Page 83 of Blood Day

He blurred in response, his shadow phasing around to my back to catch me in a bruising grip.

The air whooshed from my lungs as his palm grasped my throat again, his opposite arm snaking around my waist to hold me against him.

“Ah, my sweet Lily flower,” he breathed against my ear,the familiar name making me gasp. “What have you done?”

My back hit the sand in the next instant as Master Cedric took me to the ground in a swift, harsh movement.

He caught my wrists in one hand and tugged my arms over my head to pin them. Then his opposite hand went to my cheek, his touch surprisingly gentle.

The moon cast his face in ominous shadows, but this close, there was no mistaking his identity.

Master Cedric is here.

On top of me.

Pinning me against the ground.

And he looks furious.

The anger resembled black flames in his dark irises, causing me to shiver beneath him.

Or maybe it was just feeling him against my skin that elicited the tremble.

I went from fighting for my survival to being a willing captive in mere seconds.

A stupid reaction.

Yet I couldn’t fight him. I was too elated to see him again after all this time.My Master Cedric.

“Tell me, darling, do you understand the purpose of this course?” His low, silky tones spread goose bumps down my arms.

“Training,” I whispered. But I didn’t know what we were training for. Because this had nothing to do with becoming a Vigil.

He hummed, the sound telling me I hadn’t answered correctly.

“Training for what, though, is the question.” His nose skimmed my cheekbone. “This is an arena where the prospects run and the Masters chase. It’s a game my peers look forward to every year. Because once we catch ourdesired prey, we can do whatever we want to make it scream. The whole point is to see how long it takes until the human breaks.”

A chill skated down my spine, chasing away the warmth his presence had evoked.

A game of chase and capture and torture.

An arena where Masters can catch and torment prospects.

It didn’t surprise me at all that Master Cedric had chosen me for that purpose. He had been taunting me from the beginning, failing me at every turn.

And now would be no different at all.

“Tell me what you’re being trained to do,” he said, his voice holding a lethal edge to it.

“To be chased and caught.” The reply automatically left me as though he controlled my mind, body, and tongue.

“By what?”

“You,” I whispered.

He smiled, but it didn’t appear to be all that kind. “No, darling.Lycans.”

My lips parted. “Moon chase…” The words were barely audible, but his responding nod told me he’d heard them just fine.