Page 21 of Saints & Sinners

“That’s all wrong, you know.”

I froze, my knuckles resting on the dummy as Hunter strolled over, his expression flat and intense as always.

“Wow.” Sarcasm dripped from my voice. “Thanks for telling me. I hadn’t noticed. Have anything else to say about what I’m doing wrong?”

He smirked, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wooden post next to the dummy. “Plenty. Like how you’re placing your thumb wrong.”

I huffed, took a step back and placed my hands against my hips. “Shouldn’t you be practicing?”

“Brandon’s with someone else, and Silas wanted a break.”

Already?

“Besides.’ He tilted his head, strands of brown hair falling across his forehead. “Watching you punch the dummy like that is far more entertaining. I wonder how long it will take for you to break your hand before you land a decent hit.”

I rolled my eyes and aimed a punch straight for his chest, letting my annoyance fuel the swing so I could prove him wrong. But before my fist could connect, Hunter caught my punch easily. His hand wrapped around my knuckles, practically making my whole hand disappear beneath his.

His eyes locked on mine as he shifted my hand, fixing the position of my thumb. His grip was firm but not painful, and the heat of his hand sent an unwanted shiver down my spine. “This way, you won’t shatter your bones.”

I ground my teeth, trying to ignore the warmth of his touch andthe way the rough feel of his skin made my pulse spike. “Why do you even care if I break my hand or not?”

He shrugged. “I don’t. Just hate watching bad technique.”

My eyes narrowed, and I pulled my hand away from his. He stepped back, and without saying another word, he turned and strolled away.

Staring after him, my frustration grew into something else—something confusing. An annoyed groan left my lips, and I punched the dummy again, this time with the proper form, which didn’t seem to aid whatever nonsense I was feeling.

“Dickhead,” I mumbled, unsure if I meant it about Hunter or myself.

It was late.

My feet dragged along the empty corridors of Celestia, with the weight of the day pressing heavily on my shoulders. I had barely done anything other than punch a dummy, and yet my muscles screamed in protest.

I turned the corner, my thoughts muddled with all sorts of things, before I collided hard with someone. Looking up, I scowled when I saw it was Hunter.

He was the last person I needed to deal with right now. My plan had been to head back to the dorm and avoid him at all costs by locking myself in my room.

“Excuseme,” I snapped, shoving past him with more force than necessary.

Hunter didn’t budge and leaned against the wall, blocking my pathway. “Careful, Grace. You might actually hurt yourself with that attitude.”

“Good,” I said, trying to sidestep him. It didn’t work.

“Still bitter about helping you earlier?”

“I amnotbitter. For all I know, you helped me just to gain an upper hand for one of your schemes to get me out of here.”

His lips twitched as though he found that idea amusing. “That does sound more like me.”

I bit the inside of my cheek. “I don’t need this right now. Could you please move out of the way so that I don’t have to keep looking at your face?”

Yes, I was annoyed. By everything and especially by him. Though the Warriors laughing at me earlier when I was just there by the dummy might have been the final straw.

When he didn’t make any movement to let me go, I blew out an exasperated breath. “I’m really trying my best here.” At what? I didn’t know.

He hummed. “At surviving?”

That... sounded like the right answer I was searching for.

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