Allyra fisted her hands and contemplated throttling him. She forced herself to take a deep breath, and eventually a small smile made its way onto her lips. A new idea had just crept into her mind, one that would make for better payback than strangling Jason while he slept. If she’d learned anything from growing up with the Thiessen siblings, it was that there was no diplomatic solution to a prank war. No time should ever be wasted in taking the decision to go to war even if it meant mutually assured destruction.
Allyra made her way into their shared bathroom, slamming the door behind her and turning the key. There was a shower, but she let out a low hum of pleasure at the sight of the massive free-standing copper bath.
Hot water rushed out the tap, steam pouring out with the slightest hint of sulfur that suggested a natural source for the hot water. She allowed it to run until the bath was almost filled to the top. With steam swirling a white mist around the room, she peeled her clothes off, dropping them in a pile on the floor. She sat down and slowly undid the bandage on her ankle. It had turned into a spectacular array of reds and purples, but the swelling was down, and she could manage to rotate it, albeit gingerly.
With a low groan of pleasure, Allyra sank into the bath, taking a deep breath and dunking her head into the water. She lounged in the bath until the water was little more than lukewarm and her fingers had taken on a particular prune-like quality.
Her watch now read 06:43, but Jason had started banging on the door twenty minutes ago. She grinned as he pounded on the door again.
“You have two minutes to get out or I’m going to knock this door down,” Jason said, his voice low and dangerous.
Sure that he would make good on his threat, Allyra got out of the bath, wrapped herself in a fluffy towel, and picked up her clothes. She opened the door and found Jason waiting, his face dangerously devoid of emotion but a hard glint shining in his dark indigo eyes.
“It’s all yours,” Allyra said blithely.
Without a word, he turned and stalked into the bathroom. The key turned in the lock, and Allyra raced to get dressed. Redoing the bandage on her ankle took a little longer than expected, and for the second morning in a row, she’d have to forego breakfast. But she was ready with ten minutes to spare until the seven o’clock start to the morning training session, while Jason was still locked in the bathroom, probably preening and checking that every hair was in place.
Taking out a small knife, Allyra deliberately sliced through every single one of Jason’s T-shirts. It was petty and definitely childish, but there was no time to come up with a more elegant reply to Jason’s prank. But it was also deliciously simple and had the added benefit of achieving her desired outcome—annoying Jason. He was always so organized and unflappable that she was convinced that being late would throw his entire orderly world into chaos. It was time to see if Jason was really as calm and composed as he liked everyone to believe.
By the time she got to the Training Room, Master Akerman was already waiting with the other Competitors from the Elemental College. He glanced down at his watch.
“I see you really like cutting it thin, Miss Warden,” he said. “I assure you, it’s not a desirable quality to have in The Five Finals. Do you think your partner is going to join us?”
Allyra smiled blithely. “I’m sure he is, Master Akerman. He was just getting dressed.”
Master Akerman looked past her and raised his eyebrows. Following his gaze, she turned and found Jason walking in—wearing nothing but a pair of black pants and an annoyingly bright smile. An over-exaggerated wolf whistle rang out from one of the other groups which earned them a flash of Jason’s megawatt smile. He continued to make his way through the room, indifferent to the many eyes landing on him.
There was no denying that he was beautifully made with broad shoulders and trim sculpted lines. Based on the appreciative looks on most female faces and not a few male ones—Jason would soon have a valid reason for hanging the sock on the door.
He stopped in front of her and raised one eyebrow with an arrogant smirk on his face. “If you wanted to see me topless, all you needed to do was ask. I would’ve been more than happy to oblige.”
Allyra had to acknowledge that her plan to upset him had fallen more than a little short, and she found herself unable to come up with a quick retort.
Master Akerman looked between them and rolled his eyes. “Yes, yes, I’m sure this is all very amusing,” he said, sarcasm dripping from his voice. “But I’m not here to waste my time on your ridiculous pranks. We have some training to do here!”
He glanced at his watch again. “You’ve wasted three minutes of my time—that earns you both thirty laps around the Training Room after this morning’s session.” His eyes found her injured ankle hidden under bandages and a boot she’d barely been able to force on. “And don’t think your injury is any excuse; if you’re well enough to play games, then you’re well enough to accept the consequences. Now, if you’re quite finished, let’s get down to some actual training.”
Master Akerman led them to the right edge of the Training
