Year Three (Kingmakers, #3)

by Sophie Lark

“You will never learn to conquer your opponent if you can’t conquer yourself,” Snow says. “There’s no one more disciplined than me,” I retort. “I never miss a day of training. Never eat one fucking thing I shouldn’t. I hone the mind and the body.” “And what about this?” Snow says, laying one heavy, calloused hand on my chest. I shake it off, irritated by his presumption. He doesn’t know me. He doesn’t know anything about me. What the fuck is he even talking about? A lot of spiritualistic nonsense. “I will be the best fighter at this school!” I inform him. “And that includes you. By graduation day—” “I’m only staying a year,” Snow says, standing up. “I came here as a favor to the Chancellor.” “To teach us to box?” “Actually, he needed a new medic,” Snow chuckles. “Herman Cross retired. My wife Sasha is a doctor. She agreed to fill in for a year until they could find someone permanent. I’m just tagging along.” “Oh,” I say, not sure how to respond. I hadn’t imagined Snow having a wife and possibly children. He hardly seemed human, before this moment. “Keep ice on that face,” Snow says, standing up. “I’ll see you on Wednesday.”