Page 6 of Beast

She sniffled, wiping her nose with the back of her hand.Her fingers trembled, and she gulped in a shaky breath while looking down at the ground.I stood silently, waiting, giving her the space to gather her thoughts.Her first sentence came out as a mumble, but gradually, her words began to make sense.

“I’m human, and I’ll never be able to fight.Those monsters killed my father and most of the people I loved.I want all of them dead, and no one will teach me.”Her gaze lifted to mine, a flicker of fire sparking in her tear-filled eyes.“You just want me out of your hair.If I died, no one would care.”She sniffed again and kicked at the dirt in frustration.

“Getting a young boy killed won’t endear you to anyone,” I said coldly.Ruth didn’t need to be coddled right now.

“Che’s the only one who understands,” she muttered, showing a deep, painful vulnerability.

“He’s too young to understand.He lost his father, too.Actually, two fathers.He’s still mourning, and he looks up to you like you’re some kind of hero.How will you feel if he dies because of your foolishness?”I asked while trying poorly to hide my frustration.

Her hands balled into fists, and she slammed them against her thighs.“I hate being human,” she ground through her teeth.“I can’t do any of the things you can.I can’t swing a sword and take a head off in one swipe.I can’t run as fast or fight as good.”She threw her hands up in surrender.“My body will never do what yours does.”Her gaze dropped to the ground, and a heavy sigh escaped her lips.Her shoulders slumped, and all the pent-up anger seemed to drain away.

I took a moment to absorb what she was saying and to make a decision.I couldn’t believe the words as they left my mouth.“If you want to train, I’ll teach you how to kill hellhounds.”

She was right; killing those monsters wasn’t something I could do when I thought I was human.Being afraid of every bump in the night was something else I had lived with.This child held none of my old fears.

Ruth’s head snapped up, and I saw something in her eyes I wasn’t expecting.Raw hope ate up her expression, and it nearly broke me.Unfortunately, she had no idea what I was offering, but she was about to find out.

I stared into Ruth’s eyes, my Ms.Beast unchallenged by a child.“You need to think long and hard before you say yes,” I told her.“This agreement will put you at my mercy.Boot trained me in the beginning, and it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.I won’t go easy on you because that won’t help.You will not be babied.”

“You would train me?”she asked, her voice fragile and heartbreaking all over again.

“I don’t like repeating myself, but yes, that’s what I said.”My eyes narrowed.“However, you haven’t heard the rules yet.”

“Sure,” she said, a touch of defiance entering her voice, and she had to add, “I already know they’ll be stupid.”

I fought the urge to roll my eyes.Even when she’d won, she kept fighting.She was everything I hadn’t been at her age.Heck, she was everything I hadn’t been at twice her age.I took a breath and laid out the rules.

“Number one: Everything I say is important.If the word ‘stupid’ comes out of your mouth in reference to your teacher, we’re finished.”

Her lips pressed together in obvious annoyance.I cocked an eyebrow, waiting for her answer.

“Deal,” she said sullenly.

Argh.I wanted to slap her again, just a tap.“Number two: You’re not the boss.I’ll speak when I want and ‘go on’ when I choose.If you don’t like it, you can take a hike.”

Her hands went to her hips, but this time, she stayed silent.I didn’t count it as a victory yet.

“Number three: You will never leave the walls of the citadel without permission.”I moved on quickly to my last rule before she could object.“Number four: You will follow my orders on everything.The first time you don’t, we’re done.”

Her gaze drilled into me with unnerving calculation, and then, ever so slowly, a smile spread across her face.Her teeth gleamed in the moonlight as she said in a clear, strong voice, “Agreed.”

Great.We’d gone from dislike bordering on hatred, to tears, to poor me, to glee.I had a sinking feeling I’d just been played.

Chapter Three

King

Marinah can handle the Hellspawn, I told myself as I marched Che through the citadel to his temporary room.His mother was away, and for now, his room was right next to the one I shared with Marinah.His close proximity hadn’t done our sex life any favors, but then again, nothing had in months.Two days ago, I’d managed to sneak into the shower with her for a few stolen minutes.Even that had been interrupted.I was about to lose my mind, and the guttersnipe beside me wasn’t helping.

“If you leave the room again, you’re dealing with Marinah, and I promise I won’t save you,” I warned.

“Will she hurt Ruth?”he asked, his lips quivering as his small head tilted to the side.His big eyes blinked with just enough moisture to make me question whether it was an act.

Just great.I’d like to think Marinah would knock some sense into Ruth, but I doubted it would happen.The image in my head was more of a catfight with no clear winner until one of them was dead.“Ruth will get what she deserves, and so will you.”Heartless.Just add it to my name.

I opened the door and gave him a gentle push on his shoulders.He turned around, pride shining in his expression.“I almost killed one of the monsters,” he said, lifting his skinny arm to show off a tiny muscle.“I’ll kill one before I’m seven.”

How was I supposed to stay angry, or not laugh, for that matter?I placed my hand on his head and ruffled his hair.“If Marinah catches you again, you won’t sit for an entire year.There’ll be plenty of time to kill hellhounds once you’re older.”

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