Page 160 of The Forsaken Heir
This time it was Vince’s turn to give me a quizzical look. “How’d you figure that?”
“It forced Bastien to move quicker. His hatred of his sister caused him to lash out sooner than he would have.”
Vince and Rasp shared a look, I wasn’t sure they believed what I was saying, even if I did. They would need more convincing. Maybe I could figure out a way to really prove to them that Bastien had been planning something like this for years. Before I could focus on that, though, I needed to see Elle. I’d been so busy that I hadn’t seen or spoken to her even once today.
“Go on,” I said. “Go relax or something, and stop beating yourselves up over this.”
Rasp and Vince stood, both looking like they wanted to keep arguing thattheywere the ones who’d ruined everything, but thankfully, they departed without any more grumbling.
Based on how hard Elle had been training the last few days, I assumed she would be outside with Delphine. My suspicion was correct, and as I stepped out one of the side doors of the mansion, I spotted the two women at the edge of the forest on a grassy flat area.
This was the first time I’d really gotten a chance to see what they were doing. Elle was actually pretty impressive. She’d shown what she could do in the fight at her apartment and that night in the conservatory, but she’d clearly learned even more.
As I strolled down the hill toward them, Delphine shifted to her wolf form, leaped high in the air, jaws open, ready to snap closed on Elle’s throat. At the last possible second, Elle twisted and kicked Delphine in the stomach. The blow sent the woman tumbling back, and she shifted back.
“How’d that look?” Elle asked me as she bent over to catch her breath.
I helped Delphine to her feet. “Really good, actually. Your reflexes are pretty damn fast.”
Delphine brushed grass from her pants and glanced between Elle and me. She let out a little exasperated sigh. “You know what? I need to head back up to the castle. Itotallyforgot I needed to get one of the maids to change the sheets on our beds.”
Elle frowned. “Do you have to do that now?”
“Yep.” Delphine gestured toward me. “See if the prince here can, uh, assist you. I’m sure he’s great at…uhm,physicalthings.”
Biting my tongue to stifle a snort, I watched the older woman trudge up to the castle. When I turned back, Elle’s cheeks were red.
“This whole thing has changed that lady,” Elle said. “She wouldneverhave said something like that before.”
“Well?” I said, stepping forward, and rolling my sleeves up. “Might as well see how much you’ve learned. Can’t disappoint Lady Delphine, can we?”
Elle sighed and straightened up, giving me a cocky grin. “Oh, really? You think you want a piece of me?”
I untucked my shirt to make it easier to maneuver. “I think so. I’ll even take it easy on you. I won’t shift. Just human on human. How about that?”
She narrowed her eyes. “How generous of you. Let’s go then,” she said, waving me on.
I tracked my gaze down her body and smirked. “Sure you don’t want a second to finish catching your breath?”
In answer, she lunged forward and tried to grab my wrist, possibly to put me into some sort of lock. I backed away quickly, my feet skidding across the grass. Shewasfast.
“Almost had you.” She grinned and feinted a kick at my legs, but used the distraction to land a quick punch to my ribs.
She’d tricked me, but I managed to twist away. The blow skidded off my ribs rather than landing dead on. While Elle was off balance, I pulled her into a bear hug, pulling her into a bearhug and locking my fingers to stabilize the hold. Her breasts flattened against my chest, and her warm breath washed across my cheek. The closeness, and the way she writhed against mine, caused my body to betray me.
Elle stopped struggling and turned to look at me, a knowing smile on her face as my erection pressed against her.
“I almost forgot,” she said. “Youdolike the rough stuff.”
“Very funny, that’s not—ow!”
My grip on her had lessened, and she’d kicked my shin, causing me to let go of her.
“You got me. I’ll grant you that. Give me time. I’ll have you flat on your back soon,” I said with a laugh.
“Promises, promises,” she said and rushed me.
It looked like she was going to shoulder tackle me, like some linebacker about to drive the quarterback into the dirt. I braced myself, ready to deflect or catch her mid-flight, but she dived to the side, grabbing my shin as she rolled forward.
