Page 103 of Brutal Birthright

Unbearable.

So instead, he lay there through the dark hours, watching over her like some kind of brooding sentinel. Sleep was a luxury he could afford to live without. His magic would easily accommodate a stretch of time without that kind of rest.

He’d lived through worse hardships than having a soft, beautiful girl wrapped in his arms.

When morning eventually came, she’d been fast asleep and snoring, with her long hair tied up in a messy pile on top of her head. Her dark eyelashes fanned across her bronzed cheeks, and shit if that didn’t make something deep inside his chest ache.

Absently, he rubbed a hand over the spot right above his ribcage.

Maybe he’d been hit harder yesterday when he and Finnic sparred together than he thought.

The usually maniacal grin of the man himself beamed around the training arena as he began to call names, order of entering the course, and set them into a line-up of sorts. Ignoring the sight of one of the students rushing out the main doors to throw up, Rowan strode over to join Finnic.

His eyes flitted over to Oriana once more. This time she snagged his gaze with her own for just a second before ducking her head. He knew it was fucking greedy to want her attention right now of all times, but he couldn’t help but feel something uneasy in his stomach.

There was no doubt she’d excel in this assessment today. The girl was proving time and time again to be able to stay clear of the vampire, Etienne, on the rankings. But a churning deep in his gut left him wanting to grab hold of her and take her away from here.

Only problem was that she would most likely never speak to him again if he dared such a thing.

The order in which the students were to go about completing the assessment was determined by ranking. Weakest scores would go first. Which meant as the current highest points holder, Oriana would be the last one to enter the assault course for the day.

One by one the line began to enter the forest, a single student at a time. He had arranged the maze of obstacles and scenarios to bring them in a full loop so that they exited almost at the same point they entered. Which provided a blood-soaked preview to the next student waiting in line to take their turn.

As each student eventually emerged, some more battered and wide-eyed looking than others, the line began to dwindle down. Throughout the early stages of the course, there were some who almost crawled out. Complete with broken limbs, torn clothing, and most of them had tracks of dirty tears down their bloodied faces.

Finnic directed most of those immediately towards the healing bay to be attended to in the main building of the academy. Fortunately, the little sprite, Brynne, seemed to fare well. She bore some bruised welts along her cheekbone and a large gash down one arm, but she still managed a small smile for her classmates and gave Oriana a quick hug before she headed back to her rooms.

The afternoon wore on and on, with distant shouts and cries occasionally echoing out of the forested gloom. When they finally reached the last two—Etienne and Oriana—the sun was sinking low on the horizon. There were already patches of mist starting to form amongst the edges of the treeline, which would no doubt thicken once they made their way deeper into the trees themselves.

His fingers itched to drag her into the armoury and tell her what to expect. As if she could sense his thoughts swirling around, she cocked an eyebrow the next time he shot a look at her. To the left of him, the vampire took off using his speed, disappearing amongst the pines within the blink of an eye.

Leaving himself, Finnic, and Oriana to await his completion of the course before she could enter.

Rowan swallowed heavily. Keeping his arms crossed, he fixed his gaze on the treeline at the end of the path extending from the doors to the training arena. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Finnic start to drift off towards his precious stash of weapons to begin his daily checks. All the while, seeming entirely caught up in studying his notes from the day’s assessments.

Oriana moved to stand just off to one side of the open doorway. She kept her eyes locked on the last place they’d seen Etienne, but rounded on him with a quiet hiss. “If you dare try and give me special favours or advice, I’ll cut your balls off.”

His teeth ground together. That fucking feeling in his gut just wouldn’t relent.

So, instead of saying anything, he kept his jaw firmly clamped shut. Knowing full well that he was a bristling porcupine, while she appeared to be the embodiment of serenity.

Her fingers traced over her weapons as she readjusted their positioning on her body. Ran through each of the arrows stocked in the quiver strapped to her thigh. Tested the string on her bow. A methodical checklist of everything at her disposal before stepping into the unknown.

Preparing herself for what was to come with all the assuredness of someone far beyond her years.

Fuck. He had barely registered the thought—that she was, in fact, centuries younger than him—when Etienne emerged from the treeline at that same moment.

Not using his vampire speed or mysting abilities. Instead, he limped slowly up the gravel path. Blood streamed from a large cut on the side of his head. His sword was slicked with crimson, dripping slowly from the tip of the blade that hung loosely in his grasp, and with one hand he clutched at a gaping wound on the side of his abdomen.

From the dark stain extending around the place he held onto, it was evident he’d lost a lot of blood himself in the process.

Rowan silently cursed himself and this godsdamned assessment. He’d been the one to place every enchantment and hex. Used his magic to create every foe who would need to be defeated in order to make it through and out the other side.

If she emerged looking as battered as this, how could he live with himself? Yes, she’d heal, but the thought of her being gravely injured while out amongst the forest on her own made his neck feel clammy.

Thoughts of seeing his own hands wrapped around her slender neck came rushing back in.

Was this any different?

---