Invaded (Alienated, #2)(20)

She squeaked in pain and felt a sudden burst of energy—just enough to propel her into a run and carry her through the mile-long endurance track. After that, she breezed over the hurdles and approached the final obstacle: the cord maze, also known as the tangler. She barely had the strength to lift her head, let alone grip the overhead ropes and maneuver her way, monkey-bar-style, to the other side. She stood with her boots rooted to the ground, staring at the finish line in the distance.

So close, yet so far away…

Zzzttt!

Stifling a sob, Cara jumped up and grabbed the thick cord with both hands. She pumped her feet to create momentum, then swung forward to grip the next section of rope. Though the material was coated for maximum traction, she felt her fingers slipping with fatigue. But each time she slowed, a jolt of electricity stirred her adrenaline. She forced herself onward, drawing on power she didn’t know she possessed, until she reached the other side.

She wasted no time in barreling toward the finish line, head down, muscles burning, heart pounding as she drove her legs harder and faster. When she crossed the threshold, she heard Satan yell, “Sweeeeeney! You make most excellent time—top twenty in whole Aegis!”

Cara bent at the waist and gripped her knees, fighting for breath. Her stomach heaved, and she lost her breakfast in the bushes. But damn if she didn’t feel like a rock star.

Satan climbed down from the tree and removed her t’alar harness, then gave her a hearty smack on the back. “Eat plenty l’ina,” he said with pride. “And make much rest. Tomorrow we meet at intermediate course.”

“Sleep”—pant-gasp-wheeze—“l’ina”—pant-gasp-wheeze—“got it.”

Cara waved good-bye to Satan and dragged her rubbery legs toward the main building. The cafeteria would serve lunch in fifteen minutes, which meant she had to shower and dress in ten.

Her body gave her a second wind by the time she reached the courtyard. She noticed Troy there but didn’t bother to wave. He was engaged in a game of sticks with a couple of jerks named Odom and Skall. They usually hung out with Dahla, who was watching the game from the opposite side of the lawn.

Each boy gripped a wooden staff and circled his opponents, waiting for an opportunity to knock one another to the ground. Players weren’t allowed to strike the left side of the body, and they could only hit below the waist. They didn’t wear cups, either. Only the hard-core L’eihrs played sticks, and Troy was surprisingly good at it. He deflected each attack with lightning speed and struck back twice as hard, keeping Odom and Skall on the defensive.

Cara moved in closer.

Troy had pulled his black curls into a ponytail, and sweat dripped between his bare shoulder blades as he twirled his staff. Typically, Cara didn’t pay much attention to her brother’s body—because, ew—but she couldn’t help noticing how much he’d bulked up on L’eihr. He was seriously ripped, holding his own against the two largest clones in the Aegis. Even when Odom and Skall teamed up against him, Troy left them limping in pain, whacking one in the gut and the other in the thigh. Without hesitating, he swept his staff behind both men’s ankles and knocked them to the grass.

Cara summoned enough strength in her noodle arms to applaud her brother. “Woo-hoo,” she called while clapping wildly. “Go, Troy! You kicked—”

In a flash, something solid hit the backs of Cara’s knees, and she fell, hard. When she opened her eyes, she was staring at the beige sky and struggling to breathe. After blinking a few times, she pushed up on her elbows and realized Skall had used his stick to flatten her.

Dahla broke into hysterical laughter while Skall jumped to his feet. They pointed at Cara, clearly teasing her in their native language. A few onlookers joined in mocking her, and she half expected her brother to laugh the loudest.

But Troy was not amused.

His eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared. He threw down his staff and charged Skall without warning, planting his shoulder in the clone’s midsection. For the second time, Skall landed on his ass, but this was no game. Troy used the side of his hand to slam Skall’s windpipe, leaving him coughing and retching in the grass.

Odom rushed to his friend’s aid, but Troy stopped him with an expression that said, The Marines taught me how to pull a man’s nuts through his throat. Want a demonstration? Odom backed away, and Skall glared at Cara while he rubbed his neck. His message was also clear: Your brother won’t always be here to protect you.

“Let’s go.” Troy helped her to standing and brushed loose bits of grass from her uniform. Then he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, leading her up the front steps and into the Aegis lobby. When they reached Cara’s door, Troy held her at arm’s length and inspected her for damage.

“You all right?” he asked.

“Yeah, just got the wind knocked out of me.” She knew Troy wouldn’t like it, but she gave him a hug.

As she predicted, he squirmed away. “Gross, Pepper. I’m all sweaty.” He sniffed the air a few times. “And you smell.”

She glanced down the hall into the lobby, where Odom, Skall, and Dahla had just stalked inside. “Do you think they’ll tell the headmaster?” L’eihrs didn’t tolerate fighting, and she didn’t want Troy whipped with that awful electric lash.

“I doubt it.” Troy stretched and flexed his fingers. “If he snitches, he’ll have to admit that he hit you. He’ll keep his mouth shut—or his eyes shut, or whatever, since that’s how they talk.” He started to say something more, but Elle joined them, and Troy stood a few inches straighter and tightened his abs.