Page 35

“Uh…”

“And don’t even think about lying to me, Nikolas.”

I hesitate, not wanting to confess this to her, but I don’t have a choice. I promised to let her in, and I have every intention of doing so.

“Dad’s s-stopped me w-working, and if I don’t p-pass then…”

“Then,” she urges, finally stepping farther into the room. She steps right up to me and holds my face in her hands.“Then what?” she whispers when I don’t respond.

I swallow, not wanting to force the words out, but she’s not going to let me hide from this.

“Then he’s going to enrol me at Knight’s Ridge full time in September and make me do it all again.”

Her eyes flash with shock. “And stop you working?” she guesses.

I nod, pain slicing through me at the thought of having to give up the one thing I’m good at in life.

“So that’s why you’re having all the extra tutoring.”

“I’m not going to do it. My grades are shit. And even with two more years, I doubt I’ll manage it. I wasn’t made for school, Calli. I was made to torture and maim and terrify our enemies.”

“You’re going to pass those exams, Nikolas,” she promises me, determination shining bright in her eyes.

“Angel, I can’t. I just—”

“Do you trust me?” she asks, cutting me off.

“Fuck. You know I do. But I don’t trust myself.”

Releasing my face, she takes a step back, making me crave her touch the second I lose her heat.

“I propose a deal,” she states.

“Go on.”

“I’ll help you with your exams, if you—”

“What the hell could you ever want from me? All I can offer you is orgasms,” I scoff.

“Wrong. You can offer me so much, Nikolas. But there’s one thing I want, no… need.” My brow quirks at her. “Okay, two, because I might just take those previously mentioned orgasms as well.”

I can’t help but laugh at her.

“Anytime, Angel. All you’ve got to do is as—”

“I want you to train me,” she says confidently, cutting me off.

“Y-you want me to—”

“Train me. Teach me everything you know. Help me be able to protect myself in a way the rest of you can. I’m so fucking fed up of being the weak link in the group. I want to hold my own. Hell, I want to be a part of it. I’m fed up of— ARGH.”