Raven tensed at the man’s reptilian tongue on the skin of her neck. His sticky saliva left a trail up the soft flesh of her throat as she cringed. She focused on Bo. His eyes smoldered as he stared across at Damian. Her gaze shifted to the viper Hybrid. Damian’s dread locks moved slightly in the breeze. They hung down to his mid back, each that slight tint of tan that marked his coloring that all the reptilian Hybrids had. Her blue-green eyes widened as she saw the beginning of the movement. She wanted to shout, but Varanus’ grip on her tightened to the point that she could only whimper. Damian, she remembered had been good friends with Bo until they began the testing for the Next Phase students. Damian had been picked for Reptilians. Bo had been picked for Mammalians. It seemed the rift formed that day. Damian was across the street in the blink of an eye. His fangs flashed out as his hand landed on Bo’s wrist. Bo’s fist connected with Damian’s jaw, sending him sprawling in the trash and concrete. Damian was back up in an instant; to find Bo’s foot in his gut. He doubled over as he gripped it. His snow camouflage shorts swirled as he rolled over the leg, bringing Bo to the ground. Bo landed hard, wind rushing from his lungs as his claws came around on Damian’s chest.

The memory was fast. The same image, only then they hadn’t been changed yet. They were still only Readers and were only trying to predict the other’s next move. It had always fascinated the scientists the way these two fought. Their style was always only a split second thought not a drawn out strategy. They reacted to each other rather than letting one or the other take a dominant role in the battle. It was something Bo had been taught in the army and Damian in his own resistance faction later on. Bo’s fist came back around as he rolled over. It connected and the image vanished as his claws bit into flesh.

Blood spilled over the pavement as Damian’s wounds slowly closed. Raven felt Varanus’ grip loosen as she could feel him contemplating helping hi