Chapter 2: The Lions' Den

Knox POV

The Mercer Training Center was not a warm place. The lobby had a lot of steel and dark concrete. The windows were tinted so the sun could not come in. There were screens all around that showed how the skaters were doing, tracking speed, heart rate, and performance metrics.

My face was on a bunch of banners hanging from the ceiling. One showed me holding a trophy; another declared me the best at speed. This place was my home. I knew every scratch on the walls and the specific grit of the ice. I even knew everyone who walked through the doors.

That is why I did not like seeing a purple bag sitting by the bench. It did not belong there.

Everly Frost was standing by the entrance. She looked small compared to the vastness of the arena. She wore a gray jacket and black pants, her hair pulled back tightly. Without her usual competition glitter, she still possessed that same defiant look that made me want to skate right at her.

I started gliding toward her. "You are in my spot, glitter girl."

Evelyn did not move. She just kept looking at me. "Gary said your dad gave me permission to skate here. This is the only place with open time in the morning."

"My dad says a lot of things," I said. "This is a place for serious skaters. You are going to get hurt."

"I survived what you did yesterday," she said. Her voice was smooth and devoid of feeling. "Just stay out of my way, Mercer. I will stay out of yours."

She stepped onto the ice and started skating. She was graceful, but I could tell she was not used to the texture of this particular sheet.

I got mad. Deciding to play some loud music, I went to the control room and blasted a heavy metal track. The volume made the figure skater jump. The heavy bass shook the glass panels around the rink, cutting off her rhythm and causing her to stumble on a sharp turn. I wanted her to know exactly who controlled this arena.

I looked at her and laughed before skating off at top speed. For forty-five minutes, I made it nearly impossible for her to train. I did not hit her, but I made sure she felt my presence every time I roared past.

When I finally stopped, she was standing still. She was covered in ice shavings and looked furious. "Are you done?"

"I am just getting started," I said. "Your music is terrible. It does not make you stronger."

"It is called art," she replied. "Something you do not understand."

She turned around and skated away. A woman in a business suit was waiting for her by the gate. It was Sarah Vance, the center's financial director.

"Miss Frost," Sarah said. "We need to talk."

Everly turned around. "What is wrong?"

"We got a message from the United Ice Federation," Sarah said. "Your grant has been revoked. You can still skate here, but it will cost you four hundred dollars an hour."

Everly looked shocked. "That is a lot of money. I do not have it." Her fingers gripped the plastic edge of the gate so tight that her knuckles turned white. I could see the panic in her eyes as she realized her entire season was about to disappear.

I laughed. "Looks like you lost your funding, glitter girl. You should go skate at the park."

Then I heard a voice behind me. "Shut your mouth, Knox."

It was my dad, Coach Arthur Mercer. He was standing on the stairs, watching us. He came down and walked up to the girl.

"The Vanguard Club did this," my father said. "They do not want you to skate. I can help you."

She looked at him. "I can find another place to skate. I do not need your help."

He just shook his head. "You do not have time. You do not have the money." He turned to me. "I do."

He pulled out a contract and slammed it onto the bench. "You are going to skate with her. You are going to help her get better, and she is going to help you with your turns."

I did not like it. My dad was dead serious, and he was determined to force the issue.

I took a step forward, my long speed blades making a loud, scraping noise on the ice. "You cannot do that. This is my time to prepare!"

"Be quiet!" my father yelled. His eyes were dangerous, and it made me freeze. He looked only at the girl. "There is something you need to know about this ice, Miss Frost. You are going to train with my son. You will start tomorrow morning. You will teach him how to move, how to balance, and how to control his body. You will help him become a better skater."

I was livid. "What?" I shouted, slamming my gloved hand against the glass wall. "Dad, no way. I do not want to take lessons from a figure skater. It is not serious!"

My father picked up his pen and held it out to Everly. He did not even look at me when he said the thing that would change everything. His voice was colder than the ice under our feet. He looked at me like he was ready to kick me out of the building permanently if I dared to say another word.

"You will do what I tell you, Knox, or I will take our family's name off your registration by five o'clock tonight. If you refuse, you will not just lose your national team slot. You will lose your chance to compete at the Olympic level before you even get started."