Cherish, a beautiful name, looked at me like I do towards those animals Xavier or Denton. Perhaps naively I had forgotten that she would see me as a scum, no different to the rest. I don’t have to help her, I can just bide my time until the next bout and then get the hell out of here… “Who is the other person?” she asked softly, snapping me out of my dark thoughts. I realised I was still standing against the door frame, guarding her like a savage. My muscles ached with tension as every millimetre Vincent came towards crossing my threshold made my hackles rise in anger. Turning around I blew out my cheeks and ran two hands through my already dishevelled russet hair. “Other person?” “The one who says pussy mileage, compares me to a whore…I…I think that is not entirely your own voice?” Her eyes were blue and crystal clear. They looked to be free of judgement, no longer narrowed or scowling at my very presence. Instead she remained sitting inside my bed, white covers up around her wi
It’s been three days since he grabbed me, and I haven’t said a single word to him. I go to the bathhouse, he goes to his training, sparring, whatever it is he does all day. I won’t be forced into anything I don’t want to do. I’d rather die. I’d tell him that too if we were talking but he appears to be waiting for me to cave. Instead I glower at him and read the same limited book again. More fool him. He ambles about coolly, my eyes still seeking glimpses of his muscular body as he wakes and retires each day. Each morning I hear him turn over in the bed, his face peering over from the high mattress, wondering if perhaps I was going to give up being frosty. Not a chance. Today he slammed the door as he left, clearly frustrated with me. Good. Provided with the modest clothes, Martha told me Vincent was away on business so there was no risk to us while I was in the room. Meaning Ivan could stay the hell away from me. Martha still came for me every morning though since she witnessed
The girl can hold a grudge that is for sure. She is far more hot-headed than me, which I think riles her up even further. Even I have my limits though. She has no concept of how much danger she could be putting us both in. Thank fuck Vincent is away on business and that Kingsley doesn’t like calling on me, otherwise we would be in serious trouble. Heading down to training I had hoped maybe this morning she would drop the childish act. A night of tossing and turning in my sleep has left me agitated. Koh now fills my head with vivid, colourful dreams when it has been blackness for so long. Such intense dreams, recalling the beauty of Silver City and its castle left me more tired than when I went to bed. To roll over and see a frosty, angry face that considers me a murderous demon does not help matters either. But the sparks. That brief contact had sent Kohl spinning in confusion, as much as he enjoyed it, he cannot place her wolf. Perhaps it has retreated from the trauma of her kid
Genevieve’s reality terrified me to my very bones. So much so that I paced Ivan’s room restlessly once Martha escorted me back to the room. Eventually my own desperation to make things right got the better of me and I took a few steps outside the corridor. The slightest noise had made me as skittish as a mouse but after ten minutes of aimless wandering I heard raised voices. When I realised one of them was Ivan my body set off running before my brain could even process it. I cannot explain it, it was as though another force was in charge of propelling me forward. Though I didn’t disagree with the action, it was bolder and more confident than I would ever dare. When I rounded the corner and saw his face, that fire of russet red hair and blazing green eyes I only sped up. I expected when I leapt at him to be overwhelmed with the same tingling sensation as before. A flash of disappointment hit me as there was only the boring, unexciting sensation of material. Had I imagined the sensa
It has been two weeks. T Two weeks of absolute hell and torment as I stick to my silent vow. It has not been easy, but tonight has been the worst. Now I know she has a fiancee, well that was the slap in the face I needed to put away any foolish notions I had about her. Feelings for her captor? Absurd. The best thing I did was get her those gloves. It seems cold of me to just throw them on the bed when she was not there but I will not be tortured by any further accidental touches or glancing friction. I make sure to see Vincent in his office everyday now he is back, giving him no reason to drop by. Kingsley is away hunting the next batch of prizes, something he seems to relish more than the fights themselves. Cherish attempted to talk to me when I returned from first leaving the room. My skin is still burning from her touch, my heart racing from trying not to place my lips to hers. I had to get out of there before I did something dishonourable. “Ivan, I need to tell you…” “You d
I don’t know what the hell my mind is doing to me but it’s driving me crazy. Taking Ivan’s pillow was such a random act. As I gathered all the towels as usual and made my comfy little nest once more I spied it hanging over the side of the bed. The scent of sweet apples was so strong I couldn’t help just taking it. Telling myself, ‘it’s just a pillow, he has four, he won’t miss it’ seemed so sensible. Waking up in a fright with it clamped between my legs, covered in my wetness…I cannot possibly give it back to him now. Yet I want it nowhere near me. Not when it sends my brain haywire. My dreams are still of the country air, ascending heights to see panoramic views of forests and lakes. It is breathtaking. But last night, as I felt myself effortlessly climbing through the tall pine trees, as you do in dreams where everything is easy and light, someone was waiting for me. Stood at the top of the hill, facing away with a black hooded cloak over their head. The cloak hung down to their c
I hung back after showering and changing from training today, I needed to ask Vincent for a favour. Considering these past few weeks were the most I’ve ever spoken to him he must think I’m losing my mind. “What is it Ivan?” he barked as the room emptied. “I can tell you’re waiting for me?” Like a silverback gorilla he stood tall and proud, his scars and white hair for all to see. “I’m wanting to ask if I can use the running track later?” “Just you?” “Well, I want to take my prize out there. She’s not used to the lack of fresh air here so I’m thinking…” “You want her perking up before the showcase?” he guffawed, “or you just like doing it outside Ivan?” he asked with a filthy leer. I couldn’t help my face turning scarlet, not because it wasn’t true but because Vincent clearly thought deep down I was as feral as the rest. “Something like that.” “Course you can, I can’t guarantee you’ll be alone, the truck with the new prizes arrives today so it might get busier but you can take y
I could have cried, being out in the fresh air was amazing after so many weeks of corridors and the tiny window in his room. I didn’t want to let go of his hand though, just because he had finished guiding me didn’t mean I wanted him to break his hold. Instead I squeezed it tighter, whispering “thank you, I really needed this.” He led me towards the oval four-hundred metre race track and we started slowly walking around. There was even the odd bird chirping, I almost felt free if I squinted and looked past all the barbed wire and buildings surrounding us.. “What happened today?” Ivan asked carefully, keeping his face forward. I told him all about Genevieve and Martha, how I had helped carry her to the recovery ward. I stared up at him while I spoke, watching his jaw clench and work as I described the pitiful state she had been left in. “Do you think she will live?” “Yes, but only because Martha has promised to take her to watch his fight so that she might cheer his death.” “Hmm