307
Lucy
Excitement and apprehension warred within me. I could feel the heat of his body because we were so close. My stomach flipped at the feeling, but I think I was more nervous than scared. David wouldn't hurt me. He wouldn't force me. He wouldn't do anything unless he was sure that I wanted it too… And somehow, that made me want it more. I smiled at him, reaching out to wrap my arms around him for a hug. He pulled me close, cradling the back of my head in his hand.
"It's like you knew I wanted to see you."
He chuckled. "I always want to see you. Are you alright?"
I hummed and nodded. "Just... soaking up a little warmth."
Suddenly, he got warmer, like a low-banked fire was just beneath his skin. The haze over my memories started to clear.
"Is that new?"
"Something like that," he said. "You must have had quite the night."
"Can we talk about it later? I'm... comparing notes with Duke later."
"Sounds good.
I pulled back, looking up at him. "Maybe... Maybe I can make the snacks this time."
He cocked an eyebrow. "Whatever you'd like."
I made plans to go to the grocery store and try out this recipe buzzing at the back of my mind. I could see Delilah's face and pick out the features David had inherited.
"We can bring Tom," I said. "It'll be a double date."
His eyes warmed. "I think he'd like that."
"I think they both would."
"Alright, everyone, gather around!" Lucian's voice cut through the quiet. "We're switching things up today. Partner drills. David, you're with Lucy. Tom, you're with Duke. The rest of you, pair up as you please."
My stomach did a little flip-flop. Partner drills with David? I bit my lip, thinking back to learning the waltz and how all that touch had felt like electricity running through me.
David extended a hand towards me, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "Shall we?"
I chuckled, feeling almost like I should curtsy. I placed my hand in his. His grip was warm, sending a spark up my arm.
"Don't go easy on me," I said, meeting his gaze.
He flashed a predatory grin. "Never my intention, sweetheart."
There was something in his eyes that told me he wasn't just talking about the sparring. My gut flipped. He scoffed and pulled me forward. The world tumbled over my head, and I landed on the mat with him looking down at me, still holding my hand. Nothing hurt, but I was dazed, stunned, and caught off guard.
How had he done that?
"Now, you're on the ground. How do you get out of my hold?"
I blinked at him. "Uh... Please let me go?"
He shook his head, kissed my hand, and grinned. "Not a valid answer. I'm a vicious hunter, and every second I have you on the ground is another bit of your life force I've drained away."
I tugged at my hand, but his grip was like iron. It wasn't bruising, just tight.
"And every chance and attempt you make to escape puts me further and further away from my payday."
I frowned and tried again. Lucian hadn't taught us how to break holds like this. Not yet.
Or had he?
I gripped his arm as hard as I could and pulled. He didn't budge, but I managed to slide back and under his legs, pulling hard, but he didn't fall. He twisted over, still holding my hand.
"That was a good try. Now, what?"
I pulled myself up hard and fast, aiming my knee for his chest. Then, I turned and slammed my forearm onto his wrist. Before I made contact, he let go and slipped out of my grip. Then, he pushed me, and I flopped to the ground.
"Hey--"
"I'm a hunter, Lucy," he said, grabbing my ankles and dragging me across the floor. I tried not to laugh. "Now, what, Lucy? Come on. Clock is ticking. If I get you off the mat, you're caged, and it's over."
I twisted, but he just kept pulling. I turned, aiming a burst of air for his chest, but he blew it out of the way and dragged me off the mat.
Duke tumbled off the mat beside me with a huff.
"That's so unfair."
Tom's eyes glowed. "I'm a hunter, Duke. I don't care about fair."
He crouched down, grinning at him. "I care about a payday, and that's all you are to me."
Duke paled and flinched.
"So make it damn hard for me to get paid," Tom said and stood. "Again."
I watched Duke, nervous that he'd been triggered and would go into a trance, but Duke set his jaw, nodded stiffly, and got up, walking back onto the mat.
I stood and turned back to David, who was standing there, just watching. Then, I charged at him, trying to catch him off guard. The room became a blur of movement as I felt him grab my arm and flip me. I leaned into the momentum, trying to drag him down with me. I twisted and skidded around, aiming for his legs and using his strength to carry me around.
He jumped over my legs and ended up on the ground with me, locking me against his chest. The warmth of him against my back made my heart jump. I could feel his heart thumping against my shoulder, and his breath ghosted over my shoulder.
"That was good. Next time, continue the momentum. The moment my feet leave the ground is the moment I lose most of my control." His scent filled my nose, warming me. The air crackled with something more than adrenaline. His voice, low and intimate, sent shivers down my spine.
"Now, I'm going to teach you how to break this hold."
* * *
It felt like hours of this, being tossed around and instructed. I could feel the heat pooling between us, yet David maintained his air of authority. He pushed me. When we moved on to weapons, it was a little easier to focus but harder to get anywhere.
He had way too much experience.
He disarmed me again.
"Hold on," David chuckled. "You can't win against someone with more experience than you trying to match their experience. You have to use your strengths strategically."
I huffed. "And what strengths are those?"
He chuckled. "You're light on your feet. That doesn't mean you'll be faster, but maybe you can be fast enough, and you don't have anything to lose unless you lose."
He crouched beside me. "You have no investment in keeping your kidnapper alive, but they need you alive, you understand?"
I bit my lip.
"I'm not telling you to murder anyone, but if it's between you and them, choose you every time."
He cupped my face. His hand was so warm, but his gaze wasn't the usual kind of intensity I was used to. There was heat there, but it wasn't just that.
There was a darkness in his gaze that led me to wonder.
"Have you..."
"Yes."
He met my gaze steadily. I could almost see the corpse through his eyes. Maybe there were many of them. I didn't feel fear. I wasn't sure exactly what I felt, but I nodded.
"Would you… tell me about it?" His eyes widened. "You seem… troubled, I think."
"It's just been a long time since I've had to think about it," David said, withdrawing his hand. "A long time since it's... been anything more than normal."
Normal. Did that mean he'd had to kill often? How dangerous had David's life been? I wanted to know. I wanted to know everything about all the years that we had been apart. I wanted to understand David as he was now the same way that he wanted to understand me.
"Now, because you don't have much experience or even much strength, your greatest asset is going to be your Moving Ring and your person portal, but you have to get free of your attacker first."
I swallowed and nodded.
"Do you think... Do you think it's going to come to that at the Festival?"
"Knowing Oren and Selene?" David nodded. "I think it's bound to be much worse."
Finally, the whistle blew, signaling the end of the session.
Lucian spoke to most of the class about what they needed to improve on, but all I could hear was Eve, Delilah, and Allison's warning at the back of my mind. Selene needed me alive until the very last moment. Oren wanted me alive for Matt and Tony, or maybe even himself. The hunters would get more out of me if I was still alive when they took me.
And I... I was so defenseless against all of them.
"I need more training," I said.
David met my gaze, and he nodded. "Tonight?"
I nodded.
"Then, come with us, hm?"
I nodded. Those cinnamon rolls would just have to wait.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
