Page 84 of The Broken Aztec Princesses

“Getting my stamina up and some self-defense.”

“What are you guys working on right now?”

“Well, right now, nothing. He’s clearly occupied.” I laughed wryly. “But, we were going to start on free weights.”

“I can help you with that. Unless you want to keep waiting on him?”

I turned to look at Chris. Did I want to train with Elim? Not really. But it was my idea for him to join us, and the women didn’t look like they had any intention of releasing Chris anytime soon.

“Sure,” I answered, and hopped off the bench.

“What are you repping at right now?”

“Umm, fifty pounds on the machines,” I answered, feeling the heat coming to my face. Fifty pounds was pretty weak for a wolf.

“Alright, we’ll start with some goblet squats. You know what those are?”

I shook my head, trying not to giggle at the name. Elim removed his hoodie, leaving him in only a light white tee before grabbing a fifty-pound dumbbell for me and a two-hundred-pound dumbbell for himself.

I almost dropped my jaw. For a minute I’d forgotten that he was a vampire. He didn’t look like he should be able to lift much, but neither did Aunt Kassie. Vampires were deceptive.They were made to look beautiful and delicate, but were lethal creatures.

Elim showed me what the rep for the exercise looked like, and then I was trying to replicate him while trying to resist taking peeks at Chris.

“You need to tuck your core in a bit more,” Elim instructed. “Go down a little bit lower.” Elim dropped his dumbbell and approached. He stopped a few steps away, scratching his head. “Can I come closer to show you?” he asked.

I nodded, and Elim approached slowly and with careful movements. He put one hand on my torso and one on my shoulder. With the gentlest touch possible, he guided me to the right squatting position. He remained hovering after he let go to check my form, then returned back to his spot. We chatted as he guided me through a couple of sets. After we were done with those, Elim was showing me the proper way to do a deadlift, when Chris finally made his way back to us.

“What are you doing?”

Chris was glaring at Elim, whose hand was on my lower back.

“Oh, you’re done with your friends? Elim here is helping me train,” I answered.

“That’s my job,” Chris reminded me with, his eyes still on Elim beside me.

Elim let go of my lower back and moved to the side.

“You were busy with your second job.”

“Vio—”

“It’s fine, Chris. Really. Elim’s a great teacher. We’re almost done, right, Elim?” I turned to smile at Elim so I couldn’t glare back at Chris.

“Right. I have to go keep looking for the beast. I just wanted to catch you, and see if you wanted to schedule that spar.”

“Any time, any place,” Chris answered through gritted teeth.

“Hey, man. If you don’t want to, that’s fine. I’m getting trained by my aunt when this job is done, and I wanted to see how behind I was, but if—” Elim stopped when Chris sighed and shook his head, seeming to know he was directing his anger at the wrong person.

“No. It’s fine. How about on Friday?”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Since you’re almost done, I’ll wait by the door for you, Violet.”

“Elim can take me back if—”

“I’ll be by the door.”

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