Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 85794 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85794 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
“This is the first of many training exercises we’re going to be doing,” Sir explained. “But before I can train you adequately, you need to trust me.”
Phoebe’s heart started pounding.
“Uh, you’re not going to ask me to walk along the edge of the barrier or anything are you?” she demanded. “Because I have two answers for that—no and hell no!”
To her surprise a soft rumble of laughter came from her stern mentor.
“No, I won’t ask you to trust me that much—not yet, anyway. Though I hope in time we’ll reach that level of trust. Right now I need you to listen and obey me.”
“Obey you how?” Phoebe asked, frowning. It occurred to her that the two of them were all alone in a secluded area with no one else around. If she had been with a human man, she would have been afraid for her safety right now but she had followed her new mentor here without a single question because he was at least half Kindred and she knew the Kindred didn’t hurt women.
But he’s half Scourge too and you know what they say about how savage they are—especially when it comes to sex! whispered a panicked little voice in her head. What if he tries something? What if he brought you up here to rape you or kill you? What if—?
“What’s wrong? Why are you suddenly so intensely fearful?” Sir asked, frowning at her.
“What?” Phoebe jumped and pulled her hand out of his. “What…what are you talking about?” she stammered. “I’m not afraid of you!”
His frown deepened.
“I didn’t say it was me you were fearful of. But I think we both know that’s true—the question is why?”
“How can you even tell if I’m afraid? Which I’m not,” Phoebe said, taking another step back from him. She was edging towards the barrier at the end of the field, but she barely noticed the scary drop below—suddenly her new mentor seemed much scarier.
“Your scent—it changed.” He took a step towards her and inhaled, as though breathing her in. “You’ve been fine all this time we’ve spent together—why do you fear me now?”
“Because you took me up here all alone and like a fool, I followed you because you’re half Kindred,” she blurted. “But there’s nobody else up here and you could do anything you wanted to me!”
His face, formerly open, grew suddenly closed and hard.
“You came with me because I’m half Kindred but now you’re afraid of me because I’m half Scourge—is that it?” he demanded.
“I never said that!” Phoebe denied quickly.
“You didn’t have to say it. I can see it on your face—smell it in your scent. You’re like a prey animal suddenly fearful of a predator.” He took another step towards her and held out a hand. “Now come here and stop being foolish—you’re getting too close to the barrier.”
“No.” She stepped back again, trying to make space between them but her heel slipped on something—some loose gravel that was on the walkway, maybe.
Her feet flew out from under her and with a gasp, Phoebe found herself falling. The metal barrier hit her lower back but did nothing to stop her from toppling backwards. With a breathless scream, she started to fall—
Only to be yanked forward when Sirex’s big hand fisted in her uniform blouse and pulled her back to safety. There was a ripping sound as some of the buttons and fabric parted ways and for a moment she thought the shirt would simply tear all the way through and she would fall anyway.
But then Sirex’s muscular arm wrapped around her waist and he scooped her up and cradled her to his broad chest like a baby.
“Oh! Oh my God!” Phoebe panted, clutching at him. Somehow she found her arms were around his neck and she was clinging to her huge mentor even though she’d been trying to get away from him a moment ago.
“Are you all right?” he rumbled and she could feel his deep voice vibrating through her entire body because she was pressed against him.
“I…I think so.” She looked up at him uncertainly. Was she safe in his arms? He’d saved her from a fatal twenty story fall, but could she trust him? Phoebe still wasn’t sure. She began to struggle. “Let me down!”
“No.” He gave her a stern look. “We’re going to stand here like this for a while and talk—just talk. I want you to breathe in my scent—it will help you trust me.”
“What if I don’t want to trust you? Or obey you?” Phoebe demanded angrily.
“Then this mentorship is doomed to fail,” he said simply. “Because I can’t train you properly if you don’t do as I say. If you really can’t trust me because I’m half Scourge, then I’ll have to ask Commander Sylvan to reassign you.”
“I never said it was because you’re half Scourge!” she protested.