Page 70 of Deck of Scarlets

I swallowed a nervous lump in my throat, shocked to find Chloe clenching my arm for dear life.

Captain Harrison called attention to the front, a stack of papers now in his hands. “I have the reports here. This way, everyone’s map can be updated. Let’s hope Father Benedict can rectify the situation before things get worse. In the meantime, our fleet will be hidden, keeping an eye out until no other activity is spotted.”

Captain Harrison led both Emilia and Cillian toward the exit, but not before she looked at me, giving me a small smile before she exited the room.

Everyone seemed to release the breath they were holding, as chatter began to rise in the lecture hall. Josh gestured for me to follow him to the back, wanting to speak privately.

“I’m glad you caught that,” he said. There was a gleam in his eyes. Was he proud of me?

“Did you know too?” I questioned.

He nodded. “Yes. But it also means there could be someone working in-house.”

“Are you saying… are you saying someone might have double crossed us?”

Josh rubbed the back of his neck, a nervous habit he seemed to have whenever we spoke of a possible demise. “Not double crossed us… yet, but they’re on their way to.”

Panic rose in my blood. “What can be done?” Heather lay vulnerable just a couple blocks away with only a ventilator keeping her stable.

“Nothing yet. I was going to wait until after your ceremony to start your training, but I think after today’s meeting, now would be a good time.”

“And this training entails?”

“Get dressed and meet me at the cathedral in an hour.”

Chapter Thirty

It took me a solid twenty minutes to realize the training room was behind a red curtain in the main room where the purification ceremony took place. Pulling it back revealed a wide, spacious room with black floor mats scattered about. Workout machines such as treadmills, rowing machines, and ellipticals occupied a small portion of one area. Across from that, a mirror stretched on one of the walls, with weights of different pounds and styles sitting on shelves.

The warmth of the training room slapped me in the face, and I immediately hoped this part had air conditioning.

Josh was nowhere in sight, so I began a simple warm-up, getting my muscles ready for whatever tortuous routine he had in store. I started with a simple standing shoulder stretch, along with my triceps and biceps, then I worked on my torso. As I sat in the middle of the matted floor, about to stretch out my legs, the sound of a man awkwardly clearing his throat interrupted my flow. I twisted just enough to see Josh standing with a bag slung over his shoulder, and he wore an unreadable expression. Dressed from head to toe in workout gear, it took every ounce of mental strength not to let my mind wander to inappropriate thoughts of him.

Because wearing a tank top, exposing those well-toned arms, was enough to send me into cardiac arrest.

“What’s in the bag?” I asked, trying to break the one-sided sexual tension.

“Wooden daggers.” He dropped the bag, creating a loud thud on the mat. Josh then untied the giant knot on top, letting it flop open to expose different sizes and colors inside. “Pick your poison.” He seemed off, slightly guarded as he stepped back, giving me more than enough space to pick from the sack.

I let my hand graze over a few different ones, feeling the rough edges to the soft tips and selecting a black dagger with a crooked tip. Pieces were chipped off from excessive use, threatening to give splinters if not careful.

“Excellent. Now, show me how you would hold it in combat,” he requested.

Was he serious? I fiddled around with the dagger, trying to hold it properly in my hand, unsure whether to point it toward my enemies or away. “You do know I have zero experience with this, right?”

“I’m well aware of your lack of experience. I just needed a good laugh before we began.” Josh smirked with amusement. His change in demeanor gave me whiplash.

I scowled. “Ha. Are you going to teach me something, or should I ask a well-experienced Saint? Perhaps Cillian?

He nearly choked. “You don’t want him for company.”

“Why? I bet he’s fun to be around. Why don’t you spar with him?” I teased.

“Cillian could break my neck using only two fingers. No thanks.”

I shrugged, repositioning myself on the mat, but my balance was off. I guess that wasn’t on the list of Blessed perks. “Is there really a point to all this?” I waved the dagger around like a baton.

He frowned, clearly not amused, and said, “Here, let me show you.” Josh grabbed a dagger from the bag, a skinny, brown, wooden one with a crooked tip. “You can hold it the natural way.” He kept the dagger pointing up, his hand grasped firmly on the handle. “Or this way.” Josh effortlessly twirled the handle, facing the blade toward him. “I prefer the tip to the back. You’re more comfortable and faster at striking and don’t want to stab yourself. It’s like carrying a pair of scissors around.”

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