Filed To Story: A Claim of Fortune Book PDF Free by Jaymin Eve
“You ready to practice?” he asked, and I nodded roughly.
I already knew I was going to be utterly useless today, but we were here now, and I was still determined to learn how to fight… or at least hold my own for a few seconds.
“Can we use actual weapons?”
Slade’s smile kicked up a notch. “You can, and I’ll keep the wooden practice ones.”
“What? Why?” I shot back, my annoyance cutting through the lust. “I’m never going to get better if you keep babying me. I’m a shifter. I’ll heal!”
His smile disappeared faster than a drop of moisture in the desert. “I can’t cut you, Snow. I won’t fucking do it. If that blade slices your perfect skin, I’ll probably plunge it into my own damn chest. So, just work with me here so I don’t lose my shit and destroy the world. Please.”
My fire died off, and since he so rarely said please, I knew I’d give him whatever he wanted. “Is that why you’ve been having Horton take point on my training? So you don’t hurt me?”
Poor Horton though, taking all the risks. I needed to make sure he didn’t accidentally stab me; otherwise he’d be a dead eagle.
Slade shook his head. “I don’t trust myself to touch you more than necessary. My dragon is starting to crave the feel of your skin against mine.”
The thudding of my heartbeat was loud in my ears. “Have you ever stopped to think that might be exactly what you’re supposed to want. You said I was healing you all, in my own way, so why wouldn’t I be part of healing the rift with your beast?”
I expected his immediate rebuttal, but he was slow to respond. “It’s possible, but it’s still a risk. I’m hoping everything will make more sense once we return to the volcano.”
“You and Talon?” I asked.
“You will all have to come as well,” he said shortly, “but only we will venture into the depths.”
Before I could ask another of the million questions I had, he gestured for me to head back into the main part of the gym. “Let’s get to training.”
We moved past the machines and climbed into the training ring. It was an elevated square shape-ironically-roped off on all four sides. As I bounced onto the floor, I found it was hard with a very mildly spongy upper layer.
Slade picked up a case from a shelf on one wall, and I sighed as my beautiful blades came into view. “They’re so darn pretty,” I cooed, brushing my hand over the handle and hilt.
The embedded jewels were smooth as I wrapped my palm around one handle. “And fits so well in my palm.”
“Like it was made for you,” Slade said with a knowing smile, reminding me that he’d used his stalker ways to create these for me.
He retrieved a wooden practice blade, and we fell into a fight stance. It was getting easier for me to move my body the way I wanted, as my muscles, stamina, and wolf grew stronger with each lesson. I’d even managed to keep up with the back of the enforcer pack during our last lot of warmups.
My aim had been to get stronger, and as hard as each day was, I hadn’t given up.
“Bring it on, big boy,” I sassed Slade, and I was rewarded with his terrifying smile as he moved forward, the blade sliding toward me so fast I could barely track it.
When it touched my throat, I sucked in a rapid breath. “Good call on the wooden blades,” I choked out, the blunt edge moving against my voice box.
Slade nodded, before removing the weapon and stepping back. “You move like magic,” I whispered.
You are magic. “Horton moves like an octogenarian compared to you.”
His smirk appeared, and everything was right in my world. “Next time, don’t leave yourself so open. Your throat is an easy place for anyone to inflict a quick death. Along with here.” His hands slid down to hover above the joint of my hip and groin. He wasn’t touching me, but I felt his heat in a much more intimate place.
“So, get your blades in position to defend yourself.” He took a step back, and I shook myself from the daze. “Again.”
Flames danced in his eyes, and I breathed deeply to try and maintain stability. As I brought my blades up, I nodded. “Yeah. Again.”
And this time, I would be ready for his speed.
Probably.
EMME
The Celtic Wolves lost in a very dramatic game that came down to overtime and one lucky shot that went in from their opponents. I watched from between Slade and Hunter, and if my mates hadn’t been playing, I’d have been very distracted by Hunter’s warm, hard thigh pressed down my right side, and the burn of Slade’s energy on my left.
By the end, my wolf was whining in my essence, which had the alphas’ gazes snapping toward me. The darkening of their eyes told me I wasn’t the only one affected. Hunter barely restrained himself as he started to drag me onto his lap, until a pointed stare from Slade stilled his hand, leaving me to combust between them.
“The guys are going to be so disappointed,” I said, as the highlights real wrapped up the game. “They played so well though. The other team just got a lucky shot in.”
“They’ll be fine,” Slade said, and if I didn’t know him so well, I’d have assumed he didn’t really care. But I knew better. His pack was his priority, and he was the first to suggest murder as an option for any players who roughed up Kellan or Finley. Even if he was also quick to move on from the losses and focus on the next win.
“You heading out to patrol?” Hunter asked, as the dragon got to his feet.
Slade’s nod was abrupt. “Yeah, I’ll do a fly around and check with the guards on Golden Claw’s entrance. Fletcher won’t lay low for much longer. I know his magical barrier only holds as long as he remains behind it, but then his plan to usurp the leadership of the cities goes nowhere. He has something big planned, and I won’t get taken by surprise again.”
“I can’t believe none of them have popped up yet,” I said, suppressing a shiver. I hated the waiting more than anything; I’d rather be facing them full-on. “Not Blaine or Sorenson or Chelsea… Where the hell are the rest of their pack?”