Orion Read Online Free PDF Page A

him.  In any other situation altogether, we looked as if we were tangled in an embrace.  I took advantage of the situation and my sudden impulsiveness I whispered, “My secret is about why I am here.”  Why am I putting myself in this danger?  I don’t know.  This boy with the disturbingly gorgeous dimples was causing me jeopardy on the first day of my quest for finding my brother.  I was here to find him, not actually go to school or make friends.  Being homeschooled as a child by private tutors that included the classics at the precocious age of eight, several languages, and skilled in almost every weapon didn’t make me much of a fan of being with inept Hunters .  And now him .  A Hunter.  Screwing with my mind.
    My words, however rash, worked their magic as he paused just long enough I jumped behind him.  I didn ’t have the brute strength to hold him, tackle him, or hurt him with my hands, I knew this.  I was a weapons girl, not a hand-to-hand combat Amazon-like one.
    I intended to sweep around and land my sword at his neck from the front and claim victory, but my plan failed.  We were locked in a stalemate waiting for the other to make a move.
    He took the opportunity to use his hunterized brute and before I could move again, his hand was around my waist.  I was pulled in front of him, yanked up close to his front, and felt the wind whipping my hair as both of our weapons flopped on the mat and we landed between them, with me lying on top of him! 
    I was still in such a shock from the turn of the upper hand, that the first real thought that came to my mind was that he rotated me to save from landing on top of me.  He took the brunt of the fall.  But then my next thought quickly came in loud and clear! This was probably all thought out and on purpose.  So I did what any  “ normal schoolgirl” would do and raised my head to look him in the eyes while laying full frontal on top of him in front of a hundred plus audience and opened my mouth wide enough a fly could shoot in.  He was grinning too wide.  I knew what the grin meant.  And those eyes.  I recognized that look. I’d seen it hundreds of times in the eyes of all the boys I sparred at court.  My father sent many.  And though they weren’t supposed to talk to me, they snuck in little snide and suggestive remarks when the guards weren’t looking.  I gained most of my snarky attitude from them learning lots about their own attitude and keeping my guard up about “what boys want” from a girl.  Well, the underlying wants.
    I reined in the inescapable female Valkyrie calling card to be sure I wasn’t making him my love slave.  I couldn’t shake them after I screwed that up unless they had the ability to shield it.  I’ve only seen it happen in the vampires.  And that was experimental from battle strategy.  I’d rarely had the opportunity.
    I beat his chest with my fist and stood with the small thread of dignity I had left.  I let out a small grunt that even the nearest row could hear.  He had no idea what I was capable of.  Why did I have to hold back?   I closed my eyes a second to refine my purpose. 
    This was not me.  And I ’d definitely never been this coy with a boy in my life.  Was I mad?  I definitely wanted to knock a few extra holes in his head.
    So there! I was a failure at something in his eyes and he ’d never let me live it down.  But I stood, picked up my sword, returned it to the place where twenty or so others were arranged in their slots, and walked straight out of the gym before he was even fully standing.  I could’ve taken him, twisted his bones, and flattened it ten-fold.  But then again, I couldn’t if I was to save my brother. 
     

Chapter Tw o …are not the same thing at all.
     
    A girl ran up to me.  She was Amazon-like and shorter than the others with bright chocolaty brown eyes dancing at me.
    “That was some kind of awesome," she said breathing hard.
    Eyes down, I just nodded