Page 135 of Claimed By a King

This time, there’s no stopping myself. With a scream, I let go of her foot and lunge forward. I manage to take her to the floor, but that’s where my upper hand ends. Cara swiftly spins us around so she’s on top, and then she proceeds to place her knees on my arms so I can’t move.

“Fuck you,” I spit. “How the fuck can you use that against me? I thought you were my friend.” Betrayal tastes like fucking poison on my tongue, and I’m so engulfed in my rage I imagine what it would be like to really hurt her—like she just did to me by using my trauma against me.

“Relax, Zoe,” Cara coos, her soft tone at odds with her sharp knees. “Breathe.”

Because I’m still a brat at my core, I shake my head and hold my breath, which makes her laugh. This time, it isn’t a cackle, it’s a genuine laugh.

“Why are you training?” she asks.

The question takes me off-guard and I inhale sharply. “Because I want to fucking make all of them hurt, like they did to me,” I volley. “Should I add you to that list?”

Cara cocks her head to the side like she’s listening to someone else, but all I can hear is the blood whooshing in my ears. “And do you think they’re going to fight fair?” she asks. “Are you still that little girl who believes in knights in shining armor and enemies who stop when it becomes too much?”

She doesn’t say it in a way that’s unkind, but more like she’s trying to figure me out. And as I really look at her, the penny finally drops. Cara isn’t trying to be cruel, she’s trying to prepare me for when I come head-to-head with Gunner and Irina. Probably Rusty, too. But he’s more akin to a thorn in my side, whereas with the other two, it’s deeply personal.

“Because if you don’t think they’ll say or do anything to rattle you, you’ve learned nothing.” Cara leans down and trails a finger over one of my many scars. “Especially since we both know you’ll never face them without Gray being near. I know Gunner, and he’ll love throwing the shit he’s done in Gray’s face. You know that, right?”

Well, fuck… I hadn’t considered that at all. Which just goes to show how seriously Cara takes our practice. She’s lived through this, so I need to listen to her and keep my fucking cool.

“I get it,” I huff, and I really do. “Let’s go again.”

“Are you sure?” she asks.

Instead of nodding my acquiescence, I buck underneath her. The movement surprises her enough that she slides to the side, making it easy for me to roll us around so I’m on top.

“Give me your best shot.” I stand up and get back into position. “Or kick,” I amend, winking at her.

Gray counts down again and while he does, I’m momentarily distracted. I know it isn’t easy for him to watch Cara hurt me, yet he can collect himself to stay out of it. If he can do that while watching me getting kicked, then I can block Cara’s hurtful words out.

“One,” he shouts, startling me as I realize I didn’t spend the time coming up with a plan.

Maybe that’s for the best, though. Cara’s way more experienced than I am, so I suppose I need to turn that around. If I plan, she has time to do it as well. But if I just…

I let loose a war-cry as I run at her with no plan on what to do. I see her leg zooming toward me, but instead of dodging or blocking it, I twist so the heel of her foot lands against my shoulder. The momentum shocks me, it’s harder than before. But I don’t let it stop me.

With a new sense of urgency, I close the distance between us and just before I crash into her, I drop to my knees and roll between her spread legs. Then I push myself halfway up and kick at the back of her knee, sending her stumbling.

Cara lets out a surprised gasp, spinning around to face me. But I’m ahead of her, and the moment she turns, I slide between her legs again, keeping myself behind her.

I manage to get in one more kick before she rounds on me, and tangles her fingers in my hair. She forces my neck back at an uncomfortable angle. Then she traps my legs with hers, closing her thighs around mine while resting on her knees.

“Impressive for a little girl,” she sneers. “But now you’re in the perfect position for me to use your mouth.”

The implication of what she means hangs heavy between us, and I wonder how far she’s willing to take it. Is she going to literally rub her crotch against my mouth? I doubt it… no, I don’t. Cara is shameless, fierce, and she isn’t going to stop until she’s done everything she can.

“I’ll fucking bite you,” I warn. “Try me.”

She laughs and stands up. The shift in her position means I can relax my neck, but only for a second. Until she forces me to bend it as she pulls on my hair from above.

“I can’t wait to be inside you again,” she grits out through clenched teeth.

As I look up, I see the disgust written all over her face. Not at me, but at what she just said. I can’t say I’m enjoying hearing it, but it’s needed. I can’t keep being scared of the past if I want to take control of my present and future.

“Never again,” I vow. “You’ll never fucking touch me again. And if you do, I want you to know that I’ll still never belong to you. You can force me, but that’s all it’ll ever be. Force. While I might fear you, I can never respect or love you. You’re fucking pathetic.” As I speak, I pretend I’m looking into the face of evil—Gunner.

The biggest difference from now and then is that if he gets me a second time around, I’ll have something worth fighting for. Now I know Gray isn’t dead, and I’ll fight fucking tooth and nail to get back to him.

Even as I think that, I know that’s not strictly true. Because if Gunner gets his hands on me again, it’ll mean Gray is really dead. That’s the only way he’ll allow it to happen. And if Gray’s dead, I’ll fucking follow.

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