Page 99 of Fated to the Hunters
“Don’t expect too much. Everything hurts. I barely did anything yesterday.” Scarlett grabbed her fruit but instead of a bowl, she cut it directly into the blender. “Where is that stuff you told me to add?”
Mateo handed her some protein powder and continued making his own breakfast. “Maybe if Ezra plays our victim, I can see what your brother has taught you. We can practice what you already know and build from there.
“Promise you won’t laugh?”
“That depends on how much you mess with Ezra.”
Scarlett turned to Ezra, letting her eyes travel over his bare chest. “I would tell you I don’t want to hurt you, but that would probably disappoint you.”
Ezra’s lips curled into a crooked grin. “Very disappointing, indeed,” he confirmed with a wink.
“Ezra is perfect for you to train with.”
Once her smoothie was fully blended, she pulled herself onto the counter while the guys ate their breakfast. “I’ve also made up my mind about your next hunt.”
Mateo’s brow shot up. “You have?”
“I would like to come with you.” She shrugged and quickly corrected herself. “Well, at least, as close as I can.”
“I actually had a breakthrough last night, so maybe we can all sit down later and talk it through more thoroughly.”
It wasn’t long after that she joined them in the gym after changing into leggings and a tank top. Though he loved her the most completely bare, she looked mouthwatering. Add in her determination, and she was fucking perfect. Maybe his little princess would turn into a wild rogue after all.
Ezra had already warmed up so with the memory of what she’d told him yesterday, he resigned himself to the bench press while he watched from the corner of his eye.
Scarlett repeated some of the workouts from before and Mateo was his usual soft self, encouraging her with sweet praises and compliments. This time, Mateo had her do fewer sets. Ezra only approached when Mateo called for him and dropped the mats to the floor.
“Princess,” he hummed, tugging her close and brushing a kiss across her knuckles.
“Prince,” she giggled, her cheeks flushing a bright red.
He pulled her closer, dropping her hand to his chest and taking her chin between his fingers. His head dipped down, his lips brushing a whisper against her ear. “Good practice, but when I hear it next you’d better be coming around my cock.”
Satisfied with the blush on her cheeks, he released her, only after making sure she was steady on her feet. The pride he felt in making her knees weak was indescribable. Mateo stood behind her and grinned at him, amused and happy. There was no trace of hostility, and that only confused Ezra. How could Mateo not be jealous?
Before he could sink further into his thoughts Mateo took over, asking Scarlett what she’d learned so far. She went through all her brother had taught her—which wasn’t a lot—and then used Ezra as her dummy to visualize it.
“Perfect,” Mateo cheered as Scarlett twisted out of a choke hold. “You have the basic steps. We just need to work on your speed. And maybe add some more aggression. You don’t want to have to think about what to do in such a situation.”
She nodded, replacing Ezra’s arm around her throat. Ezra was happy to help her train, but this didn’t feel right—he much preferred it the other way around, but this was for her own safety. Mateo continued until he could see Scarlett getting tired, and he ended the lesson by handing her a water bottle.
“You did fantastic. Tomorrow we’ll focus on your strength training again.”
“So, we’ll alternate?” she asked, following them into the house.
“Yes, but there will be rest days in between. It’s not a competition.”
“You guys clearly see it that way,” she said, shamelessly checking out Mateo’s abs as he tugged his shirt up to wipe his face.
When the shirt dropped again, Mateo was flushed—and not from the workout. “What a sweet compliment.”
The three of them went upstairs and into their respective rooms. Ezra grabbed a change of clothes and went into the bathroom, standing under the shower for far longer than he usually did. He watched the hot water pour down his body, rubbing his thumb over his thigh where Scarlett had insisted on healing him. The panic and fright of losing her, even for just a moment, terrified him to death. He’d never cared for anyone else this much. Not even the thought of Vince or Mateo dying had ever truly shaken him. He knew he was a jerk because even though his two friends hated his guts, they’d probably mourn him far longer than he would either of them.
He’d never truly cared deeply for anyone, which was probably sick. No, he knew for a fact it was. Scarlett, however, was different. He’d lost his fucking mind after she’d simply left the room, thinking she’d abandoned him. He could never let anything happen to her. He wouldn’t survive it.
Downstairs, he found everyone crowded around the table with the map spread out over open books. He made himself a sandwich, then sat down at the head of the table, opposite his princess. He tried not to show the dark, depraved thoughts on his face. Thankfully, she was far too invested in the diary before her to notice. She was everything to him now, and he both hated and loved it at the same time. He’d always wondered what it would be like to love someone, to truly and utterly fall for another being, but now that he had, he wished for anything but. She would be his greatest weakness, one he only hoped he would be able to protect. His feelings about her and the bond were at war. A war he would fight to his death.
Chapter Thirty-One
