Page 44 of Hell's Storm

“I’m telling Ledger he’s just a distraction.”

A smirk curls on my lips. “Would you still like to be my trainer? Like actually train me, instead of just… beating my ass.”

He stands up, shoulders rolling. “That’s how I learned. Hazen might baby you, but if I’m going to teach you, it will be my way.”

“Hazen doesn’t baby me.”

He cocks a brow.

Okay, so he babies me. But I refuse to say that out loud. He doesn’t deserve to know he’s right about that too.

“Come here.”

I move to him, pulling my sweats down on my hips slightly.

“Think of the way we fight, like dancing.”

“I’ve never had a partner. Do you do well on the pole?” I smirk.

Inarian growls. “Focus.”

My eyes roll, and he throws his first jab, causing me to try and dodge it, but it slightly hits my cheek. “Inarian!” I grab my cheek.

“Right now, I’m your dance partner. Move with me. Predict my moves.”

Inarian begins to fight me, and after dodging his attacks, I can observe him and try to predict his next move. He fights the way I knew he would, taking a massive step with each punch. Soon, we are moving together to the sound of flesh hitting flesh. My blocks leave bruises on my forearms, and his leave bruises onmyknuckles.The man is built like a fucking tank.

He throws faster punches, really tapping into his hellhound energy. I jump back, dodging his kick. “Do you train every day?”

“Do you, for dancing?” he counters, barely out of breath like I am.

I nod. “Makes sense. You want to be able to protect me.”

He shakes his head. “Protect yourself.”

I stop, looking up. “You don’t want to be my hound, do you?”

He sighs. “Being a protector is more than just…being. You have to have loyalty and a bond like no other. You lied about being a demon to us. You might not even claim the throne.”

“So, if I claim the throne, you will?” I punch his chest hard. “Using me for your own gain?”

“You’re damn right.” He grabs my wrist, stopping my next jab. “Your father offered me my inheritance if I became your protector.”

My lips part as my heart sinks into my stomach. He’s using me. My father bribed him.

“He said I would never have to go to that god awful fucking school again. I would have a job, and I would be free. You aren’t the only one wanting freedom.”

I push away from him, anger rising in me. “Well, fuck you! You weren’t even at the academy for the right reason either!”

He shrugs. “I never claimed to be.”

My fists ball and I throw punches that ignite with flames on the end when they connect. “You fucking asshole. So then fucking leave. I don’t fucking need you. My father is dead.”

He grabs my wrist again, pulling me into him. His cold skin cools down mine. “I know, and I will never get my fucking money.”

“Then what were you going to do? Leave me? Get your money and leave me?” Tears fill in my eyes, and I try to look away. “So just do it now. Why can’t you just fucking leave now? No one is after you. Unless all you want me for is the fucking money again. Is that all I am to you?”

“No!” he snaps, shaking me. “Stop this.”

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