LOGINAngel“Oh, stop it, Drake.”“Stop what?” he asked, trying his best to look innocent. I narrowed my eyes at him.“That.”“That what?”“That thing you’re doing.”His lips twitched.“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”“Liar.”“Strong accusation.”“You wanted us to continue something else.”“Did I?”“Yes.”“Are you sure?”“Very sure.” A grin spread across his face.“Interesting.”I immediately stepped backward.“Don’t even start.”“Start what?”“Drake.”“Angel.” I pointed a finger at him. He looked entirely too pleased with himself.“Behave.”“That’s a very difficult request.”I rolled my eyes.“You are impossible.”“So I’ve been told.” For a few seconds neither of us spoke. Then Drake suddenly straightened.“All right.” I blinked.“All right?”“One more exercise.” I frowned suspiciously.“That’s it?”“Yes.”“You’re giving up that easily?”“Don’t make me change my mind.” I immediately shut up.“Good choice.”The next exercise wasn’t nearly as easy as I expected.Every movement req
Angel“Yes.”I tried to open my eyes, but the sharp sting immediately forced them shut again.“Ahh!”“Don’t touch it.”Before I could rub my eyes, Drake caught my wrist.His grip was firm but careful.“Stay still.”“I am fine.”“You’re not.”“I am.”“You just tried to blind yourself with a stick.”“That was one time.”“One time is enough.”I heard him sigh.Then I felt his fingers lightly brush beneath my eye.“Don’t move.”“What are you doing?”“Looking.”“For what?”“To make sure you didn’t scratch your eye.”“I didn’t.”“Little mouse.”“What?”“You don’t know that.”I frowned but stayed still.A moment later I felt a cool cloth touch my face.The relief was immediate.“Oh.”“Better?”“A little.”He carefully wiped away the dust that had flown into my eyes when the stick slipped from my hands.“Open them slowly.”“I told you I am fine.”“Open them.”I obeyed.Slowly.Very slowly. The burning had reduced. The world came back into focus. First the trees. Then the cave. Then Drake. Sta
AngelAfter a few more minutes of standing still, moving forward, moving backward, and repeating the same stance over and over again, I was completely frustrated.My legs hurt. My shoulders hurt. Even my patience hurt.“Mr. Crane, are you trying to frustrate me?” I screamed. Drake didn’t even blink.“You can stop if you want to.” That was it.No encouragement. No sympathy. No empathy. Nothing. I stared at him in disbelief.“That’s all you have to say?”“Yes.” I wanted to throw a stick at him. A tear finally escaped my eyes. Just one. But it was enough.I stood there breathing heavily, my eyes burning into his. For a moment neither of us spoke. Then Drake sighed.A real sigh. The kind that suggested he had finally decided to stop torturing me. Without saying a word, he bent down and picked up one of the wooden sticks.I frowned.“What are you doing?” Instead of answering, he stepped into position.The air around him seemed to change. His relaxed posture disappeared.Everything about hi
AngelWe finally came to a stop in front of a small cave. I bent over immediately, trying to catch my breath.My lungs burned. My legs felt like jelly. Sweat dripped down my face. For a moment, I wondered if Drake had secretly been trying to kill me.I looked around and couldn’t help but gasp. The place was beautiful. Tall trees surrounded the area.The grass was short and soft beneath my feet. Birds chirped somewhere in the distance. The cave itself sat quietly between two large rocks as though it had been hidden there for years.It was peaceful. Far away from the mansion. Far away from the city. Far away from everyone.“But… but why did we have to come this far?” I managed to ask between breaths.Drake looked completely unaffected by the run. Not even a drop of sweat. I hated him a little for that.“Do you want to go back?” he asked.“No.”“Are you tired already?”“No.”“You can go back now.”“No!” I practically screamed. I immediately straightened my back. Trying my best not to loo
Angel“Are you ready?” he asked again. I blinked twice before responding.“Are you for real?” He just kept staring at me.“Forgive me, I know you as a good businessman, but as a karate tutor, I am not so sure. So I think it’s better if I go with Mat.” His expression remained unreadable.Just as I was looking at him, my phone rang. I checked my bag.Mat.“Sorry, my tutor is calling,” I told Drake before answering.“Hi, Mat.”“Angel, I am sorry. I would have to cancel.”“What happened?”“Mr. Grey called this morning. Apparently there are some things that need to be finished urgently. I don’t know if we can fix another date.”“Oh.” Disappointment immediately settled inside me.“I am sorry.”“No, it’s fine. Whenever you’re free, just let me know and I will work around your schedule.”“You’re not angry?”“Of course not.”“I really wanted to teach you.”I laughed.“Well, your boss had other plans.”Mat laughed softly.“I guess he did.”“I hope everything goes well.”“It will.”“I’ll see you
Angel“Karate classes, and Mat is taking me. We are starting tomorrow since there is a holiday,” I said with a smile.Drake’s face immediately darkened.“There will be no karate classes,” he said sharply. “Besides, you need to heal.”“I am fine,” I replied. “And besides, I think it is time I start exercising my arm again.”I smiled, completely ignoring the visible anger on his face.That only seemed to make him more annoyed.“Angel—”“I already told Mat I would be there.”“You should have asked me first.”I laughed.“Asked you?”“Yes.”“For karate classes?”“Yes.”“Maybe next time”“They will be no next time, Little Mouse“ I shook my head.“You are acting ridiculous.” His jaw tightened.“And you are acting stubborn.”“Maybe because people keep trying to tell me what to do.”“Someone has to.”“I managed perfectly fine before I met you.”“That is debatable.” I glared at him.“Little Mouse, you will do what I say, my house my rules, you are not going for any Karate classes with Mat and T
DrakeEarlier, Dr. Vance had called me out to the lab.I stood over the lab table, staring down at the ribbed, hollowed-out bullet through the microscope. It looked like nothing, just a piece of dead metal, dark like burnt coal.But I knew better. He had shown me the bullet that was taken from Ange
Drake“You are strong,” one of the elders said, his voice edged with disbelief. “How could a mere threat cause you to betray your people?”Morris shook his head violently, panic written all over his face.“They have my family!” he shouted, his voice cracking under the weight of fear. “I had no choi
DrakeI pressed the button. Hard. The red light flashed like a warning, and within seconds, the air was filled with the frantic sound of boots on tile. The doctors swarmed. They moved like a hive, voices low and urgent, checking the pulse at her throat, watching the monitors, whispering numbers I d
Drake“Wake up, little mouse.”My voice came out lower than I expected, careful. I watched her with an intensity. I didn’t move. I just watched. Three days of nothing but the rhythmic, mocking pulse of the heart monitor. Three days of watching her skin grow pale against the white sheets, wondering







