Bonus Chapter Vampire Elites
“Sabrina! Pay Attention!” Tonya yelled, giving her time to dodge the attack. Well, enough time, but she was still grazed by the elite strike. “What are you doing? You’re not focusing!” Tonya ran to Sabrina’s side and knelt beside her, checking her injuries.
Sabrina lay on the ground panting, her mouth full of dust. Liquid trickled down the side of her arm and seeped into the dirt beneath her. She felt warm hands land on her shoulders, and she turned her head slightly to see concerned amber eyes focused on her.
“Are you okay?” Ryan asked, and she nodded her head meekly.
“I’m fine. I just misjudged the attack,” Sabrina lied.
She wasn’t focusing. She’d been staring at Ryan in the distance, watching him train during her sparring session.
He helped her up to her feet, his hands resting on her waist for a moment.
As he looked her over, she felt her cheeks flush, remembering what he’d talked to her about just last week.
He let out a sigh and slowly raised his hand to check the wound on her arm.
“This is a careless mistake. This is elite battle practice. Not paying attention will get you seriously hurt.” Ryan frowned as he released her arm. “Are you feeling alright? I think you should take the rest of the day off.”
“No, I’m fine. I don’t need the day off.” Sabrina quickly shook her head, adamantly refusing.
“No, I’ve decided. You’re done for the day.
I expect you to come back tomorrow mentally prepared.
Zach, come and spar with Tonya. And don’t go easy on her just because she’s your mate.
The purpose of these sessions is to prepare us and make us stronger.
” Ryan’s eyes lingered on Sabrina for another moment.
He wanted to take her somewhere private and look her over properly.
Honestly, he wanted more than that. But it had been a week since he’d confessed his feelings to her.
He’d asked her to be his chosen mate and she’d basically rejected him, avoiding him ever since.
He was heartbroken. He thought they had something special between them.
Hell, he still thought there was something special between them.
But this wasn’t something he could force on her.
If she didn’t want him, there was nothing he could do.
“Get some rest, Sabrina. You’re dismissed.
” Ryan turned away from her and forced himself to walk away.
He was really concerned about her, and he was sure his feelings were showing.
He couldn’t treat her differently as her leader.
He needed to be strict with her, just like he would everyone else.
Besides, he needed to start thinking about her as if she was just a normal member of his elite team.
Damn, that part was going to be hard. Especially when he had these crazy emotions bursting for her.
She wasn’t just a fling for him. He loved her.
But he had to let her go. Thinking about that made his chest burn, and it felt like he couldn’t get enough oxygen into his lungs.
How was he going to let her go when he wanted her so badly?
He stood in front of Chaz, ready to begin the next sparring session.
“Show me what you’ve got. And make sure you don’t lose focus for a moment.
We don’t need any more accidents today.” Ryan put his game face on as Chaz brought forth his elite skill.
His elite skill fortified his body, making him deadly in hand-to-hand combat.
Just what Ryan needed to take his focus off of Sabrina.
Sabrina entered the castle and began to make her way to the elite soldier’s quarters. As she walked, she found a familiar person walking down the same hall.
“Sabrina!” Lucie called out.
“I’m surprised to see you alone.” Sabrina wiggled her brows playfully at Lucie, who giggled.
“Derrick is getting my food prepared in advance. Otherwise, he would be attached right here, at my hip. Justice, Jasper, and Abe are having another training session.” Lucie looked at the dried blood on Sabrina’s arm and frowned. “What happened?” She pointed at the already healed wound.
“Just a moment of carelessness. So I got booted from practice today.” Sabrina shrugged, but Lucie continued to pin her with her green gaze.
“Thinking about something else?” Lucie asked, studying Sabrina’s face.
“Like maybe … Ryan?” She watched Sabrina’s eyes widen a bit, and a small smile spread over Lucie’s lips.
“Can I just say something?” she asked, and Sabrina nodded once.
“Ryan isn’t going to wait forever. I know I can’t say a lot, because I actually have my fated mate, but there is also something to be said about love.
My Aunt Reiya chose my Uncle Levi, even without knowing if he was her fated mate or not.
My Uncle Brody chose my Aunt Chelsie as his chosen mate.
It’s one thing if you really want to wait for your fated mate, but if it’s because you’re afraid of having a committed, serious relationship …
well, it’s just … I think that may be what the real reason is. Is it?”
“What if he meets his fated mate and leaves me? I’ll be broken.”
“What if you meet your fated mate? Would you leave Ryan for him?”
“No, I never would.”
“So, what makes you think he would do that to you?” Lucie raised her brows at Sabrina. “Ryan is a good guy. He sacrificed a lot for Derrick while pretending to be the prince. I trust him to honor his word.”
“It’s just … I guess I am afraid. I’m afraid that I’m new and exciting for him now.
And once that wears off, he will follow the pull when he finds his fated mate.
Lucie, my heart can’t take that. I know I put up a strong front.
But the damage that would do to me internally …
” Sabrina shook her head as her eyes watered.
“It would be better to not fall deeper than I already have. Because I won’t be able to handle losing him later. ”
“And why do you think that is?”
Sabrina paused, preparing herself to say what she already knew out loud. “Because I love him already.”
Lucie smiled. “Well, I think my work here is done. I better get to the dining hall before Derrick comes looking for me.”
Sabrina watched her leave and started to walk her own way. Her hand was suddenly seized, and she was now being dragged down the hall. She glanced up to see Ryan angrily pulling her.
“What are you doing?”
He didn’t respond, only continued to pull her down the elite corridor, stopping briefly at his room before he shoved her inside.
“Ryan!” Sabrina hissed as he shut his door. She watched him lean his head on the doorframe for a few moments. His hands were shaking, and his shoulders heaved with each breath. He shook his head and then turned to face her, an angry expression on his face as he let out a heavy sigh.
“So that’s why? You aren’t accepting me because you think I’m going to leave you?
Damn it, Sabrina. I’m here killing myself because I want you so bad.
I’m trying to push you out of my mind, unsuccessfully I might add.
Hence why I’m here and not at practice. I came to find you because I can’t stop thinking about you.
” He set his jaw and inhaled deeply. “I love you, you crazy woman. Once I take a mate, I will NEVER take another.”
“How can you be so sure?” Sabrina whispered, her insecurities surfacing as she fidgeted with her fingers. She glanced up to see Ryan had closed the gap between them. He reached out, taking her hand in his.
“Sabrina, I’ll exchange blood with you and bind us for eternity. I don’t want another mate. I just want you.” Ryan watched as she met his gaze. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” Sabrina whispered with teary eyes. His hot lips crashed into hers greedily as he pulled her to him. He slipped his tongue into her mouth passionately, his tongue dancing with hers.
He pulled apart and stared seriously into her eyes. “Say it, Sabrina. Tell me you want me. Tell me you’ll accept my mark.”
Sabrina panted and tried to catch the breath he had robbed from her. He looked at her with a certain vulnerability. She knew if she rejected him now, not only would she crush him, but she would lose him forever. And she didn’t want that.
Suddenly everything seemed incredibly stupid. She was distancing herself from him, pushing him away because she was afraid of losing him. She was an idiot. And she couldn’t deny how much she also wanted him.
“Ryan, I will wear your mark and be your chosen mate. I’ll trust you. You don’t have to bind yourself to me with your blood—”
“Nonsense. I want us bound by blood. I don’t want anyone else, and I don’t want you to want anyone else.
” He smirked as he leaned down closer. “In case you didn’t already know how crazy possessive I am …
” He threaded his fingers through her hair, tangling into the strands.
“From now on, you’re mine and I’m yours. For all eternity.”
“For all eternity,” she whispered as his lips possessively claimed hers again. She felt him lift her up and carry her across the room. He gently laid her on the bed and smiled down at her.
“You’re everything I want, Rina. Everything. I’m never letting you go, you crazy woman of mine.”
“Lucie! I was just about to come and get you. I was getting worried.” Derrick walked over and took her arm.
“You’re treating me like I’m an ordinary woman and not a supernatural killer.”
“No, I’m treating you like my beautiful wife who is carrying my twin babies inside her right now.
” He kneeled down in front of her, placing his hands on her hips.
“Are you two being good for your momma in there? You better be. No hard kicking, no causing any unpleasantness, and don’t siphon too much of her energy.
Especially when your papa isn’t around. You two must always be good for your mother. ”
Lucie giggled and shook her head. “Do you think they’re just going to listen to you obediently?”