From Slave To Queen (Athena and Michael) novel Chapter 101

No Ads

Chapter 101

Chapter 101

The warmth of his breath grazes my lower lip as he leans in closer. I don’t look away, and neither does he. His fingers on my nape stroke my skin almost hypnotically. The moths eating at my insides are more alive than ever. The velvet of his lips brushes my lower lip and my entire body trembles. Desire wants to win, wants me to close my eyes and let myself he consumed. Instead, what happens is what always happens–I’m expelled from this dream, from this connection with him, and I wake up with my breath racing and my skin drenched in sweat

1 recover as quickly as 1 can and use the water from the jug to splash my face and wet my wrists. I feel dizzy. I run my hands over my clothes in an attempt to smooth the wrinkles and leave the room, following the noise of people outside. On the deck, the air is cold and the sky is a dark blue. Night has already fallen, and winter makes the days very short–fortunate for the vampires. The mumber of humans has decreased; now, the presence of Diluted ones is predominant. When I feel awake enough, I look for Eleazar. It doesn’t take long to find him sharpening one of his kuives against one of the ship’s posts. He looks up, much more clear–eyed now that he’s tied back some of the strands falling over his face.

“Ready?”

Before I can answer, he throws the knife he’s holding toward me. I manage to catch it by the handle without cutting myself, and have to make an effort not to let out an exclamation of surprise at my reflexes. Eleazar tilts his head in acknowledgment, adopts a defensive stance, and pulls another knife from his belt

“Now attack me!

I hesitate, looking at the knife I hold in my hands. Until now, we’ve only focused on correcting my stance, my balance, and technique. He’s taught me a few sword moves and, overall, the basics. I take a deep breath and adopt the offensive posture he taught me. I grip the weapon tightly, studying it in my hand, getting used to its weight. I raise the knife to eye level and take a step forward. Eleazar positions his arms to block any potential attack.

“Attack, Elara, we don’t have all day.”

His tone isn’t kind–this isn’t the chivalrous Eleazar. Now he’s my instructor, and he’s trying to press the right buttons to awaken my worst side.

“You’d already be dead,” he says. “Don’t you want to be able to defeat Cassian! Wouldn’t you like to defend yourself against him? Stand up to him? Prove to him you’re not a weak, pathetic human”

I hope my face doesn’t fully reflect my anger as I take another step and end up lunging at him. He blocks my blow with his weapon at chest height. The blade of my knife trembles. I leap back and observe my opponent. I remember his wurds: Tim small, fast, slippery. I try again, this time attempting something different. At the last moment, I grab his arm and use it to propel myself beneath him. I repeat to myself that I’m fast and use that to circk around and touch the center of his back with my knife–without stabbing the blade in.

Laughter shakes his shoulders, and before I can react, he tums and grabs my wrist tightly to make me drop the weapon.

“You learn quickly.”

“I don’t have time to waste.” I reply

His smile grows wider. He crouches and picks up my knife from the ground. He places it hack in my hand and wraps his fingers around mine. We spend hours like that, switching from offense to defense. He corrects my technique and teaches me new ways to push my attacker to the limit. By the time we finish, I’m breathless, and Eleazar doesn’t even look slightly affected

“Let’s have a drink with the others.”

I don’t know what he means umil he takes me to a secluded area where several Diluted ones are holding cups and drinking while leaning against anything nearby. The whispers vanish when they see me arrive, but there’s something in their leader that encourages plein to carry on. He serves me a cup himself, and the fruity scent tells me it’s wine, not blood, that I’ll find in it. I can’t say the same for the others. I move toward the farthest area and lean against the railing, bringing the cup to my lips. Eleazar exchanges a few words with his people before joining me

“You don’t have to be with me, you know!” I say. “You don’t have to play friend to the weird girl 1 can be alone”

“I know yo

you can, but something tells me you don’t like it.”

“Sometimes solitude is liberating”

He doesn’t reply. He takes a sip from his cup and looks beyond those around us, fixing his gaze on the horizon. I let him get lost in his thoughts, as I soufen do myself. I focus on the others, who–although they try to be discreet–I know are keeping an eye on me. Most are men, though there are ako two women. Diluted, with a protective arm draped over their shoulders. They don’t seem uncomfortable at all. They smile at me, their expression reaching their eyes.

“Tim Elise,” says one of them.

“Thara” I reply

12:24 PM c d

Chapter 101

Thank the whole camp knows your name.” She slips from her companion’s arm and steps a litle closer to me. Sh presener at all. “Sorry if we haven’t been exactly welcoming”

“Don’t worry, I didn’t expect otherwise. I don’t think I’ll be very hospitable either if it were the other way aroundTM

“Nonsense, we all want to be accepted” She waves toward the other Diluted. “That’s Zara: Forgive her, she’s not very talkative.”

“Let’s just say Elise is the welcome committee, the mentioned one comments.

“Honestly, I didn’t introsor myself earlier because this guy here wouldn’t let me she points at Eleazar with her finger. “What did you say? Ole yeah, that lay too intense and woukl scare the girl Now she looks at me. “Me your scared?.

I glance sideways at Flearan

I’d say no. Why would I be?” I give a small smile. “1 think Eleazar forgets who I’ve lived with?

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify