Page 80 of Brutal Birthright

“What?” Spit on the ancestors and stab him in the eye already. Rowan had just about had enough of this day and wanted nothing else but to get Oriana alone.

After their morning session in the training arena had ended, he’d found himself in the midst of a briefing with Finnic and the other fae guards to discuss the symbols and what had been found among the archives by his fated mate Lukah.

Something long-winded and boring about lost connections to other realms that had long been sealed off from the likes of their world and the known lands within it.

It was all just smoke-like whispers of information. Nothing tangible. Rowan had been close to barking at them all for wasting his time but thought better of it.

Lukah seemed like a crier.

Besides, it was his own damn fault he’d been stuck in the briefing in the first place. He could have stabbed himself in the neck for being the one to insist they met today.

Only a day ago he’d been focused on whatever—or whoever was behind the deaths and potential threats on the academy. Now? Now he had a cock that ached to be back inside his pretty little fae.

His.

Goddess-fucking-damnit. How was he already acting like she belonged to him after only one night together? The way he’d felt the urge to mark her over and over had been near impossible to fight.

She could count herself lucky he’d only given her a fraction of the teeth marks and fingerprints he wanted displayed on her smooth skin.

“I was just going to say you look different today. Lighter, somehow. If that is even possible.” Finnic smirked and used the sword he was cleaning to gesture a circle in Rowan’s direction. “But of course, that could just mean I’ve gotten too used to your tall, dark, and grouchy routine.”

He bristled.

“Should have known you’d turn mad eventually jerking off over those weapons all day.” Rowan scowled. Everything inside him itched to get out of here.

But they had one final class to complete for the afternoon. Even if he did want to march out and find her, throw her over his shoulder and portal away from all this shit, he couldn’t. The students were currently completing their required laps of the assault course and instructed to work as a unit to navigate the new obstacles he’d placed out amongst the forest for today.

Which meant his stubborn, feisty little prize would have to wait.

Proving just how talented and fast at learning she was, the girl had completed all the required tasks alongside her friend, Brynne, with ease. While the sprite had struggled through some of the more challenging weaponry techniques, Oriana had seemingly waltzed through them without so much as a hair out of place.

The talented little thing was improving rapidly day by day.

Whoever found her placed in their realm as part of the elite team of Astrals would be receiving a valuable asset indeed.

The thought of her future sent his brows furrowing and a dark cloud descending.

She’d been adamant when she’d insisted they keep things between them a secret. There was no denying the real fear in her dark eyes when faced with the threat of losing everything she’d worked so hard for. Of all the asshole things Rowan had done in his life, putting that goal of hers under threat was something he knew he’d never forgive himself for.

Despite how selfishly he wanted to make sure she was publicly claimed as his.

It tugged at something deep inside his chest to think of her words. I don’t share what’s mine, either. Did she honestly think he’d even so much as looked at anyone else since she’d stormed into his life? But seeing her match his possessiveness with her own brand of feisty passion was fucking hot.

The girl knew exactly how to twist the knife in his gut and make him bleed.

Finnic whistled as he stroked and caressed his weapons. Making sure they were all put away in the armoury after inspecting each and every single one. Occasionally pausing to remove a marking or sigil that had wound up engraved in the metal. Tutting under his breath but maintaining that ludicrous smile on his face.

A noise from outside the training arena had his ears pricking up and his magic reaching out on instinct. The group of students were approaching, chatting amongst themselves in high spirits as they swapped stories of whatever beating they’d taken at the hands of his enchanted obstacles.

Some were obviously bleeding. Others limped slightly. Which gave him a sense of twisted satisfaction.

No sense in making it anything less than a realistic battle scenario.

His eyes quickly found her among the usual group of her friends. At least the vampire and the witch kept their hands to themselves, seeming more interested in the pair of shifters they were following closely behind.

Flush-tinged cheeks. Almond eyes brightly sparkled. Sweat glistened on her bronzed skin, and her aura shimmered with the kind of contentment one felt when having achieved a victory.

She looked ready to be fucking devoured.

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