Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 53656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
Talon tilted his head in that predatory way that showed just how long he’d been a hunter. “How is it you have no basic fighting skills?”
“Why does that surprise you?” I fired back instead of answering. “It's not like the females in your generation were signing up to be assassins and huntresses.”
“Actually, there were a few huntresses.” He cocked a perfectly blond brow my way. “And we're not in my generation,” he continued. “Well, I guess actually we are. This is the time period I'm living in now. And it’s a progressive one. There are numerous females who are not only trained but deadly with their fighting skills. I would think a prized noble such as yourself would have undergone rigorous training.”
A mixture of anger and shame sliced through my veins, causing me to feel like I might lose the contents of my stomach at any moment. Or it could be the fact that Talon put me on my ass no less than twelve times thanks to the motherfucker stating the count every time he bested me.
Which was every single time.
“I endured rigorous training,” I said, hating the way my voice sounded a couple of octaves weaker in reference to this admission. “It just wasn’t the kind of training you’re referring to.” I held his gaze, noting the slight shift in his eyes, the smallest softening around the edges as he studied me.
A flash of pity colored his features, and my fangs punched out.
“You are not here to pity me, hunter,” I snapped.
“No, I’m here to make sure you stay alive,” he said, stepping closer to me, his eyes on my fangs. “Right until the moment I have to kill you.”
I narrowed my gaze up at him, crossing my arms over my chest. “I’ll give you no satisfaction,” I said. “So you might as well put that little fantasy to rest. I have no intention of betraying my king.”
“Oh, I have quite a few fantasies when it comes to you, little viper. You may have everyone else fooled, but I've known my fair share of nobles like you. When push comes to shove, you'll always choose your own skin and your own blood over anyone else.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “And what makes you so different? You’d die for your hunter brothers. What makes you think I wouldn't do that for my own brother?”
“Which one?” he fired back, and I felt his words like a physical blow.
It wasn't like I didn't deserve a fair amount of shit for the suffering I’d caused, but I had done my damnedest to earn back the respect of my king and his mate and anyone else who had given me a fucking chance.
It seemed like Talon would never fall into that category.
Just as well. It was safer for him—and everyone, honestly—to remain a healthy distance away from me and my Zorin name. And besides, we were as likely to kill each other as we were to work together.
“I can't believe you don't know how to fight,” he said, shaking his head.
If I didn't know any better, I’d say he looked concerned. Probably because he knew if shit really did hit the fan at my family’s estate, he’d need somebody he could count on to back him up.
A deep, old rage flared inside me, a familiar burn that’d been there since I came of age. Since I was old enough and smart enough to realize that I was being purposely kept at a disadvantage by my family. I wasn't allowed to train like my brothers because I was only meant for one thing: breeding.
“I was trained in seduction,” I said. “Charm. Courtly ways.” I shook my head. “Does it really matter if I can’t defend myself?” I asked, instead of lamenting my dislike of this situation. Him trying to train me didn’t have anything to do with bonding over our shared annoyance with my current fighting abilities. “If anything truly awful happens, can't you just shift into a horse and gallop us out of there?”
Talon looked down at me with incredulity. “You seem preoccupied with the idea of riding me. If you're that desperate for a release, I'd be happy to let you mount me—”
I slapped him so hard his head snapped to the left. So hard my hand stung.
A wave of triumph washed through me, power soaring through me at finally landing one hit—
My spine cracked against the mat again, the fucking hunter moving so quickly I hadn't been able to blink before his hand was around my throat.
“That was good,” he said, his voice rough and raw, as if all those hunter instincts had perked up at the hit. “Using distraction can be a useful tool, especially when you're at as big of a disadvantage as you are.”
My hands flew to his muscled forearm, trying to dislodge his hand from my throat where he held me, but did not squeeze. All it would take was one thought from him, one quick grip of his fingers, and I'd be a goner.