Page 60 of The Stone Initiation
Tears blurred my vision as he hauled me up by the hair, his grip so tight that if I tried to break free, I was sure he’d tear it from the roots.
He drew me close. “You want to hit the mats, hmmm? Admit defeat?”
That had been the plan, but his hand in my hair and his hot breath in my face had fury bubbling through my veins. My vision darkened at the edges as I struggled to breathe past the rage. The primal part of my nature always hovered out of reach, hidden in the shadowy recesses of my mind, but the bond with Serath had nudged it, brought it out a little, so now, with this oaf’s fist in my hair, his face up close and personal to mine, she finally stepped out of the shadows.
“You might not have human skin, but every male has one weakness.”
“Oh? And what is that?”
I grabbed his balls and squeezed with everything I had.
He let out a pained groan, mouth parting on a whimper. He was supposed to let go, but his grip on my hair tightened, leading me to squeeze harder.
”Ungh!” His inverted roar vibrated between us, then cold fire exploded against the side of my head.
The world tipped and the mat hurtled up to meet me.
CHAPTER26
SERATH
“This is a bad idea,” Selas says as we make our way to the new cadets first combat training class. “You should skip this one. I’ll square it with Farnell.”
Not happening. “He asked me personally a week before the cadets arrived. I’ve got to be there. I owe him.”
“You owe yourself,” she says.
“No, Selas. Not in this case.” My hand goes up to graze the scar on my face. It burns sometimes. Reminding me of how I got it, but it could have been so much worse if not for Farnell.
The training building looms and Selas opens the door.
Cameron’s scent hits me. Not sweet and inviting like usual, but metallic and sharp like iron filings. She’s in danger.
“Serath no!” Selas grabs my arm with a steely grip. “Calm down. Now. Damn you.”
Cameron on the ground. My mate is on the ground.Bleeding. There’s blood, and a male hovers over her in a menacing stance.
She’s not moving. She’s notfuckingmoving.
Blood rushes to my head, my vision bleeds crimson and I’m about to tear myself from Sela’s grasp when Cameron slowly raises her head and spits blood.
“Is that all you’ve got mother fucker?” Her voice is a deep resonance that calls to the beast inside me. Her eyes flash green.
Oh fuck, she’s beautiful. So fucking beautiful. Power emanates from her tiny frame, saturating the air and filling my every breath. I want to join her. Ineedto join her.
“You can’t.” Selas’s grip on my arm is a manacle reminding me of my duty. My vow, and the risks to the female that was created just for me.
I breathe through my nose to calm my base instincts and watch Cameron gather herself. The side of her face is purple and bruised. Her lip is bleeding, but her eyes, gods, her eyes are emeralds of lethal intent as her gargoyle nature comes to the fore. Even though I know she’s no match for the Mason boy, even though I know he’ll eventually overpower her, I also know my mate will go down swinging.
She wipes her mouth with the back of her hand and falls into a crouch before making a bring it gesture with her fingers.
The Masons boy’s thighs bunch. He’s about to attack. If he touches her, I’ll kill him. There is no other outcome.
A rumbling fills my chest. “Selas…”
“Master Farnell!” Selas strides forward and Farnell notices us for the first time. “I’d like to take this opportunity for a teaching moment, if I may.”
The Mason boy stands down and turns to look our way, but I have eyes only for her.
