Page 81 of Brutal Birthright

As if she heard every filthy thing he planned to do to her, she darted a hand up to smooth over her hair. Shooting a quick look his way from beneath her heavy eyelashes, then turned back to her pink-haired friend. Oh, but he saw the way she twisted her hair over her shoulder. Coveted with a hungry glance the way she slowly licked her bottom lip.

Their class was over for the day. Students were filing out of the training arena and heading for Trelithia Hall for the night. A heavy gold glow hung in the air with the sun beginning to drop in the sky as evening approached.

“Sir, we were just wondering…” At the sound of the voice behind him, he whirled around to find Vanya and a small group of her female friends standing together. All nibbling their lips and trying to put on some kind of enticing performance. Fuck he was sick of this shit.

He could practically feel the daggers magically sharpening in Oriana’s hands from across the other side of the arena.

“Would you be able to offer us some further tips for using the bow and arrows? You’ll have seen we haven’t been faring as well as some others in the class.”

One of the other girls chimed in. “We’re terrible at it and wanted to know if you might be available for some one-on-one tuition?”

“You know… after class.” Vanya made an attempt to smile. A move that would no doubt have plenty of the idiots here panting after her. But right now, the girl was doing nothing but embarrassing herself.

“It’s no wonder you’re falling behind.” He crossed his arms and glared them all down. Each visibly shrunk like mice trying to dart back into a hole. “None of you have done anything but cut corners in my class, and it is only Finnic here who has saved your asses from being penalised.”

Their mouths opened and closed in silent indignation. A couple of them shuffled their feet and kept their eyes pinned to the floor.

It was the truth. Finnic had identified their lack of full participation in the assault course. Rowan had been keen to give them enough rope to see how far they’d go with their bullshit. Turns out their timing couldn’t have been more beneficial.

“So, since you’re all here and keen for extra tuition, you can complete twenty rounds of the assault course. Right fucking now.”

With the sound of protests falling behind him as he turned on his heel, he paused and shot Finnic a narrowed look over one shoulder. “Deal with this shit. Make sure they don’t skip a single obstacle.” He grunted. Then stalked over to where Oriana lingered on her own, with steam rising from her tensed shoulders. Sure enough, a glint of sharpened gold was clenched tight in each fist.

“Oriana.” He fought a twitch threatening at the corner of his lips.

The girl was fuming.

Fuck, if that didn’t make his balls ache.

“Did you need something, or am I free to leave?” There was murder in her eyes as her gaze tracked the figures making their way back out of the arena in the direction of the assault course. Finnic strolled behind, whistling and with his hands shoved in his pockets. Only a few more moments and they’d be alone.

“Everything alright over here?” He crossed his arms. Surveying her figure with a hungry, raking look down the length of her curves.

She shivered beneath the intensity of every spot of bare skin his eyes clung to. Clever little thing had amended her usual training leathers with her magic to give herself a high collar today. Disguising the evidence of where he’d laid claim to her.

It didn’t matter. He’d be seeing what lay beneath the material soon enough.

“Of course.” She flexed her fingers around the handles of the small daggers.

“I believe you left some weapons lying around.” Rowan tapped a thick finger against his forearm. “Rather careless behaviour.”

The flare of defiance in her eyes sent a rush of blood straight to his cock.

Rowan reached around to unsheath one of his swords from the holster on his back, then tossed it to the ground between them.

“Looks like you need to put that away in the armoury.” He nudged it towards her with the toe of his heavy boot. Sure enough, a tiny growl left her throat. Shit, it was a heady thing driving her to fight him.

The satisfaction of fucking her into submission would only taste that much sweeter.

“No fucking way.” There was enough of a hint of panic in her eyes as they widened. Scanning the training arena quickly, looking past his broad shoulders.

“No?” He quirked an eyebrow at her.

“Someone might see.” She hissed under her breath.

Gritting his teeth, he resisted the urge to adjust his thickening cock in his trousers.

“Get. In. The. Armoury.” Each word ground out in a dark, low tone.

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