Stronger
“Bryant?”
    Bryant ? I slide a dusty bottle aside to peek around at Bryant. My mouth goes dry as he steps into the moonlight. Bryant Donovan. My eyes drink in the sight of him and my stomach flips like it used to when Ty would toss me over his shoulder.
    Bryant’s coal-black hair is buzzed short, revealing the scars on his neck, and his belt looks like it’s made of fur. Rumors say it’s from the pelt of an escaped panthacat that tried to make him its lunch. He’s taller than I remember; the video clips on the tiny screen of my signacom don’t do his strong arms and broad shoulders justice.
    “I was walking by and saw the light. I wanted to make sure there weren’t any squatters here,” Bryant says.
    Nope, no illegal squatters. Just a group of rebels planning to overthrow the government.
    Bryant salutes Ty and the movement reveals a thick ropy burn on the underside of his arm, a bumpy band that breaks up the smoothness of his flesh. I’ve heard about it, but seeing it in person makes my heart beat a little quicker. And it’s just one of many on his beautifully embellished body, each mark a physical testament to his bravery, and each injury making him physically stronger, closer to becoming the perfect, invincible warrior.
    And more beautiful.
    “What are you doing out here?” Bryant asks.
    Ty gestures toward the empty room and I duck. “I was waiting for Penny, but that tease never came.”
    Bryant slaps his back. “Didn’t I warn you about her?”
    Ty laughs and I’m surprised Bryant doesn’t notice how strained it sounds.
    They badmouth Penny, and talk about some training exercise from the day before as they head out the door. With an internal sigh I stare after them until Bryant’s wide shoulders disappear into the night. With his strength, scars, and grace it’s no wonder he has fan clubs and a constant stream of girls circling him. Every female Val whether scientist, store keeper, or pampered princess wants to claim him. But I noticed him first.
    It started with him rescuing my doll from Ty’s clutches. That’s where he got the scar above his left eye. It’s still my favorite one, part of the daydreams I’ve harbored about him since childhood. But those daydreams wilted after today’s feed. Now he’s Starburst’s. If only he knew the truth.
    I sometimes wonder… if Uncle Charlie hadn’t killed me, would I have had a chance to win Bryant’s heart? As much as I wish the answer were yes, it’s not. He might not have cared I was a Deb when we were children, but he would now.
    The rest of us leave without saying a word, slipping out one at a time. When I step outside, I can still make out my brother’s form in the distance. It was a blessing that I saw Ty tonight before I died. He even talked to me. I’d delivered one last termination list and saved another batch of people.
    I should probably head for bed but I don’t want to waste what precious time I have left sleeping. If Uncle Charlie weren’t away on some assignment, I would risk visiting him and getting to say goodbye. I’m keyed up and wanting to do something. But there isn’t much I can do this late at night and I don’t have any information… except that Zachary Collins, hero of the Musk Wars, will die soon. Ty’s supposed to meet with him tonight. Will chasing Bryant off delay him? Before I even realize it, I’m walking to Warrior Headquarters.
    Separated by heavy locked gates and armed guards, the Warrior Headquarters building sits next to the academy, sharing a runway and hangar with the school’s training planes.
    I walk along the edge of campus, sneaking glimpses of the imposing building through the elaborate latticework of the wrought-iron fence surrounding Warrior Headquarters. As far as I know, the building’s walls have never been breached by an outsider, but that might be because no one has ever been foolish enough to try. Small windows are set into the structure’s imposing granite walls, tiny slits of shadow
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