Page 4 of Blood Day: Part One

“You’re such a delicate little flower,” Master Cedric mused, his fingers drawing through the strands of my hair and interrupting me from my inner torment. “So pretty and meek.”

It’s what I’m meant to be, I wanted to reply. But I knew better than to speak. I’d already tested his patience by being bold enough to request help.

A stupid, naïve move.

Why had I stayed after class? What had given me the nerve to speak to him?

Shock, maybe.

Because I couldn’t believe he’d failed meagain. After all my training and accurate movements, he’d told me it was all wrong. He’d called meweak.

Your left leg is too bent.

Your foot is off-center when you kick.

You missed your target by several inches.

I’d read that feedback five times, confused by each word. I’d just kept thinking,He’s wrong. This is all wrong.Then my mind had wandered to the Immortal Cup and the very real impact these marks would have on my future, and I’d forgotten myself completely.

I’d remained when everyone else had left.

Leaving me alone with a predator.

A predator whohatedme.

And now I was on my knees, awaiting his punishment.

Because there was no mistaking the situation here—he would punish me for acting out of line. I’d questioned him. Asked for direction. He wasn’t my mentor. That wasn’t how this world worked.

I survived by keeping my head down and following directions.

To request assistance wasnotobedient. It suggested I felt he owed me an explanation. No superior owed any human an explanation for their choices and decisions.

Kneel.

Worship.

Admire.

Those were the core rules for my kind.

Along with a myriad of others about serving our Masters and doing whatever they commanded of us.

His thumb drew a line along my jaw to my chin, capturing it with ease and guiding my focus upward. “It’s bold to request my assistance, little flower.”

I swallowed. “I’m sorry.”

“Are you?” He cocked his head. “Or are you merely terrified of my reaction to your request?”

I blinked. “Both.” It came out in a whisper, my admission causing his eyebrows to lift.

“A truth,” he replied, his eyes roaming over my features. “I suppose that shouldn’t surprise me. It’s one of your more positive traits.” His intense gaze fell to my lips. “As is your mouth.”

The dark meaning in his words wasn’t lost on me.

I’d taken two sexual arts courses on how to properly please males—both lycans and vampires. All humans chose a preferred skill in that realm of existence, and I’d opted for oral studies. I still had one more class to pick, and I hadn’t decided yet what it would be.

They were important marks for our overall record.