real fight. I let go, and Lionel jumped to his feet. We clasped hands and hugged briefly, patting each other on the back. It was—nice. Our camaraderie had solidified into friendship. I’d fallen into a rhythm with him and we worked well together. It was strange to be so at ease with him, the only person I’d been this close to before was Blue.
“Thanks, for letting me kick your arse, pussy cat.”
He flashed me a warning look.
I winked and gave him a bright smile. “What? Why should I get all the nicknames?”
All I got was a grunt. Rawson and Lionel wandered off for food and Reed sauntered over. I greeted him with a smile. Stone might be happy to take me out, or to let someone else do it, but the other brothers weren’t.
“Hi, Reed.”
“Hey. Would you like to go and get some lunch?’ he asked, in that perfect upper class accent of his.
I blew out a shaky breath. “Sure, though I’m not convinced we can really call it lunch. In fact, I’m not sure what we are forced to eat is actually classified as food out in the real world.”
He laughed, his eyes twinkling. He wasn’t as muscular as the others, but he was attractive in that geeky kind of way some men had. His hair flopped onto his forehead making him look younger, and his body was sinewy and strong. Fluidly, he jumped up on the ring side and held the ropes apart for me.
I scrambled out, trying not to look too obvious as I searched the room for Connor, though the energy that accompanied him had disappeared.
“He’s gone for a meeting with Drake, I believe,” said Reed.
I nodded, hiding my disappointment and followed Reed to the west wing food hall. It wasn’t until I’d sat down with Reed at my side, at the same table as I’d sat with Connor the day before, that I realised I hadn’t even considered going to the south wing food hall. I ate what was supposed to be beef and potato pie then quickly peeled an orange. I needed my vitamins just like everyone else. Despite our limited ability to heal with the collars holding back our shifter traits, if we kept ourselves well fed and healthy, it helped—and it seemed the warden knew that too. I chugged down a cup of milk and wiped my forearm over my mouth. Reed looked at me like I was crazy.
“You can slow down, you know, no one’s going to whip it away before you have finished.”
“No, but they might decide to pick a fight before I’m done eating, and that would be a waste.”
“You aren't in gen pop anymore.” A slight frown creased his brow.
“No, but old habits die hard. And they started way before I came to this place.”
He shook his head, but didn’t say anything else.
Finished with our food, we made our way back to the training hall. Stone stood at the entrance to the main corridor. I ignored him though Reed nodded. Stone waited until Reed had passed him, then shoved his arm out anchoring it on the wall opposite. “You can’t go through yet.”
I resisted the urge to head butt him. “Why not?”
“The Prime wants the corridor kept clear until he says otherwise. That includes you—she-wolf.”
“What’s with all the godsdamn nicknames today?” I rolled my eyes and looked to Reed for help.
He frowned, but didn’t argue with Stone. “How long?’ he asked instead.
Stone frowned, still staring down at me. “He didn’t say.”
My attention was captured by movement in the corridor. One of the laundry guys pushed a cart of stinking garments along, his face blank, his eyes dull. At least he wasn’t likely to have to fight to the death in two weeks. My nerve endings ignited as a familiar wave of energy washed over me. Connor was near. I strained to see what he was up to. Above us the guards were doing their normal pacing, not really paying attention to what was happening in the corridors below. They were mostly gathered on the walkways above the food hall, talking. A group of them peeled away and without any interest in what was happening below their boots, one pulled off a glove. I watched from under my lashes as the guard placed a smallish hand on a glass pad and was locked in position. It was the same blood and DNA recognition they’d used for years. Part of me rejoiced, the information wasn’t much, but I’d learned something.