Page 21 of A Song in the Night

I wait until there’s no sound of him in the hallway or on the stairs before hissing, “What was that about?”

Sylvia shrugs. “Fucking royals always trying to get the riffraff to do their dirty work. It’s nothing to worry about, Charlie.”

My heart is still pounding like a hammer. “Okay, but—”

“Have you trained yet today?” Noah asks, striding to his desk. Considering the night has barely begun, we both know the answer to that.

“I jogged here,” I hedge. It was more of a speed walk. “That count?”

“Go do your warmups. I’ll be down when you’re done.”

Gritting my teeth in frustration, I turn around and walk back out, snatching my bag along the way. They’re not telling me the entire truth about my uncle, and I know it. No amount of running will make me forget he was here.

Still buzzing from the fresh blood in my veins, I change into workout clothes and get onto the treadmill, turning the speed up, and up, and up. I sprint until the tension in my body has eased. Eased, but not completely gone.

Noah joins me at the exact moment I’m getting off the belt, breathing hard. A door slams above us, and I give the vampire a questioning look. He chuckles. “We got a call about a bounty. Sylvia isn’t happy about going—she doesn’t think it’s worth the effort. But money is money, which we need badly right now.”

Because of me,I think. Noah doesn’t say it, though. Grabbing a water bottle out of the mini fridge, I consume half of its contents before setting the chilled bottle onto the floor. “Okay. What are we starting with today?”

“Well, you’re going to start with telling me what happened yesterday.”

His words make me go still. I don’t pretend to misunderstand, but I don’t respond straight away. I’m reliving that violent encounter in the parking lot. I swallow hard and say, “I was walking home from the club and took a shortcut. Someone hit me from behind. He was wearing this mask…”

I trail off, shivering from the memory, and force myself back to the present. To the dim basement surrounded by workout equipment and the vampire standing in front of me. Noah’s jaw is set in a tight line. Everything about his features has hardened. “Do you have any idea who it was? Did he say anything?” he presses.

I catch my lip and roll it between my teeth, shaking my head. “No. I’m sorry.”

Anger flares to life in Noah’s gaze. “Don’t do that. Do not apologize. It wasn’t your fault.”

“I know that.” I want to look away, but I hold his gaze. My chin quivers. “There isn’t any information I can give you that would help track him, so can we please just forget it and start the workout?”

“Okay,” the vampire says after a moment. “Are you sure you’re ready?”

The knot in my chest loosens, and it’s easier to breathe now. Relieved, I crack my neck and swing my arms. I force a grin until it feels almost real. “To kick your ass? I was born ready.”

He whistles. “She’s cocky today. Good to know.”

“Are you going to keep talking, or can we get on with it?”

He gestures toward the exercise mat. “Your move.”

I take a steadying breath and plant my feet on the mat, lifting my gaze to meet his brilliant green eyes. My chest practically vibrates with anticipation… and then I strike. It’s fast but messy, untrained. I grab for Noah’s arm, exerting too much effort in an attempt to maneuver it behind his back. Grunting, I finally manage to get it there, though I’m fairly certain with the time it’s taken me to get to this point, Noah could have easily thrown me off. He’s letting me trap him.

“Noah—”

“Keep going,” he says.

“I look ridiculous.”

His chest rumbles with laughter. “Kick the back of my knee.”

For once, I do as I’m told without protest. When my foot connects with the back of his knee, he drops to the mat, kneeling now, and I crouch to stay on his level. Just as I’m about to ask what I should do next, he says, “Wrap your arm around my neck and squeeze as hard as you can.”

Again, I follow his instruction, wrapping my arm that isn’t holding his against his back around his neck, pulling until his head falls against my shoulder.

“Not bad,” he grunts as I squeeze hard. For a moment, I enjoy the victory.

Until Noah throws himself forward, grabs my arm, and flips me over. My back slams into the mat, knocking the air out of my lungs. I gasp, trying to catch my breath, but Noah is right there, pinning me down with his knees against my hips. He too easily traps my wrists at my sides as he hovers over me, grinning.

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