All Chapters of His to Keep: Chapter 11 - Chapter 12

Chapter 11: Nikolai’s POV – Expectations“Again.”Nikolai didn’t argue.He adjusted his stance, ignoring the ache in his ribs, the tightness in his shoulders, the faint sting still lingering in his knuckles from earlier training. None of it mattered. It never did.He moved forward.Strike. Block. Counter.Faster this time.Cleaner.Controlled.“Better,” his uncle said, circling him slowly. “But still distracted.”Nikolai exhaled sharply. “I’m not distracted.”“You’re here,” his uncle replied. “But not completely.”That was the problem.Nikolai reset his stance again, jaw tightening.“I won the round.”“This isn’t about winning.”A pause.“It’s about control.”Control.He had it.He always had it.“Then control yourself,” his uncle continued. “Because when you hesitate out there—” he gestured vaguely, meaning more than just the training room “—it won’t be a missed strike. It’ll be a mistake you don’t recover from.”Nikolai didn’t respond.Didn’t need to.He understood.He had been rais