Jason

  I could feel Angelica stealing glances at me, and wondered again why she was here.

  Sam was still in the center of the room - over half the students defeated, sent to view her from a distance as she lashed out and rocked her newest opponent off his feet.

  The male thumped to the mat and scrambled back as she stepped forward, laughing. “Next!”

  Her eyes had never once flipped into a shade other than black. Sam was stronger than I’d given her credit for. How could she resist so many males tempting her? They hadn’t been gentle about it. One of them, the animal-like man with a purple stripe, had even tried to force a kiss. Her slap had sent him to his knees and roused anger in the hall. With that move, Sam had turned the session from a lusty frolic, into a scene of battle.

  Candice and Baker were staying mostly quiet now, only occasionally offering an idea or switching out males. Their pleased attitudes said they’d been counting on this.

  Thud!

  Another man went to the floor and no one else stepped up to challenge her.

  “She’s like Rankin,” one of them muttered with a hot, hateful glare that Sam leered in response to.

  “Maybe she and I will cross paths again before this is all over.”

  That thought hadn’t occurred to the males, and they immediately began to view Sam as their champion, the one who might be able to do what we all wanted to - kill Rankin.

  “Who wants to go next, or is this lesson over?”

  Sam’s tone said she had more to dish out, but I saw the hesitation when the next rebel accepted her challenge.

  “Just me.”

  Baker took a moment to shed his shirt, revealing a thick, tan chest with scars running the length. Under those badges of courage, were hard muscles and cool control. I leaned forward eagerly.

  Baker’s voice began steady, firm. “Some Changelings are harder to judge.”

  He moved a bit closer, circling her, and Sam held still, allowing him to teach.

  “We all know there are ways to make them snap, but you don’t want that.”

  He stopped suddenly, voice dropping into a tone that had even Candice and Angelica tensing.

  “You want them enthralled, mesmerized by your tone, your words… your intent.”

  His leer went over Sam from head to toe, and her lips tightened into a thin line.

  “At this point, you have the advantage. She doesn’t know what tactics you’ll pick, but she’s not concentrating on forming a plan against them. She’s being slapped with your voice,” he stated, tone rumbling into a base that promised pleasure. “She wants you. Use it.”

  Baker lunged, big arms wrapping Sam up tightly around her throat and chest. Instead of struggling, she let him ease her to her knees.

  “If I tightened my grip, I could put her to sleep or even kill her. Distraction is a very valuable tool.”

  As Baker let go of Sam and moved back, I narrowed in on his pounding pulse. I recognized that reaction. He wanted her.

  Sam rose to her feet, sensual Pruett lips curving into a challenging smile. “And what if they’ve lost the element of surprise? What happens then?”

  Baker shrugged. “Then they fight or submit. It’s their choice to make.”

  “Meaning males feel this fire as much as the females do?”

  His face tightened. “We don’t turn into animals, but yes. We feel it.”

  Sam moved toward him, now the one on the hunt. “So they should be careful not to fall for the same tricks, right? Like if I did this…”

  Her hand slid along the bare flesh of his tattooed arm and moved toward his shoulder.

  Baker’s hand caught hers in a tight grip. “While the woman is so close, they should use the moment to distract her further, so they can use their weapon.”

  Baker demonstrated by jerking Sam up against his chest and slanting his mouth over hers.

  Sam didn’t resist. She also didn’t appear to respond, but when he drew back, we all saw the pink orbs.

  Baker’s tone was compassionate, a contrast to his words as he stared into Sam’s weathered face. “Every Changeling has this weakness. All it takes is the courage to use it against them.”

  “I have a question, Mr. Rebel Leader.” Sam’s tone was unreadable as he let her go.

  Baker nodded, staying close enough to kiss her again. “Yes, Sam?”

  “I’ve been told your name is on the renters list and the private sheet. Is that true?”

  I listened intently, very curious. Renters could be had for a price if they were willing, but private sheets were exclusive arrangements. How could he do both?

  “Yes, my services are available.”

  “How much?”

  Heat sparked between them, and I sensed Baker would have given her more than just the next answer if they’d been alone. “I’m a provider, not a whore. I prefer to service a select few.”

  Sam’s expression grew arrogant. “Pruetts make service contracts so they don’t have to share. I’m no different.”

  “They also become attached…protect their males to the point of obsession…” Baker probed.

  Sam lifted her head. “Not this one.”

  The disappointment from Baker was a surprise to us, and a shock to her.

  “Then, I’m sorry. We can’t be exclusive.”

  “You hope for a match, too! What the hell is it with everyone here?” Sam growled.

  Baker answered her without embarrassment in his voice.

  “My services can only be claimed by someone who wants the same. Until then, I’ll stay on the renter’s sheet.”

  Sam’s eyes lightened into brilliant pink. “Do I meet the requirements for that?”

  Baker leered openly, no longer pretending to be anything other than what he was - a man. “If you’ll wear the cuffs, and I do what I think you need.”

  Her eyes flashed again, deeper red this time, and Baker swept her up against his bare chest in response.

  Sam’s arms went around his neck in a slow movement that made Baker lean in invitingly “Are you sure, Sam? I’d make a good match.”

  She smiled softer than any of us had ever seen, eyes sliding into black. “You’d make a great match, Baker, and you know it. But that’s not my market.”

  Sam slowly retreated from his big arms. “I want the Network gone from the future. Right now, that’s all I’m willing to see.”

  “And after we take them down?”

  He was pushing her again, making sure his scent went over her, and I realized he was still teaching - showing his males how to get what they needed.

  “I haven’t thought that far ahead.”

  Sam was clearly on the defensive and Baker shrugged, backing off. To come in from a different angle?

  “You wanna shop through the other bachelors before you make a choice,” Baker guessed.

  Sam didn’t lower her head. “Yes. I have my own list of requirements.” She turned from him. “And, so do my Runners.”

  Implying the other females were hoping for a match as well. It was a very interesting setup Baker and Candice had going here. Is this what it would be like at the Safe Zone? My flare of jealousy was instant.

  “Thank you for considering me.”

  Sam laughed. “You’re sitting comfortably at the top right now, Baker. And you know it, so get on with the next lesson already.”

  There was laughter all around as we realized there was something growing between those two. They may think it was all sexual banter or teaching, but the emotions had been clear to the rest of us.

  Angelica met my eye across the room, hers lightening a bit. I felt my pulse increase when she moved to take her sister’s place as the next teaching subject.

  Candice waved at the few rebel males still willing to try after being humiliated by Sam. There were only three, but one of them was the hulking man I usually saw at Daniel’s side. He kept his chocolate gaze on Angelica’s, a welcoming smile on his lightly scarred face…

  I stood up. “Can I try?”

  The hall went silent as we stared at each other. Tension sparked and Angelica’s eyes glazed over with control that I was suddenly determined to rip from her in front of all these men. I wanted them to know that she felt the same for me, that she already had a service provider.

  Baker waved the other males back, and I slowly entered the fighting ring with my Changeling... Mine?

  She could be, I thought, now trying to ease into her space like I’d seen Baker doing. If I gave up my dreams of a family, she would make an agreement with me right here and now, one I doubted she’d ever break.

  “Have you enjoyed the lessons?”

  I nodded, seeing her black orbs, the relaxed stance. “It’s been educational.”

  Angelica gave me a challenging smirk, a short mirror of her Games grin. “You ready to learn something new?”

  She moved fast, dipping in to slide against my hard body, and then darting back. I’d felt her hand moving, but didn’t realize what she’d done until my shirt fell to the mat.

  “Sometimes, you meet a Changeling who knows her limits and uses them,” she instructed, still wearing that slight smirk.

  Her hot gaze went over my bare skin and I couldn’t stop the pause in my step. Not a bit of that leer was faked for the class.

  Angelica circled me, padding closer with each step, and I reacted as if it was Rankin - it was the only way I could fight with Angelica. I lunged for her, dragging us to the mat.

  Not above fighting dirty, I let our bodies rub, let my hands touch places they shouldn’t, and was rewarded by being able to flip her onto her back and straddle her hips. With my hands holding her wrists, there was little I could do but hold on as she bucked.

  “Use those legs!” Angelica snapped.

  I did, tightened my grip on her body, and was able to free a hand by using my entire torso to pin both of her hands between us.

  I brought my imaginary knife to her throat.

  “Very good.”

  I was instantly addicted to the praise. I started to stand so we could do it again, and Angelica rolled us, hands pinning me in place. Realizing this lesson wasn’t over, I started struggling again.

  “Legs!”

  I brought mine up to her waist, and then went higher, aiming for her chest. As I wrapped around her, I rolled, taking that top position back.

  She shoved upward with her hands, knocking me back and away, and I gained my feet quickly.

  Angelica was already on hers, stalking toward me, and I tried a move I’d seen one of the others use before she got here. I slipped under her arm and lifted her up. Before I could slam us to the mat, she spun out of my hold and flipped over my back.

  Her hands came around to put the tips of her fingers against my throat. If this had been a real fight, I would be dead.

  Her fingers moved and I didn’t wait. I turned and lunged, taking us to the mat.

  The hall was quiet as everyone watched the lesson Angelica was delivering. I absorbed as much of it as I could, still trying to see Rankin in my mind. We struggled against each other and Angelica’s eyes remained that flat black the whole time. Everyone knew she had a spark for me and it was impressive to see her put it aside, where even her sister hadn’t been able to.

  It also made me mad, more determined to draw a reaction from her. I didn’t realize it had, until the lesson was already over.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Jason

  By the time Angelica was done with me, I was winded, bruised, and bleeding lightly from a few scratches. Her claws were hard to escape when she brought them out.

  Her eyes hadn’t flickered once, and I turned to look at her as Candice and Daniel took back over the lesson, demonstrating the moves they’d seen used - reminding us of them so we would remember.

  Angelica headed for the door, but turned back to find me staring after her in confusion. I was very glad for the lesson she’d given, but… didn’t she feel that spark for me anymore? I’d blasted her with a lot of the things that I knew had an effect. How had she managed to resist without even a pink flicker? Had she chosen one of these males to be her mate? Was I replaced?

  She knew what I was thinking… and she didn’t like my pain.

  Her eyes slowly lightened to a brilliant shade of pink that I hadn’t seen yet… and then kept going. It was mesmerizing, watching her let those levels of heat show. Vivid red streaks flared through the pink, changing, merging it with full crimson.

  The others were waiting for her to snap now, realizing, as I was, that she had been effected and strongly, but I also understood she was trying to show us something.

  Her muscles were expanding, slowly growing, starting to tear the clothes, and the mutters became louder. I didn’t look away, fascinated by the way Angelica was gradually flipping for me, letting me see her in all her Changed forms. Her hair shot out, racing down her back… I had the sudden urge to grab her and see if it was still as soft.

  She picked up on my interest, my lack of fear, and gave me a soft smile that didn’t fit with that Changed body and those glowing crimson orbs.

  “I couldn’t do this before. You make my control stronger.”

  Her eyes faded to black, and she sank back down into the Angelica we all knew. Her head turned toward our audience as she finished the lesson proudly.

  “I’m a level one, or maybe this makes me a level two now, I’m not sure, but the point is, if I can do it, so can the rest of the Changelings.”

  Her gaze returned to me, went over my face with a caring I was surprised she let them see. “If we want to, we can learn not to hurt men.”

  She wanted me to help these cringing rebels, to add another layer of the encouragement they needed to keep growing. I gave it willingly. “We have to teach them that they do want it, that we’re worth it, even if they have to give up some of the things they’ve gotten used to - like hurting us.”

  Knowing that story would spread fast, I followed Angelica from the shocked area. I didn’t know where she was going, but it didn’t matter. I was in awe of her. She’d used her curse, the Change, to show me I’d always be safe with her and I was almost desperate to give something in return. After a few more lessons like today’s, I might even be able to hold out against Rankin long enough to kill her! I owed Angelica so much for the things she’d already given, but even more for what the future might see.

  “Angel…”

  I wasn’t prepared for her desperation in her words, as she stopped.

  “Will you still help me pick through the rebels?”

  My heart dropped and I made myself answer. “Yes.” I forced the confused hurt back to talk. “When do you want to do it?”

  “Baker’s getting a group of them together now.”

  I saw it suddenly, how she would lean close while they froze, scenting them in hopes of finding someone who drew her as strongly as I did.

  Jealousy, fierce and stabbing, shot out of my mouth. “You don’t need me there for that!”

  I was suddenly furious, but her tone was almost pleading.

  “I need you there… for comparison.”

  My fury grew tighter, but instead of refusing, I thought about all the control she’d just shown in order to provide something that I needed.

  “Fine,” I ground out. It would be an hour long reminder that these men would give her an arrangement without kids… or anything else she wanted. They would deny her nothing, and I still held back the one thing she seemed to need most - me.

  I thought of the Runner’s words to Greg - “Be sure. I own. I don’t rent!” - And then of my impression that the woman wanted a match and not a contract. Despite her words, I already knew she would end up being Greg’s willing slave if he wanted it. The Runner was infatuated, and their agreement would likely stand for a long time.

  Angelica knew my thoughts. She kept an even tone, but pink flickered at me in heavy, pleading waves. “If you’d still like to speak of a compromise, I’d listen now.”

  She turned for the next tunnel and moved out of sight before my mouth could betray me. Footsteps came, Baker’s, and I just stood there! Why didn’t I give in? In time, like with Greg and his new owner, I could convince her to have kids... But, it wasn’t the same if she was forced to give me that and I felt the difference keenly. I should, I’d spent our time together on the other side of it.

  Baker stopped by me, understanding I was having a revelation.

  “After that demonstration, she is now the most wanted Pruett here. They asked me to set up another line before we leave, if she doesn’t pick someone now. What is your problem?”

  His tone demanded the truth, and I spilled part of it with one word. “Rankin.”

  Baker stared at me for a long moment before finally confirming the fears. “Angelica will kill her. Don’t you know that?”

  I shook my head, admitting the root of that terror. “She can’t die for me, Baker. You have to stop that from happening.”

  “It’s not for you, Jason.”

  Candice and Daniel had entered the corridor without me noticing.

  Daniel’s tone was harsh. “It’s for every one of us Rankin has tortured. Many of those here were also her… picks, like you.”

  Daniel’s head lowered in shame. “And me.”

  I stared in shock. I hadn’t known.

  “We loath her, think about killing her, but it’ll take a Changeling for that. Your Changeling.”

  I would have denied it to anyone else, but Daniel and I knew the same terrors in the night. We’d held the same hopes of escape… and the same fears of becoming attached to our captor - I could feel it on him. Even after his time with Candice, it was still there, lurking. Did she know? Did it make Candice eager to fight the Network, so that she might have a shot at Rankin?