Chapter 188 Audrey

The following weeks melted together in a whirlwind of training, studying, and late. nights.

Every Saturday, I met Peter in the woods for shifting practice. Every Sunday, I met with Claudia to work on my thesis. And four nights a week, I trained with Edwin in combat.

1 practically lived with Edwin at this point, so the combat training was the least of my worries-an hour long session Mondays through Thursdays. On those nights, we would move the furniture out of the way in the living room and practice on a mat he would pull out.

"Come on, Audrey," Edwin goaded. "Show me the new moves you learned."

I narrowed my eyes, focusing on his stance, looking for an opening. When he shifted his weight slightly, I saw my chance. I lunged forward, ducking under his guard and h**ng my leg behind his. With a quick twist, I used his momentum against him, slamming him onto the mat.

Edwin let out a surprised grunt as his back hit the floor. I quickly straddled him, pinning his arms above his head.

"How's that?" I asked, breathing hard but grinning triumphantly.

Edwin's eyes flashed yellow, but it wasn't just pride that swirled in their depths.

"Hm. Impressive," he growled. Then, with a swift movement, he bucked his hips and flipped us over, reversing our positions. "But never let your guard down."

I gasped as my own back hit the mat now, looking up at Edwin's face just inches from mine. The air between us cr**ed with electricity, and suddenly, combat training was the last thing on my mind. Edwin must have felt it too because his lips crashed down on mine. I responded eagerly, my hands tangling in his hair as he pressed me into the mat. Our training clothes suddenly felt like far too many layers between us.

As if reading my mind, Edwin's hands slipped under my tank top, his touch leaving trails of fire on my skin. I arched into him, desperate for more contact.

"Edwin," I gasped between kisses. "We should probably move this to the bedroom."

Chapter 188

He pulled back slightly, his eyes now fully golden. "Why? I kind of like you right here on the mat."

I couldn't argue with that logic,

lay tangled together on the mat, catching our breath,

you know," he

the feeling that I wasn't improving fast enough. Erik's words from New Year's

weekly brunch with my mother. As I settled into a chair across from Claudia at our favorite cafe, I stifled

as I poured myself

my hair. "I'm fine.

all."

look. "You're still training with Edwin and his brother,

I wanted was to worry my mother. "It's going okay, I guess," I said. "I... I

eyes studied me carefully. "You know it's alright to

swallowed hard and looked

coffee. Surely she noticed the dark circles under my eyes, the hollow look to my cheeks. It was becoming increasingly more difficult to hide them with makeup these days, and just

"What about

flipping it open to reveal my design sketches and notes. "Here's what I've got so far. It's still

through my chest at the disappointed look

my notebook and handed it back to me. "You need to

2/4

prior work

"1

fine, really I just want to do well,

you should consider focusing on school until the

bit too forcefully. "I can

she changed the subject. She explained what had happened with Fiona over winter

done

community service as well as constant surveillance. Fiona was living in her own apartment in the city again, but she had two guards with her at all times, and a

one thing was

be causing any trouble anytime soon. I just hoped I could learn to shift before

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