I cocked my head to one side. “Hurt me?” I craned my neck, looking past him. “Did you bring an army I don’t see?”

“Army of two,” he said, flexing both biceps.

I pretended to yawn. “Pretty puny army.”

“Oh, really?” He rushed me, grabbed me around the waist, and pulled me to the ground, flipping so he was on top of me, holding my hands down on the mat on each side of my head. “Hmm. I like this hold.” He leaned down and kissed my neck. My world lit up purple.

I tamped down the color and dug my chin into his shoulder, pressing hard so that he let up. I bucked to the side and tossed him off me, then pulled up onto my knees, facing him, my hands at the ready.

“Oh, so it’s like that, huh?” he asked, a devilish smile on his face.

“It’s always like that.”

“Trust me, I know.”

He started to advance on me and I tensed my stance in anticipation. “I passed,” I blurted.

He stopped. “You did? When did you find out?”

“This morning. Flying colors . . .” I thought about it. “So to speak.”

His arms went slack as joy lit up his face. “I told you. I knew you could do it.”

“Just the entrance exam,” I said. But we had both known that was going to be the hardest part for me. “I still have a lot of training to go through.”

He knee-walked to me and wrapped me in a hug. “Congratulations. I’m so proud of you, Nikki.”

I launched all my weight forward, knocking him backward, then jumped up, placed my knee on his chest, and threw a strike, stopping centimeters away from his throat, letting out an intimidating ki-yah as I did so.

He raised his hands, a symbol of surrender. I leaned close, brushing my cheek against his and hovering my lips just above his ear. “That’s Officer Kill to you.”

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Seeing Nikki all the way through her journey has been an amazing and intense process that required the dedication of a lot of people. I feel honored to have so many passionate professionals believe in my abilities and help me bring you the best stories I possibly can. I would like to thank them here.

First up, always, is my agent, Cori Deyoe, who is probably Nikki Kill’s biggest fan (besides my dad. Thanks, Dad!). I would be nowhere without Cori’s support, encouragement, strong shoulder, and gentle editing.