Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Another blow slams into my jaw, agonizing pain splintering through my entire head. My vision darkens around the edges, framing Misha so he looks like an avenging angel that’s come to take my life.
“Enough!” Instructor Nikolai snaps.
The guy gets off me, and it’s only then all the pain registers. My lips part as I try to breathe past the relentless ache in my jaw and the pounding headache.
Nikolai points at me, and with rage etched on his face, he tears into Abbie. “You did this to your friend. If you could fight, you’d be able to protect her. If she could fight, she wouldn’t have had her ass handed to her. Next time you walk into my studio, you better take the lessons seriously, or one of you will be carried out on a stretcher. Do. You. Understand. Me?”
There’s none of Abbie’s sass to be seen anywhere, her face ghostly pale as she nods. “I understand.”
“This is not a playground for a socialite,” Instructor Nikolai bites out. “This is where you learn the difference between staying alive to fight another day or dying.”
She nods again as she starts to walk toward me.
I have zero strength to get up off the floor. She can just leave me here to die of embarrassment and pain.
God. Misha watched it all.
Please let the ground open up and swallow me whole.
When Abbie kneels next to me and pushes her arm beneath me to help me into a sitting position, the enormity of what just happened slams so hard into me I can’t keep the tears from falling.
I felt so freaking powerless as the guy went to town on my ass. I hated it. There was nothing I could do to stop him from hitting me.
And Misha saw it.
And he didn’t care that I was being beaten up by a man.
Why the hell am I surprised?
With Abbie’s help, I manage to climb to my feet. I lean against her, not sure I can stand on my own.
Sedately, Abbie asks, “May we be excused from class?”
“Yes,” Instructor Nikolai mutters, and turning his back on us, he continues with the lesson.
As we reach the door, Instructor Nikolai says, “I knew it would hurt you more to watch Aurora being beaten. By using the person you love most, I taught you a lesson you’ll never forget. Do you now understand why I didn’t let you fight?”
Abbie glances over her shoulder, her arm tightening around me. “Yes, sir.”
“Good,” he murmurs.
Abbie has to drag me into the hallway, and as if life hasn’t shat enough on me today, Misha and his friends are leaning against the wall.
Alek has a satisfied smile on his face as he looks at me. “Now’s your chance to taste her blood, Misha.”
I don’t have any strength to face them, and not wanting Abbie to start a fight with them, I say, “Let’s just go, Abbie.”
I try not to look at Misha, but, as always, I fail. When our eyes lock, and I see the intense rage burning in his gaze, I begin to feel irrationally scared of him.
If the guy in the class could hurt me so much, what would Misha be able to do to me?
Misha would probably end my life without much effort, seeing as he’s twice the size of the guy I just faced.
I’ve been stupid for trying to fight Misha. I should’ve gone with my first plan to ignore him.
Abbie tugs me past them, and I hold my breath until it’s clear Misha’s not going to take this chance to have another go at me.
Thank God.
When I realize Abbie is taking me to the infirmary, I say, “I want to go to my suite.”
“You need first aid,” she argues, guilt lacing her words.
“I just need an ice pack. I want to go to my room so I can figuratively lick my wounds where no one can see.”
“Okay.”
We change direction, and when I’m finally in the privacy of my suite, I pull away from Abbie and slowly make my way to the bathroom.
As I open the faucet, Abbie murmurs, “I’m sorry, Ra-Ra.”
I can only shake my head while clenching my aching jaw so I won’t burst into tears.
She grabs a facecloth and wets it beneath the water before gently wiping the blood off my face.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispers, her voice thick with tears.
Unable to keep it back, a sob escapes me, and I dart into her arms. Abbie holds me tightly as I cry, but none of the tears ease the embarrassment and pain I’ve been subjected to today.
And it’s only day one.
What else lies in store for us during our four years here?
“We’re in over our heads,” I say as I pull back. “We thought we were going to have four years of spa days and relaxation. We were wrong.” My eyes lift to lock with hers. “It’s going to be brutal.”