Unforgiven by Stephanie Erickson Page B

would react in a similar high-stakes scenario, so I felt like I had no right to judge her.
    “Tracy, can I ask you something?” She looked at me, and I noticed her face had started to turn a pale shade of green, almost like she might be sick at any moment.
    She nodded and swallowed hard.
    “Is… what you did the kind of thing you and David have in mind for me?”
    Her eyes cleared a bit, and some of her resolve seemed to return. “I don’t know. We’re relying on you to save the world and crush the Potestas, so whatever that entails is what you’ll be expected to do.”
    I slumped in my seat. “Is that all?”
    She laughed out loud, and the abruptness of the unexpected sound startled me. “Relax. I’m kidding. Don’t you know a joke when you see one?” The smile on her face seemed to bring some normal color back into her cheeks. Although she still looked a little pale, she wasn’t so green anymore.
    “Not from you,” I said, a bit indignant.
    Despite the sweat on her forehead, she was sitting a little straighter, as if the bad feelings from being controlled were draining from her. Frankly, I was glad it had passed so quickly.
    “You will be expected to be part of this team, nothing more, nothing less. You won’t be made to do something that makes you uncomfortable, but you are expected to contribute.”
    “I am ready to contribute. I’m tired of being a mooch, nothing but a gray cloud hanging around here. I want to get out, start working.”
    “Good, because your first real-world assignment is being handed down tomorrow.”

8.
     
    I bounded out of the training room, a ball of excitement and nerves. Owen stood from the machine he’d been using and caught me in his arms. He smelled of sweat and masculinity, and a familiar pulse of desire zinged through me.
    “I take it today went better than yesterday?” he said as we spun around in the middle of the gym, surrounded by clanging workout machines and people sparring. A few of them glanced our way and gave us knowing smiles.
    I forgot my haze for long enough to plant a kiss on Owen’s lips. At first, he was too surprised to respond, but soon, he was kissing me back with abandon, apparently trying to make up for the last few weeks. Someone across the gym started hooting, and we reluctantly pulled apart.
    “Wow, what brought that on?” he asked, for only me to hear. “Whatever it was, I think I like it.”
    “I’m getting my first real-world assignment tomorrow.” It felt foreign to say the words out loud. I wasn’t a kid anymore. I had a real job, and I’d start work in the morning. Real work—not busywork. Just like that, I’d experienced my own personal coming-of-age.
    “Really?” he said softly, rubbing his forehead as if he’d just come down with a headache.
    The change in his mood startled me. “What?”
    “I just…”
    I waited impatiently for him to spit it out. “You just what? Don’t think I can do it? Or is it just that you still don’t think I’m ready?” My insecurities were showing, and I didn’t like it.
    He frowned. “No. And frankly, I would love for you to get more assignments if they all result in kisses like that.” He forced a smile.
    I stuck out my chin, refusing to relent. “Well, what is it then?”
    “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
    It struck me as funny because it was just about the last thing I expected him to say, and I stifled a laugh. “I don’t think I will, Owen. They won’t send me to do something super dangerous on my first mission.”
    “Do you know anything about it yet?”
    “No. I’m supposed to get my orders tomorrow.”
    “Well, you’re mine until then,” he said. There was an air of seduction in his voice, and the twinkle in his eyes returned.
    Trying to encourage this more positive, though rather sudden change in mood, I asked, “What did you have in mind?” When I smiled back at him, I realized it felt genuine. It was a good sensation.
    After Owen got cleaned up, we headed