by E. M. Moore
I smiled, happy that he could find beauty in this. When Connor came at me again, my fingers curled into Stephan’s shoulder. He reached up and played his fingertips over my nipples. How Connor could be so forceful, yet Stephan be so calm and sweet on the other side threw me for a loop—an erotic one. My body shook as I took it all in. I had the best of both worlds.
Connor quickened his pace, his strokes never relenting. With Stephan’s eyes securely locked on mine, he fondled my breasts with the utmost care. Connor gripped my shoulders. Everything became a blur after that. I focused on his constant pounding, the sweet strokes of my nipples until I was breathless.
“Damn, Princess,” Connor grunted. “Give it to me.”
His words opened up another pleasure point. Stephan pinched my nipple and Connor’s hard stroke slammed at the same time until I came—again. I let out a silent scream. Stephan’s mouth was immediately on mine, grounding me. Connor came next, his strokes subsiding as he moaned his pleasure into me. When he finished, he sat back on his heels. I finished my kiss with Stephan, pecking him once on the lips before turning to Connor and kissing him too.
That was downright perfect.
The door creaked opened again and Nicolai and Christian walked through. Christian raised his eyebrows at the scene. “Looks like we missed out on something.”
“Never,” I told them, my heart full. “We’re never missing out on anything again.”
31
One month later…
The beating of my heart felt like quick flaps of a hummingbird’s wings. All around me, my fellow guards, instructors, and even just some onlookers cheered as I toed the line at the start. I tried to block everything out and focus on what I came here to do. To my left was, of course, the one who I knew would always be standing next to me at this very moment. Zeke Nichols.
We’d barely spoken since I’d shoved that syringe into his arm. Not that I blamed him, and honestly, things were actually better that way. He avoided me, and I was just as happy to have my life like that instead of the constant fear of what smartass remark, or worse, he might say or do to me. This moment though. This would lay everything to rest.
Using Samuel’s grading, Soren and Diesel’s insight, and her own brief glimpse into our schooling and training, Natalie tallied the school standings and it all came down to this race. A short burst of energy, less than a minute long, and once and for all, we could put all this jockeying for position behind us.
I ran my hands down my pants to wipe the sweat away. My ears rang. Somewhere out there stood four princes who would love me no matter what happened, but they came and cheered because they knew how important this was to me. This was the culmination of everything I’d worked for since coming here. I’d once joked that this was more important than the fight I had with Clive. In a way, that was so wrong to say, but looking at it differently, this was the reason why I was even in this world right now. The princes had brought me here with the idea of me becoming their guard and if I couldn’t win this race—in my mind—I wouldn’t deserve it. Sure, I’d probably be stationed at the estate, or wherever else we decided to be, anyway but that didn’t mean I’d earned it.
More than anything, I wanted to earn it. I wanted the respect of my fellow guards-in-training, especially Zeke. After everything I’d done to him—and he’d done to me—it would be a difficult thing for us even to respect one another, but at least he’d have to admit that today, today I was the better guard.
He shook his fingers out, and I steadied myself at the start line just waiting for the crack of the gun shot. Natalie, Soren, and Diesel stood with clipboards directly in the middle of the obstacle course. With Soren and Diesel’s input, they’d even changed up some of the obstacles. We’d trained on this course for the past week, but this would be the first time we ran against each other. It was tough to toe the line next to him and have no idea where I stood in relation to his finish times. We didn’t train anywhere near one another anymore. I heard rumors about his times as I was sure he heard rumors about mine. Deep in my heart, I knew all I could do was push it as hard as I could.
The initial warning buzzer sounded. I bounced up and down on my toes and hunched over into my start position. My muscles were keyed up. I stretched my fingers out and focused toward the first obstacle.
BAM.
The gun went off. My muscles fired, and I exploded ahead. I hurled myself toward the horizontal bars, sprinting the few feet that separated me and it. I jumped up onto the haybale and flew through the air toward the first rung. One, two, three…I counted them off as I went. There were twenty of them this time around, quite a bit more rungs than there were in the original course. It didn’t matter. On the last one, I pulled myself up and over the remaining haybale and landed on my feet.
From there, I went to the sandbag carry, a new obstacle. I crouched down and threw the two thirty-pound sandbags over each shoulder and sprinted toward the post where I would have to turn around and double back. My feet pounded into the sand at my feet. The terrain slowed us down, definitely a tactic of the new course. It felt as if I waded through quicksand without the grip of the solid dirt beneath my shoes, but I dug my toes into the sand one by one until I passed the line.
I dropped the sandbags and headed for the beam obstacle. Climbing the even more steep and treacherous haybales to the top, I closed my mouth so as not to inhale all the extra dirt and gunk from the bales. From there, I stood on top. The ground below was a good twenty feet away. I placed my toes on the beam and looked straight ahead, my hands coming out on either side of me for balance. With short, quick steps, I crossed the distance and threw myself down the first few bales before jumping and landing in a crouch.
Next was the rope climb. Unlike my first few runs, I no longer feared the rope. I’d already faced down my worst fears in the battle against the Dumont Clan. Surely, losing everything I loved and held close to me was way worse than falling from the rope, having my arms fail me, or even losing this race. I jumped, clearing up the rope a good few feet before I wrapped my ankles around it and pulled and pulled until I rang the bell at the top. Then, I slid down, my palms burning with the friction against the tightly woven rope.
As soon as my feet hit the ground, I pushed the rope out of the way and went to the next obstacle; the pedal pull. Jumping up, I put my hands on two handlebar-like grips that resembled the pedals on a bike. I pushed up and over, moving the pedals along a thin wire until I was across. It scorched my shoulders, leaving them worn out. I shook my arms out and launched myself toward the rope that dangled from the center of the water pit. I caught it, my grip giving a little, but I clamped my palms together before sailing across the ten-foot shallow pool and landing cleanly on the other side, the back of my right heel hovering over the pool.
I took a deep breath and pushed forward. Just three more obstacles left. I could see the finish line from here, teasing me in the distance. My brain had me wondering where Zeke was, but I knew looking for him would be futile. It would only screw up my momentum so I focused ahead at the remaining obstacles. A rope ladder rose in the air in front of me. It angled outward at a forty-five-degree angle to a large wall. This obstacle was as much a balancing game as it was about strength. My core muscles fired as I used them to try to stay upright. I got through four rungs before I leaned too far over on my side. The ladder launched me to the right, but I was able to hang on. Thankfully. If I’d fallen off, I would’ve had to start from the beginning of the obstacle. I used my legs and arms to pull myself all the way up, then flung my legs over my head until I landed at the top of the wall.
A cargo net hung in front of me until it hit another cross wall and then cascaded downward. I got down on all fours and crawled as quick as I could, scurrying across the net. My hands and feet fell through the holes a couple times, but every time I fell, I got right back up again. I used the cross beam to pull me over and climb down the other side. I ran a few steps before blinking. In front of me was an obstacle that wasn’t there
the other day. A big wall, maybe seven, eight feet. I ran, jumped. As I sailed through the air, I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it to the top or no. The tips of my fingers just barely grabbed on. I curved my fingers inward, holding on for dear life. With a grunt, my muscles straining, complaining, I pulled myself up. I threw my legs over the top and jumped. The force of my momentum hitting the ground took me right to my hands and knees.
Just one more obstacle left. Army crawl. I sprinted toward the yellow finish line marker ahead before throwing myself to the ground and rolling. With my hair in braids, I wasn’t worried about it catching on the barbed wire anymore, another trick I’d picked up from all this training. I rolled and rolled and rolled until I counted five rotations. Five was enough to bring me clear of the last barbs. I stood, my legs shaky and unsure beneath me. My whole body trembled. But still, I eyed that finish line and sprinted, my feet once again digging deep into the earth so I could propel myself forward. My chest ached. I wasn’t sure how long it had been since I’d taken a breath.
I ran and ran.
I gasped. The yellow tape broke across my chest. I’d done it. I’d freaking done it. I raised my hands in the air and whirled, making sure I really had beat Zeke. Searching, I found him still in the middle of the army crawl.
I dropped to my knees, my hands coming up to cover my mouth. I knew I could do it. I really did, but it all hit me at once. I’d freaking done it. I did exactly what the princes had brought me here to do. From finding me because of Jake, and then falling for me at a distance, they brought me here to be with them. Sure, they were just trying to get me into their world, but that was never enough for me.
Zeke ran across the finish line and bent over, his hands on his hips, gulping in air.
Oh yeah, breathe, my body told myself. I sucked in air, alleviating some of the tightness in my chest. Zeke eyed me and slowly walked over. He held his hand out and I took it. He shook it once before walking off to the sideline amidst cheers all around. Evan, Shannon, and Liv threw themselves at me, knocking me over. We laughed, and screamed, and I cried as it dawned on me just how strong I’d become. People told me all the time they couldn’t believe how fast I’d acquainted myself with this world, how easily I’d stuck up for them and risked my life for them, but I didn’t believe it, not until this very moment.
I half sobbed, half laughed into my hands as hands shook me, my head bobbing back and forth. I caught a glimpse of fiery red hair. “You did it!” Shannon screamed.
“I did it.”
“Holy shit, girl,” Liv yelled.
Evan gripped my shoulder. “Congratulations. You deserve it.”
They pushed my arm, laughing because I couldn’t stop the tears from falling. This was the most I’d cried since my mom passed away, but it was like a faucet that wouldn’t turn off. Pride and happiness and a deep root of fulfillment passed over me, making it impossible to turn off my emotions.
Firm hands gripped my forearm. I knew those fingers. Knew that hand. I looked up through my tears to find Nic smiling down at me, his lips cocked into a smirk. “I didn’t know you were going to go all girly.”
“Shut up,” I said, smiling from ear-to-ear.
He pulled me to him, taking me up in his arms and swinging me around. “You did it,” he whispered.
I kept repeating those words to myself too. I did it. I freaking did it.
“Yeah, Princess,” Connor yelled, taking me away from Nic and holding me in the air. I slid down his front and he kissed me square on the mouth before Stephan pulled me into his arms.
“I couldn’t be more proud of you. You’re an inspiration.”
My emotions clogged in my throat as I choked back another onslaught of tears. He pulled away and tried to dry my face.
Behind him, Christian walked up, Natalie right next to him. He cupped my cheek and smiled. “I knew you could do it, Ariana.” He half smiled, his lips trembling for half a second before he realized Natalie was right there. He cleared his throat, reigning in his emotions.
Natalie walked forward and held a medal out to me. I blinked, wiping at my face as Stephan had started for me. She placed the ribbon around my head as I bent over to accept it. She let it go and I clasped it in my hand. Winner. Rajyvik Training Facility Obstacle Course. Let not fear hinder the strength inside us all.
Truer words were never spoken.
I jumped up and down and was once again encompassed in an all-consuming embrace with everyone I held dear. Even Soren and Diesel stuck around to congratulate me, their hands coming together in an applause that hadn’t sunk that it was in honor of me and all that I’d accomplished.
I looked up at Natalie. “I choose the Ravanas. I want to be stationed with them.”
She laughed. “I know. Everyone knows.” She squeezed my shoulder. “You deserve it.”
32
Groggy, I stretched my sore muscles out on the bed in my room at The Fort the next morning. When I didn’t hit anyone next to me, I shot up and looked around. I was alone.
I frowned and pulled the covers off me. When I got up, I stretched some more, pulling my hands over my head and reaching toward the ceiling. My muscles pulled, relieving some of the tension. All the aches weren’t just from the obstacle course. The princes and I had a round of celebration ourselves last night that left me sore in a delicious kind of way. I smiled, remembering it all and then padded off happily to the shower.
Today was the big day.
Graduation. The moment where I could officially announce the family I chose to guard even though as Natalie so helpfully pointed out, ‘everyone knew’. Butterflies came to life in the pit of my stomach. I wasn’t nervous about graduation, per se. It was about moving on. About taking life and whatever it threw at me. My life wasn’t dictated by The Fort anymore like it once had been, except for the brief little war in the middle of everything. Now that was all sorted out, there were a lot of decisions to be made. We couldn’t stay at The Fort. We could stay at the Ravanas’ second home, but what would be the purpose? We needed a purpose. As much as lying around and being with one another all day sounded like fun, the princes and I still had to have purpose.
They’d avoided talking about it with me and I hadn’t understood why. There were other things to decide, of course. Possibly things that had more relevance, but I didn’t like the idea of my life being so up in the air. I needed it grounded. I wanted to know who was going to be there and where we were going to live and what we were going to focus on.
Clan politics was a possibility, I thought as I rinsed the shampoo out of my hair. Now that we had recruited some Dumont Clan members into staying, there was a lot to still acquaint them with. There was still Stephan’s work with the ‘feeders’ who weren’t yet weened or healed from their addiction. He’d been going back and forth from a makeshift vampire hospital they’d started near the estate to The Fort so he could visit with me. Christian preferred to stay at the estate as well, helping his father guide the new laws and decisions. Not the least of which was the one concerning human guards not being able to be with vampires. That one had been stricken first. It wasn’t on official record yet, but we’d celebrated in a completely meaningful, beautiful way. We were free.
Very free. As of today, the ties I had to everything in this world except for the Ravanas was gone. It was terrifying.
I finished up in the shower and dressed quickly. The Fort had become home to nomadic Dumont vampires who’d pledged their allegiance to us. They preferred to live closer to the center of things and since The Fort had open dorms that’s where they’d ended up. Little by little they were leaving to find their own homes, however, and the Rajyvik training camp would slowly return to what it was put here for. In a couple months, the young vampires would be returning here. Added to their curriculum would be a healthy dose of fight training. I was looking forward to seeing some of them in action. A part of me wished I could stay. The Ravana Estate was home because the princes and Isabelle and Gregor were there, but I dearl
y loved The Fort too. It had been the closest thing I’d ever had to a home since my mother passed.
I stood in line at breakfast and smiled as the workers heaped piles of eggs and potatoes on my plate. I didn’t think the excess amount of food they put there was my imagination because others had noticed as well. Ever since I’d fought in the battle against Clive and returned here, they’d been putting extra food on my plate. So much extra that it was virtually impossible to finish. Once out of the line, I scanned the room and found Shannon, Liv, and Evan at a table in the back. Shannon and Liv both wore dresses. I cringed, remembering the usual training outfit I’d thrown on that morning. I supposed it wasn’t too late to change before graduation if I needed to. A dress didn’t seem like a good way to say I was taking over the Ravana guard spot though. At least to me.
Evan flagged me down, and I went over, dropping my plate next to Shannon. A second later, T.J. dropped his plate on the other side of her. She looked up at him and giggled, twirling a piece of her red hair around her finger. I chuckled to myself. She certainly wasn’t keeping her feelings a secret. Although, T.J. didn’t seem to mind either. I looked over at Liv to catch her eye. A good eye roll was in order, but she and Evan were staring into one another’s eyes. They’d been doing that a lot lately. I bit down on my lip, happy that my friends had found people they enjoyed being around just as much as I had.
T.J. had been asked to stay here to help Natalie with The Fort until graduation. He’d be taking over Lex’s head of clan security position after today. I didn’t know what would happen to this thing with Shannon after that. Shannon hadn’t— “Hey,” I said, poking her. “Did you pick a family yet?”
She blinked and turned toward me, surprised, as if she hadn’t heard me sit down. “Oh,” she said, blushing. She peeked at T.J.. “I have one in mind. I’ll just have to see if they’re available by the time it gets to me.”