Kyle knew the woman on her knees on this gigantic bed giving him the best blow job of his young life was pure evil. But that didn’t stop his eyes from rolling back in his head. Or stop him from gripping her hair as he finished.

Colita came to Kyle in his dreams offering an exchange of information, and now he knew all about Nox’s designs on Rayne. Designs Xelan was keeping from them.

In return, Kyle told Colita of their training schedules—Something any stalker could find out with a little persistence. It wasn’t like it was vital information or anything.

Colita’s blond curls fell around her angelic face as she rose on her knees, a satisfied smirk on her exquisite mouth. When the Icarean female licked her lips, Kyle was ready to go again. “That was incredible.”

Kyle held his arms out to Colita, who curled up against him with a purr. “We can spend every night like this. If you like.”

He would like, only… “Aren’t you Nox’s woman or something?”

Colita’s bitter laughter tinkered like broken glass before she said, “In name only. It pleases me to find gratification with his enemies.” Languidly, she traced circular designs with her long fingernails on Kyle’s bare chest, eliciting a shiver of desire. “Especially, one so eager.”

Yup.

Kyle’s soldier stood at attention to prove her point. Colita went to grip him, but he stopped her. It was so antithesis to the testosterone pumping through his system that Kyle wanted to kick his own ass. Still, he manned up and swallowed the pressing need in order to say, “I appreciate what you’re willing to teach me, but this won’t become anything else.”

Colita smiled as if she approved of his candor. “I believe the sentiment is mutual. Now…” She took his hand and placed it in between her thighs, exciting him further. “If you want to impress girls—and I presume there is one in particular—then this is your next lesson.”

Kyle took to it eagerly.

The next morning came too soon, pun not intended.

Kyle hated leaving his sisters alone for a Saturday afternoon with their mother, but they both assured him they’d be fine for one baseball game. J. A. Fair’s parking lot was packed, more so than any other sporting event Kyle could recall. The baseball team’s reputation over the last two years had pulled in the community crowds and scouts.

What little shit Kyle gave about sports made him agree to come support Matt, if only to hang out with Rayne outside of a training scenario or a boring class.

Kyle found her in the stands with Tameka, but he could tell from the end of the bleachers that something was wrong. After moving through a crowded line to claim his seat, he waved. “Hey. What’s up?”

Rayne didn’t answer.

Tameka only nodded toward the front row.

Oh.

Sagan was sitting down there with Justin and the other Overachievers. Not a damned one of them looked happy. But why did that upset Rayne—

Oh.

Oh, fuck no.

When Sagan turned to wave at Matt Anderson, Kyle saw the black eye. “I’ll fucking kill him—”

Rayne grabbed Kyle’s arm, stopping him from marching down there and beating the bastard to death. Kyle snapped around to meet Rayne’s eyes and almost choked on his own recklessness.

A storm brewed in Rayne, lightning igniting her blood. She was breathing hard with the effort to restrain herself, teeth and fists clenched.

“After Rayne spent a week in detention, Xelan told us no more fights,” Tameka explained, because Rayne couldn’t speak for the turmoil spinning inside her. The most mature Progeny sighed with hefty regret. “And to some extent, Sagan needs to get herself out of this. She could break every one of Justin’s bones, but for some reason she’s letting him be a bastard.”

Kyle growled, “How long are we supposed to put up with this?”

Rayne sounded hollowed out as she said, “It’s already been seventy-nine hours and at least twenty-two minutes.”

Despite their usual strife, Tameka and Kyle shared a concerned glance. A few days ago, Rayne had started counting everything. Tiles on the floor, people between her and the exits, and steps on the training course. It seemed like a tick or something she couldn’t shake.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Tameka put an arm around Rayne.

“Hey, guys! Are you excited to see the Wareagles beat the Tigers?” Unaware of the tension in their friend group, Nikki sparkled with sweetness as she took the seat on the other side of Tameka.

“I’m only here for the hot dogs,” John announced as he sat beside Nikki.

Kyle wanted to pull his hair out, but as the bleachers filled with innocent bystanders, it became increasingly more difficult to discuss the Sagan situation in any kind of privacy. Grumpy, he plopped down beside Rayne and sulked.

Tameka was better with compartmentalizing. “Hey, you two. I’m mostly here to cheer on Matt.”

From behind, another friendly voice chimed in. “I know, right? He’s gotten so good that he’s practically carrying the team.”

Tameka turned and shot Pablo a friendly smile. Kyle managed to offer him a halfhearted wave.

But the young medical science student went totally red and stared straight ahead with his mouth hanging open.

What in the world was making him—

Oh.

Lynn looked especially sexy in her drill team uniform, dancing to get the crowd hyped. Her braids swayed as an extension of herself through the elaborate twirling and flipping. When she finished a back walkover with the splits, Pablo swallowed hard enough for Kyle to hear it from one row down.

It was enough to lighten Kyle’s mood some. He nudged Rayne and whispered, “Hey.”

Rayne took her heavily lined eyes off the back of Justin’s head and met Kyle’s.

He said, “We’ll talk to Xelan and convince him to make an exception in this case. I’ll make it clear this isn’t reckless violence, but a way to help Sagan.”

A weak smile tugged at Rayne’s lips. “Thanks. I hope it works.”

“Shit!” John stood, revealing a streak of mustard down his shirt. The hot dog landed beneath the bleachers. “Damn, I was enjoying that.”

“Do I hear swearing, young man?!” Mrs. Mendax manifested from out of the ether. “Do you want a week of detention like Ms. Callahan, here?”

Bad timing.

Kyle heard Rayne clench her jaw to keep from popping off. On the other side of her, Tameka took Rayne’s hand in a show of support.

John looked abashed as he said, “Sorry, Mrs. Mendax. It won’t happen again.”

The principal nodded her approval. “Better not.”

The second the short authority figure was out of earshot, Justin sneered from the first row, “You’d better go buy yourself a wiener, John. How else would you qualify as a man?”

Obviously, the Overachievers laughed, but many others in the crowd joined in the ridicule.

Sagan kept her gaze on the field, her stiffening was the only reaction to her boyfriend’s cruel taunts.

As John’s face fell and the color drained from his Osage complexion, Kyle knew just the thing.

“Yo, John.”

The other boy flinched, steeling himself for more ugliness, but Kyle was tired of bullshit. He slipped out of his shirt and went to John’s side. “Here.”

Kyle tried not to look smug as the crowd hushed. All these years of kicking ass and training had left him ripped. That put an end to the jeering taunts.

John took the offered shirt, as the two guys walked back to the concession stands. John muttered, “Thanks.”

Pleased for the excuse to show off all the hard work, Kyle grinned. “No worries, man.”

John hid under the bleachers and changed into the fresh tee, scrawny and fatigued from the effort of dressing.

Now there was an idea.

Hot dog firmly in hand, John returned with Kyle to the bleachers. Kyle took up his seat beside Rayne and whispered, “Hey, I think Xelan should train John, too. Look at him…”

Rayne did. Then the most beautiful smile blossomed on her face. “You’re right. We can talk to Xelan tonight about John and Sagan.”

“Cool.”

Matt did carry the team. He was humble about it even as the team surged onto the field and lifted him up after the winning home run.

Sagan remained miserable the entire game, and Rayne didn’t look much better. Even though all of their friend group was watching the disaster unfold, they could only exchange concerned glances. Kyle made it home to find his mother passed out drunk on the couch and his sisters gone for the night at a friend’s place. He easily ‘borrowed’ the Lincoln for Saturday night training, from which Sagan was absent.

By the time Kyle had arrived at the training grounds, the ‘rescue Sagan’ conversation was well underway. Tameka, Rayne, and Andrew all looked expectantly at Xelan for guidance.

The Icarus gave a heavy sigh. “This situation sounds awful. Kyle, have you also noticed—”

“Sagan’s shiner? Yeah. I’m sure that’s why she’s not here tonight so she can hide it from you.” Kyle didn’t bother keeping his exasperation out of his voice.

Rayne looked wrung out and left to dry. “Please, Xelan. Just this once?”

Tameka even agreed. “The jerk needs his ass kicked.”

Xelan staved them with both hands. “I understand what you’re saying. Talk with her again, if you can. Give it a little time, and if the situation doesn’t improve. Well… Try not to kill him.”

With a grateful cry, Rayne jumped up and threw her arms around Xelan.

Kyle folded his arms, skeptical. “Why not sooner?”

Tameka scowled at Kyle. “We can’t go around assaulting people.”

Kyle glared.

Andrew got between them. “She’s right, Roberts.”

Kyle huffed. “Benedict Holt.”

“That’s enough.”

They all faced Rayne. “We love Sagan, and I hope she’ll deal with it herself. But if not, I’ll step in. Until then, we train as usual and try not to push her further way.”

Xelan gave Rayne a look of pure affection. “Well said.”

Kyle let it go only so he could bring up, “Do you have more time in your schedule to train another of Justin’s victims to defend themselves?”

A little taken aback, Xelan asked, “Seriously? What is up with this little snit?”

Tameka laughed.

Andrew shrugged. “Not everyone is trained in self-defense or has the confidence to stand up to dickheads.”

Xelan bit his thumbnail, murmuring, “Fair.” After some time, he said, “Yeah. I can fit another trainee. Nikki’s doing great, so I don’t mind.”

Rayne hugged him again. “Thank you.”

Sure, Xelan got all the credit, but all of this was Kyle’s idea.

That night, Colita agreed. “You deserve more recognition, but it’s hard being in the shadow of someone who shines as brightly as the traitor.”

Rested on his chest between rounds of sex, Kyle ran his fingers through her hair. “You know him?”

“Oh, yes. We were once friends.”

With some playful force, Kyle flipped Colita over on her back and settled between her legs. “Can you tell me more?”

She laughed, and it was a pretty sound, before saying, “That depends on how well you perform.”

Kyle performed very, very well.