King Hall (Forever Evermore, #1)(6)

I gawked as he and King Venclaire meandered in King Kincaid’s direction. Slowly, I pivoted, warily regarding Ezra. My assessment of being dead before lunch wasn’t too far off base.

Irritably, Ezra shook his head, stalking toward “our” mat. “What kind of training have you had?”

I gulped, and hurried to catch up. “Uh, none.”

“Perfect,” he muttered, facing me on the mat. “Try not to bleed too much.” A small curve of his wide lips. “Or do. Either way, I won’t mind.”

I ignored the Vampire’s comment while he stretched. My hands shaking only slightly, I quickly put my hair up in a ponytail. I rolled my shoulders and stretched my arms, glancing to Dominic, who had been paired with someone his own size. Being on time had merit.

Once Ezra and I were finished warming up, he gave no warning.

He lunged, using his Vampire speed.

“Ugh!” I grunted as my back hit the mat, my breath damn near knocked out of me.

“Get up,” he rumbled, still on his feet, his back muscles flexing with his rolling steps.

Gritting my teeth, I twisted, careful to not use my own miniscule Vampire speed. With a small portion of my Shifter strength, I dove. I didn’t care if his back was turned. It was probably the only way I could get a hit on him.

He turned at the last second, more than likely hearing me with his senses, but I still plowed into him. I wasn’t as agile as him to stay standing, so we both went down. He grunted this time when he landed on his back, and even though my forehead smacked against his shoulder, lying flat on top of him I still grinned with mischievous delight.

Until I was flipped. My shoulders slammed back on the mat. With a very heavy Ezra on top of me, I kept the grunt at bay, glaring up at him.

Spring green eyes glowered. “Good. You can’t beat me in a proper fight, so get dirty.” His nostrils flared, and he added, “You’re not scared anymore. You’re angry. That’s good, too, but don’t let it cloud your judgment.”

My glare didn’t disappear. “Shut up, and get off me.” He was like a freaking boulder.

Suddenly, his fangs lengthened. His voice was a mere whisper. “Get out of my hold.”

I freaked. This guy could seriously bite me. There was no way to get out of this. Panting hard from instant fear, I shoved anyway. The action got me nowhere. Trying to twist out from under him, heart pounding, I shouted, “Get off!”

He shook his head. “Calm down. Think.” Nice words, but his fangs were still out.

A deep wolf’s growl erupted next to us. “Get off my mate.”

Ezra blinked and tilted his face toward Dominic, who stood next to us, meeting my mate’s deadly gaze. Another blink. His eyes slid to Dominic’s neck, where my mate mark was, then to my neck, where Dominic’s mate mark was. Instantly, he was on his side of the mat and wearing a cool, blank expression. Like, one second he was a massive weight on top of me, and the next beat he instantly stood five feet away.

Dominic quickly lifted me to my feet, glaring, a definite growl in his tone. “When she tells you to get off her, then f*cking do it.”

The two Kings had edged closer, but weren’t interrupting.

Ezra’s jaw seesawed back and forth, probably remembering all the rude comments he had already said to me, unknowingly offending the Prodigy Shifter’s mate. He surprised me, though; instead of apologizing, he stated bluntly, “She needs to learn to defend herself. That wasn’t a difficult position to escape from.” No fangs showed.

Dominic’s grip on me tightened, fairly vibrating.

All eyes inside the gym were now on the three of us, and I knew Dominic was on the verge of going after the Prodigy Vampire, so I held Ezra’s spring green eyes steadily, stating quickly and quietly, “Just keep your fangs away, and you can teach me, or whatever it was you were doing.”

Calm down, I told Dominic silently, I just wigged out.

Dominic’s gaze met mine, his dark eyes glowing, his hair falling around his cheeks. You told him to get off. He didn’t. The prick hasn’t even apologized.

I don’t think he’s going to, I replied calmly, I don’t think that’s his style.

Dominic snorted, his hands skimming down my back softly. You sure you’re okay?

Yeah. I’m good.

He lifted a finger and brushed it over my lips. Stared, as I gazed at his lips, but I remembered Ezra was still standing there. I peered away from Dominic’s perfect mouth to Ezra’s hooded gaze. “No fangs. We clear?”

Slowly, Ezra nodded, watching.

I nodded in return, agreement made, then smiled at my mate. You can go back to your partner and I’ll continue getting my butt kicked. My lips twitched. Maybe you can give me a massage during lunch?

Dominic grinned leisurely, making me feel all warm inside as a tiny, rumbling growl resonated from deep inside his chest. I can do more than that.

I laughed, pushing him back. “Get going.”

“Yes, my sweet and innocent love.” He bowed, but when he straightened, walking backward to his mat, his gaze slammed into Ezra’s, glowing harshly. “Don’t hurt her.”

Ezra cracked his neck. “No more than necessary.”

Dominic took a deep breath. Nodded once.

I tried not to gawk.

Dominic’s brows rose. “You have to learn. It won’t be easy.”