Page 51 of Alluring Darkness
Kaden lets out another low whistle and then shoots me a look full of dark anticipation. “Oh, that sounds like one hell of a plaything. You sure you don’t want to share her with us?”
“No,” I snap immediately.
Jealous, possessive rage burns through me at the mere thought of someone else seeing what Raina’s gorgeous face looks like when stars burst behind her eyes and breathy screams rip from her throat. Even my brothers.
That sight is only for me to see.
Only ever for me.
“No,” I repeat, a bit calmer this time.
Rico and Jace just shrug as if it’s no big deal.
Kaden looks a bit disappointed, but then he just sucks his teeth and shrugs too, accepting my decision.
But I still add one more time, just to really drive the point home.
“No one touches her but me.”
21
RAINA
The back of my neck prickles, but I don’t turn around. I already know that Eli is watching me from where he sits with his brothers higher up in the auditorium. Ignoring the way his gaze burns into the back of my head, I instead keep my attention fixed on the stage ahead where Professor Lawson has stepped up to the microphone.
“Good morning,” she says in a cheerful voice. “We are now just under two weeks away from the annual tournament.”
Whoops of excitement ring out from several people in the audience. Including Magda, who is sitting next to me. I steal a glance at her and then the two boys on my left. A wide grin decorates Magda’s usually so serious face. On my other side, Gabriel is giving Professor Lawson his polite boy-next-door smile while Paulo just watches her with his customary unreadable expression.
Apparently, I’m the only one who is outright dreading this bloody tournament. It’s easier to hide how terrible I am at everything when I’m in class. But in an actual competition, when I’m on a team with the Hunters? Everyone will see just how much I suck at everything. And I’m not looking forward to that.
“And do you know what that means?” Professor Lawson continues.
“Team training!” someone yells from the audience.
A ripple of excited laughter follows it.
“Correct.” Lawson hooks her loose brown curls behind her ears and flashes us a glittering smile. “Starting today, we will begin team training. In the mornings, all the way up until lunch, you will have classes as normal. But during the afternoons, you will have time to train as a team. What you choose to spend that time on is up to you.”
It takes great effort not to groan. I know that I technically want to keep Eli’s attention fixed on me, but spending every afternoon for two weeks alone with him and his three psycho brothers?
I risk a quick glance over my shoulder.
My heart lurches when I find all four Hunters staring straight at me with devilish grins on their faces.
Turning back to the stage, I massage my brows. This is going to be a rough couple of weeks.
“Any questions?” Professor Lawson asks. When no one speaks up, she nods. “Excellent. Then may the odds be ever in your favor.”
Everyone just looks back at her in silence.
She heaves an exasperated sigh and then snaps her fingers before pointing towards the door. “That means, get to class.”
Clothes rustle and shoes thud against the ground as we all get up from our seats and start heading for the door.
My morning class is about how to stay hidden in different environments. Just like every other class, it’s not something I excel at, but I know that it’s at least going to be better than whatever this afternoon brings.
I follow the others out of the main campus area and towards a building that almost looks like an aircraft hangar. I’ve been inside it before, of course, but the sight still takes my breath away.