mind kept replaying scenes from the dream and she had to force herself to remember that she and Declan were not a couple. They were just friends. Teammates. Nothing more. Frustrated, she shook her head and went to the bathroom to splash cold water on her face.
Today was the first day of team training and she didn’t need any distractions. She and Declan were already at a disadvantage compared to the others and she didn’t want to be thought of as a liability to the team. She was determined to prove that she was an asset, rather than someone who needed saving. She dressed quickly and pulled her long hair into a high ponytail. She wasn’t sure exactly what to expect from today’s training but she was ready to get started. She couldn’t explain her eagerness to join the war, but it was there. Watching her father nearly die had changed something inside her. A spark of anger had been ignited and she wanted nothing more than to find Ephraim and stop him for good. The logical part of her mind understood how far–fetched that idea was. The Praetorians had been trying for decades to end the war. What made her think she could help? Bree didn’t think she was going to be the one to end the war singlehandedly, but she was determined to do her part. She never again wanted to feel as helpless as she’d felt the day her father had nearly died. She pushed aside the memory of huddling in the floor of the SUV watching as Sawyer worked to keep her father’s heart beating. She’d do whatever it took to ensure that she never felt that way again.
As she left her quarters, closing the door behind her, she saw Declan leaving his own room. Something inside her did a complicated flip and she ignored it as she always did, giving him a neutral smile as she walked to meet him.
“Good morning,” Declan said, returning her smile. He was wearing gym shorts and a gray shirt that fit him very well. Bree did her best not to notice. They turned and began to walk to the elevators together, neither speaking for the time being. The silence wasn’t uncomfortable. Rather, it felt normal, familiar. Bree was struck by the thought that she and Declan had grown so comfortable with one another that neither felt the need to fill the silence with unnecessary chatter. She smiled to herself before she realized what she was doing. Declan glanced over, noticing her expression. “What?” he asked, a small smile on his lips as well.
Bree gave a little shake of her head. “Nothing, really,” she said. “I was just thinking of how far we’ve come. You and me, I mean. Since that first meeting.” She trailed off, not knowing how to explain what she’d been thinking without embarrassing herself.
Declan studied her for a moment without speaking. He finally nodded. “I know what you mean,” he said simply. He didn’t elaborate further and she didn’t question him, but she had the thought that he really did know what she’d been thinking without her having to explain. She managed not to smile at the thought.
While Bree and Declan waited for the elevator, Jon and Rylee emerged from their room, the two of them laughing. Bree glanced down the hall in time to see her mother stand on her tiptoes to kiss her father’s cheek. He smiled and put his arm around her, pulling her close to his side. Bree couldn’t help but smile at their happiness. She had to admit that while it was still strange to see the two of them being openly affectionate, she was thrilled to see them so clearly in love.
Jon and Rylee greeted the two of them as the elevator doors opened. Together, the four of them made their way to the training arena and found Sawyer and Gwynn already there. Sawyer was busy stretching and gave them a wordless nod in greeting. Corbin walked in a few moments later and said nothing to the group. His face wore his usual closed off, surly expression as he walked past them and began to stretch. Bree knew he was their team leader but she wondered whether she would be able to work with him. How were they supposed to look to him for guidance when he barely spoke if Sawyer was around? She finished her stretches and tried to push the thought from her mind as Gwynn began to speak.
“Good morning everyone,” she said, her voice cheery despite the early hour. Gwynn’s long red hair was pulled up into a high ponytail again. She wore a black tank and cropped yoga pants. The long scar was vivid against the pale skin of her neck and Bree made a point of not staring at it. She wondered at its origins, but didn’t think she could ever work up the nerve to ask about it.
“We’re going to start with a warm–up run,” Gwynn said, smiling at the groans from the team. Bree hated running. She didn’t understand people who ran for fun. Did they like torture? She was in better shape than she’d been before meeting Sawyer, but she knew she wasn’t a strong runner.
Gwynn waited for the groans to subside before she spoke again. “Just two miles for today. We’ll build up over the next couple of weeks.” It took a lot of effort for Bree not to make a face at that. Two miles sounded like ten to someone who hated running. You signed up for this, she told herself. It’s too late to back out now. She straightened to her full height and pulled her shoulders back. She could do this.
Gwynn looked pointedly at Sawyer now. “How are the ribs?” she asked. Sawyer rolled her eyes but flashed Gwynn a cocky smile. Bree thought she looked like the old Sawyer for a split second.
“I’m good,” Sawyer told her. Gwynn studied Sawyer’s face for a moment and then nodded as though satisfied with what she saw there.
“No using your abilities,” she said, raising her brows pointedly at Sawyer who gave a chuckle at this. Gwynn turned to Declan. “That goes for you too, Thomas,” she told him. Declan flashed the woman a smile that was dangerous to Bree’s concentration. She tried not to remember her dream from the night before and the brilliant smile he’d given her when she’d agreed to marry him. She gave her head a small shake to clear it. She needed to focus on not dying during the warm up.
“Alright,” Gwynn said, giving two loud claps of her hands. “Six laps around the arena. Go.” They began to run.
Bree was slow but she survived. She didn’t care about running faster than the others. She only cared about not looking as out of shape as she felt. She maintained a steady pace and focused on her breathing, counting three steps for each inhalation and another three for each exhalation. She ignored how heavy her legs began to feel after the third lap and she tried not to notice when Corbin finished his sixth lap before she started her fourth. Her own mother finished slightly ahead of her but Bree didn’t let that bother her. She was proud that she’d run two miles without walking. She could do this.
After they all finished running, they stretched a bit before moving on to weight training. Bree hated this only slightly less than the running, but she didn’t complain. She also didn’t let her hatred for exercise allow her to slack off. She worked hard for the entire hour and did everything Gwynn instructed. When it was finally time for the cool–down stretch, Bree thought her muscles would never be the same, but she had to admit that she was proud of herself for pushing her body. She knew that the girl she’d been a few months earlier wouldn’t have been able to keep up with the rest of the group. Granted, she’d come in dead last during the run, but she’d finished. As much as she dreaded the idea of repeating the workout the next day, she knew that eventually she’d get to a place where it wasn’t so difficult. She knew she’d never love running,
but maybe someday she wouldn’t hate it quite so much.
After their workout, they went back to their quarters to get cleaned up before having breakfast in the dining hall. They’d all worked up an appetite and ate quickly, speaking little.
Now Bree, Declan, Rylee, and Jon sat in a small classroom waiting for the next part of their training. The class was intended to help the four of them get up to speed on Praetorian politics over the last 20 years. Sawyer and Corbin weren’t required to attend since they were already familiar with the information. Bree thought that was a good thing since the two of them were clearly eager to be out of one another’s company, especially Corbin.
She still wasn’t sure what to make of Corbin Teague. He had been quiet all morning, speaking only when someone addressed him directly. Even then, his responses were brief and terse. He was coldly polite to everyone, with the exception of Sawyer. When it came to her, he seemed to be intent on ignoring her entirely. Bree wasn’t sure how long that was going to work, especially since they were on the same team.
After everything Sawyer told her the day before, Bree saw Corbin in a slightly different light. He was clearly angry, but now she thought she knew where that anger stemmed from. She also wondered how much of his anger was masking pain. He was like a wounded animal, she thought. His physical injuries may have healed, but she thought he had some emotional wounds that were still raw. She made a mental note to watch his interactions with Sawyer. Whatever was between the two of them would eventually come to a head and Bree wasn’t sure she wanted to be in the blast radius when it did.
Lydia Wilks entered the classroom and stood at the front of the room. Bree thought that she was the perfect choice for a teacher. She seemed to exude patience and kindness. She flashed them all a friendly smile and said, “Good morning. It’s good to see you all again.” Bree thought back to the night they’d arrived and been debriefed by Lydia’s young son. The woman had been friendly and patient then, too. They’d been strangers to her and her son, but she’d welcomed them and treated them as friends. Bree wondered how difficult that must be for someone who’d only known a lifetime of war. It was clear that Sawyer and Corbin didn’t have the same easy trusting nature. They were on their guard at all times and it showed. She thought that Lydia was probably just better at hiding her distrust. Or maybe it was that Sawyer and Corbin didn’t care to hide it. No wonder Lydia had been chosen to greet the newcomers.
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