‘That’s beneath you.’
‘Funny. I thought it was beneath you.’
‘Cassandra.’ He took a breath. ‘Stop trying to make me dislike you.’
She shrugged. ‘I don’t think I have to try, do I?’
‘I told you, it’s got nothing to do with disliking you.’
‘You haven’t told me what it is to do with, have you?’
He tugged savagely at the Velcro fastening on his mask, so that it made a loud ripping noise. He refastened it, and did it again. Señor Alvarez, standing close by, grimaced, so Ranjit stopped playing with the Velcro and looked hard at Cassie.
‘I don’t like how you make me feel. OK?’
‘Oh.’ That took the wind out of her sails.
‘I can’t possibly be involved with someone like you.’
Anger sparked again, quick and fierce. The jerk. ‘Oh, likewise.’ She stood up.
Ranjit bit his lip. ‘I didn’t mean—’
‘Yeah, I think you did.’
Seizing her wrist, he pulled, and she sank back quickly into her place on the bench. He was incredibly strong.
‘I didn’t mean it like that, I swear.’ Letting her go, he drew a hand across his face. ‘I mean, the way you make me feel – and you do – well, I can’t accept it, Cassandra.’
‘Can’t accept it?’
‘That’s right.’ Suddenly and without warning, he stretched out and stroked her hair very gently. The featherlight sensation made her shiver.
‘Meaning?’ Pulling away, she folded her arms.
‘Meaning what I say.’ Irritation crept back into his voice. ‘I always do.’
Cassie felt a glare: Katerina, incandescent with rage.
‘Looks like class is over,’ she said abruptly, standing up again. ‘And I’ll spontaneously combust if I don’t get out of somebody’s line of sight.’
Glancing past her, Ranjit’s expression hardened as he caught sight of the glowering Swede.
What was it with him? He grated on her nerves like fingernails down a blackboard, but she still found herself seeking out his company. She didn’t even mind a fifteen-to-one thrashing, if it was at his hands.
Giving herself a mental slap, she went over to where Richard and Isabella were packing up their weapons and body wires. Richard was dripping with sweat.
‘She beat me,’ he told Cassie ruefully.
‘Naturally,’ smirked Isabella.
‘I’m never fencing you again when I’m this tired. Chuck me that towel, will you?’
As Isabella turned to reach for it, Richard shrugged off his fencing jacket and plastron. Under it, he was wearing only a sleeveless vest that hugged his muscles tightly. Vain devil, thought Cassie, amused. He knew very well he looked darn good in defeat.
As she wound her own body wire into a loop, her brow furrowed. There was a nasty-looking scar on Richard’s shoulder blade. When she looked closer, though, she could see the mark was a clear pattern of intertwining lines, about two inches in diameter. It was permanent, like a brand, and she’d never seen anything quite like it.
Richard smiled at her over his shoulder, but as he caught her eye his grin died and he hurriedly snatched up a sweatshirt and pulled it on. That was no act, Cassie decided. That had been a real mistake. And the way Ranjit was glowering at Richard, he thought so too.
‘Hey!’ Isabella nudged her hard again and thrust a towel into her hands. ‘Can you stop ogling Richard’s sweating flanks for a second? Let’s go shower, you wicked, wicked girl. Before you see something you are not supposed to!’
Cassie tried to catch Richard’s eye as Isabella tugged her out of the sports hall, but he had turned away.
‘Isabella,’ she murmured under her breath, ‘I think I already did.’
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
‘Richard, darling. Thank you for bringing the candidate.’
Katerina sat in a gilt chair, ankles elegantly crossed. She didn’t so much as glance at Cassie, but every other person in the room did. Cassie could feel the impact of their collective stare like a physical force. If it hadn’t been for Richard’s firm hand in the small of her back, she might have turned on her heel and left.
‘You’ll be fine, he murmured; then, out loud, ‘I think most of us know Cassie, don’t we? Except perhaps you guys.’ Richard gestured towards three tall, beautiful sixth formers, who Cassie had seen from a distance. ‘Vassily, India, Sara, this is Cassie Bell. She joined the Academy this term.’
‘Oh, everyone knows Cassie.’ Katerina poured herself a glass of red wine, exchanging a sly smirk with Keiko. ‘It feels as if she has always been with us.’
‘Come along and sit down, now, Cassie.’ Cormac Doyle gestured to a chair in the centre of their group, giving her a wink and an enchanting grin. ‘Katerina can be intimidating, but nobody else bites.’
Richard jiggled the chair encouragingly.
‘Yes,’ added Ayeesha. ‘Tell us about yourself, Cassie. That’s why you’re here.’ Her smile was radiant.
Uncertainly Cassie sat down, half-expecting a whoopee cushion. No such childish tricks, though. They sat in a semicircle around her, some lounging, some sitting elegantly upright, but everyone intent and watchful. No Ranjit, she couldn’t help noticing. Again.
‘Will Ranjit be joining us?’ asked Cormac, as if reading her mind.
‘No,’ said Katerina quickly. She sounded tense, but almost relieved. ‘Mikhail, if you feel quite up to it, perhaps we might begin.’