Page 183 of Halfblood Deceived

Being busy helped her to not think about how she had declined Zeydan’s invitation to a walk in the park when they texted during the afternoon.

What are you waiting for, you absolute idiot? Part of her wondered.

While the other kept saying things she wished she could stop hearing.

You’re sinning. You’ll go to Hell. It’s forbidden. You are a whore.

She didn’t truly believe that. She didn’t. Kamilla called those intrusive thoughts. But knowing what they were didn’t make them stop.

Head sore with her churning thoughts, Aella headed outside of the club to take her break in her favorite secluded spot. The chilly night air was a balm to her frayed nerves and overwhelmed senses. She wished she could head home, shower, and then get into bed with a good book to distract herself.

Despite her mental weariness, Aella was not tired. She sighed and rolled her shoulders, falling into her usual fighting stance with practiced ease. Determined to make Aylana at least satisfied with her efforts during the next training session, she decided to put her restlessness to good use.

“Duck, block, throat punch,” Aella muttered as she rehearsed the moves.

Most of her issue with hand-to-hand combat was her ingrained fear of striking back.

But she was going to get over that.

She had to. She wouldn’t always have someone to protect her.

“Duck, block, throat punch,” she repeated, imagining an invisible opponent. A faceless one. “Duck, block, throat punch.”

“I’d advise you not to recite your moves during a real fight,” said a wry voice.

Aella registered the familiarity of the voice, but her body reacted before she could stop it. She spun on her stance, half crouching, and growled. The sound was strangely feline, instead of metallic and jarring, like the gargoyle growls she’d heard all her life.

Reese’s eyebrows shot up, but they smiled. They were leaning against the wall, hands in their pockets. “Easy, tiger.”

Aella straightened and cleared her throat. “Sorry!”

Reese chuckled, dark blue eyes bright with amusement and something else Aella couldn’t read well. “No worries,” they said, tilting their head. A lock of black hair fell across their forehead. “Would you like to try those moves with me?”

Aella bit her lip. Reese didn’t intimidate her, so she wouldn’t freeze. And they were stronger than her. And she wanted to burn some steam… “Okay.”

Reese smiled and straightened, lifting their tattooed hands, fingers slightly curled in loose fists. “Ready?”

Aella took a deep breath and nodded.

Reese sent their right fist toward the empty air near Aella’s face.

Aella ducked, blocking their next blow, and launched a careful punch at their throat. Her knuckles barely grazed Reese’s warm skin.

Reese shook their left hand, the one they’d used to block. “Ouch. You’re much stronger than I thought.”

“Aylana mentioned that too,” Aella admitted. “I’m not as strong as her or Diana, though.”

Reese smiled. “Few are as strong as Diana or Aylana. But you are rather stronger than I anticipated.”

They sounded delighted. It was contagious.

Aella smiled. “Don’t hold back too much, then.”

Reese chuckled. “Got it. Ready?”

Aella nodded.

Reese kept their promise. Aella dodged, blocked, and even spun and kicked—not actually hitting them, but close enough to make them draw back. She knew Reese was being careful, measuring her skills not to hurt her, but it was still exhilarating to see she could actually fend them off even at a basic level.

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