Billow by Emma Raveling Read Free Book Online

at his heavy-hooded eyes and golden brown hair, I guess you could call him hot. But there was a hardness in his expression that made him seem a little too cruel.
    "What's the matter, Martin? Upset you're getting my seconds?"
    Amber paled at the reference to Chloe. I actually felt a little sorry for her.
    Cam stiffened. He had a lot of reasons to hate the group. Dylan used Chloe back in freshman year and Andrew messed several times with Ryder.
    "Ignore them," Alex muttered.
    Amber gave me a distasteful look. "Going to get all sweaty with the boys?"
    There went my sympathy.
    "Why yes, I am." I flashed my teeth. "But that's because I can hold my own. Aren't you the one letting guys walk all over you?"
    She flinched and a pink flush crawled up her neck.
    "There's no way someone like you is the sondaleur ." The derision in her eyes accentuated the haughty tilt of her nose. She turned to the rest of the group. "Let's go."
    The other Redavi, especially Dylan and Andrew, looked like they didn't want to drop it. But after the run-ins we had in the past, they decided to play it safe and headed in the opposite direction.
    Cam muttered a few choice words under his breath. He shot Alex a bewildered look. "Doesn't he bother you?"
    Alex didn't answer for a few moments. "I saw him once. With his dad."
    "Let me guess." Cam raised his brow. "Daddy Rosamund is as big of an asshole as his son."
    "Bigger."
    Cam snorted. "Whatever. No sympathy here."
    "What did you see?" I asked, curious. "With his dad?"
    "He was going after Dylan about something. Really ripping into him."
    "Gabe and Michael rip into us on a daily basis," I pointed out.
    "Yeah, because they care. Teaching or something. This was way worse." Alex paused. "It was like his dad really hated him. Blamed him for everything wrong in his own life. Dylan just stood there, not saying anything."
    He scratched his chin. "It's probably why he does all that other stuff. Gambling, screwing around with girls. Trying to feel like he's in control and has some kind of power."
    Not only was it the most I'd ever heard Alex say at one time, but it sounded like he felt bad for Dylan.
    I didn't get it. Especially after what he did to Chloe and a bunch of other girls.
    I never reached into Dylan with my Virtue, mostly because I didn't think he was worth the effort. I suddenly wondered what I'd find if I did.
    Cam hesitated, then shook his head.
    "Doesn't matter." He opened the doors to the Training Center. "He's still a douche."
    "Yeah, but there might be a reason for the douchiness," Alex said mildly.
    We strode down the hall and younger recruits stared. Alex plastered on his usual laid-back grin and Cam straightened.
    I didn't pay any attention to it. I was used to people gossiping about me and not in a good way.
    After changing to workout gear in a bathroom stall, I met up with them outside the locker room.
    "What do you think they're going to teach us?"
    We were training with the superhuman selkies. It didn't get more awesome than that.
    "Rumor is the gardinels do their training differently. Not like Gabe and the chevaliers." Cam's voice was hushed.
    Previous elites never spoke about the training they received and the whole experience was shrouded in mystery.
    "Bet it's incredible stuff." A dreamy look entered Alex's eyes. "Nunchucks and throwing stars and…"
    "I'd be happy if they let us use little practice sticks," Cam scoffed.
    "Whatever it is, it's going to be rough."
    I had a distinct recollection of kicking a gardinel not too long ago. It was like hitting a steel pole.
    Cam smirked. "Planning another visit to the school clinic?"
    I flipped him off. "You'll be there before me."
    Alex and I laughed at Cam's expression as we walked into the gym. Blaise and Ethan were already there, warming up near the mats.
    The bleachers were partially full. There was a showmanship quality to elite training and classes were open to observers. Eager off-duty chevaliers enjoyed watching the new group of top students