While the knife throwing had been a breeze, everything else was not.
Dahlia was a ruthless trainer, there was no respite, even when I was so tired my whole body shook, nor when the force in my head caused my nose to bleed. It took me hours upon hoursof training to create an invisible shield and hold it so she couldn’t get through, and even then it was shaky at best. I spent near on a fortnight learning the ability to both push out my own power and to withstand the power another witch might throw against me. I failed again and again.
Dahlia would throw her powers at me, I’d throw mine back. It was like two violent windstorms hitting in the middle. The wind would soar around us with such intensity, I struggled just to stay upright and breathe. Then, unable to withstand it, I’d fly off and land against the gym walls—which Ethan had thankfully padded. Still I hit so hard sometimes it felt like my bones cracked.
Whenever I’d feel tired or overwhelmed with a sudden urge to quit, Dahlia’s words echoed through my head.
If they find out who you are, they will kill you.
Turns out being threatened with death was a hell of an incentive. I didn’t know when or how, but one thing I knew for certain.
The darkness was coming.
Once I’d learned how to stand up to her powers, she taught me to deflect the power being used against me. We broke more than one window in the gym redirecting the power. I was yet to learn to control the direction of. In the end, Ethan stopped fixing them. He boarded them over rather than replace them until the training was complete.
Today I finally had a win, not only could I hold her power, but she could also no longer hold mine. She flew off and hit the wall, over and over again. The rush of sheer delighted adrenaline was quickly displaced by my thumping head and an exhausted body.
Karson’s thumb pushed into my back muscles so hard it felt like he grazed the bone.
“Ouch,” I hissed, my feet curling.
“Don’t be a be a baby,” he chided, his breath warming the skin on my neck. His legs were wrapped either side of my body. His fingers eased up and moved over my back in long, soft, silent motions. Slowly, the tension in my back eased and my muscles began to relax. I closed my eyes and fought the urge to purr.
Karson and I had been near inseparable since that,it’s just sex night. It was surprising how normal it all was. We did things normal couples do. Going on walks or runs, well, I’d run. He’d whizz forward and wait for me. We dined out once, but both of us preferred the quiet of home rather than the busy restaurant atmosphere. Our nights were spent mostly at his apartment. About once a week he’d go for a few nights to Portland. I knew what for. It weighed heavy on my mind, but he had to feed, and it was better he did it in a place where it was accepted, with girls who approved. It wasn’t cheating, I knew that. Still, the thought of his lips wrapped around another female’s neck sent a painfully jealous pang through my heart. I’d have preferred, given the option, he feed off me.
I mentioned it once. It was met with unfathomable rage. I didn’t bring it up again.
He tipped on some more oil, sat the bottle on the bedside table and his fingers swept over my shoulders and down to my breasts. I let out a soft moan as they slid over my nipples. His sex drive was insatiable. I wasn’t complaining, he was an unbelievable lover. He brought my body to highs over and over again.
“My chest isn’t sore,” I murmured, near asleep. Though I wasn’t sure I wanted him to stop. The rain began to tap softly on the bedroom window.
He pulled his hands up and away, caressing my neck, my shoulder blades and down the small of my back. I reached back and grabbed his hands, pressing my back against his chest andmoving his fingers back to my nipples, urging them to squeeze my breasts. I sighed blissfully as he complied.
“Are you sure you are not too tired?” His voice was deep and husky. He slithered a finger across my nipple. My skin rippled with delight. I felt his groin press into my ass from beneath his jeans.
“I think you can find a way to keep me awake,” I whispered. My breathing quickened.
“I think you should sleep. I’ll go out and get dinner, you can eat, and I’ll have you for dessert.” His hands moved away from my breasts.
It was too late, a warm throb had nestled between my legs.
“First you shall make love to me, then you can get dinner, while I sleep,” I commanded, moving my hand behind my back to rub over the top of his penis.
He let out a breathy laugh. “Then your wish is my command.” His fingers stroked painfully slowly between my legs. I arched my head back and let out a moan, thumbing the top of his cock through his jeans.
“You are so beautiful,” he whispered into my neck, his lips gliding over my skin.
An enraged cry and sudden shattering of glass from downstairs jerked me up to my feet. It sounded like an awful brawl was going on.
Ethan. I panicked. I felt the color drain from my face. Someone was attacking him.
“Wait here,” Karson growled, and was gone before I could respond. More things shattered, the sound of wood cracking apart rang in the air. Christ, what was happening down there?
He was tough, I reminded myself, a skilled fighter. A vampire was hard to kill, but not impossible. The vampire losing his head burned through my mind. My heart sprung into my throat. Icouldn’t get dressed fast enough. I reefed on a t-shirt and jeans, running and stumbling as I hooked my foot into the leg.
I ran, my bare feet pounding on the floor, still buttoning up my jeans, to the top of the stairs. I stopped dead. My nerves buzzed. Shock dropped my jaw open. The sitting room was trashed. The coffee table was smashed, broken into pieces, scattered in different directions. Glass was everywhere. The dining room table lay on its side on the other side of the room. Pictures were off their hooks. The mantel had been swiped empty. The floor held the shattered remains. A whiskey bottle laid on its side and leaked a sluggish, coppery pool onto the floor.
Ethan stood, stiff as a board, fists clenched by his side, chest pumping, his lips pursed, his eyes black hollows. I’d only seen him this angry twice; in the bar, and the day Karson had threatened me.
