Paulie takes a jab at me, but I duck and avoid the blow easily. Wanting to end this fight so I can face off with Damien, I dart forward, and grabbing hold of Paulie’s shoulders, I deliver a double-flying knee kick to his chin. Paulie falls backward on his ass ending the fight.
“Thanks for taking it easy on me,” I say to Paulie before turning my head to Damien.
“You okay, Paulie?” Damien asks as he steps back into the studio, his muscles rippling under his golden skin.
“Yeah,” Paulie mutters as he climbs to his feet. “Just embarrassed.”
“Damien?” I ask, tilting my head.
“Really?” Paulie gasps, surprise flashing over his face as he wipes the blood from his busted lip. “You don’t know who Damien is? Have you been living under a rock?”
No, just a secluded island. I shrug. “Let’s pretend I have.”
“Damien Vetrov,” Damien says, his voice filled with pride and warning.
My eyes snap to his face as shock vibrates through me. “Demitri Vetrov’s brother?”
“The one and only,” Paulie answers.
Oh, God.
Damien’s stare is sharp and intense, closely watching my reaction to finding out who he is.
Fear trickles through my veins, and I pray to all that’s holy, it doesn’t show on my face.
Cillian told me for generations the Vetrovs have raised the elite of the elite when it comes to protectors. He spoke of them as if they’re gods. I have no doubt Damien will end up being just as good as his older brother, Demitri.
‘Unkillable, merciless, with a devastating potency no one can escape.’
Cillian’s words vibrate through me as Damien comes to stand opposite me. Knowing who he is, makes his body seem like an unstoppable force of nature.
Shit. I’m about to get my ass kicked.
Stupid, Winter. Next time make sure who your opponent is before you throw down the gauntlet to fight.
If Cillian was here, he’d scold me for making such a stupid mistake. But he also taught me backing down from a fight is worse than losing. I roll my shoulders to loosen my muscles and mutter, “Let’s do this.”
Damien’s penetrating gaze lazily sweeps over me as if I’m a waste of his time. When he doesn’t make any effort to move, I narrow my eyes at him and dart forward. He brings up his left arm, thwarting my blow, and then his right hand shoots out.
His strong fingers clamp around my throat, and when his grip on my neck tightens, I know what's coming. I brace myself as Damien sweeps my legs out from under me, and my back slams into the hard floor with a dull thud.
Grabbing hold of his wrist, I try to buck my body up. Damien moves fast, and with stealthy power, he slips under me while securing his arm around my neck. His right leg locks both of mine to the floor, and his left arm wraps tightly around my waist, effectively incapacitating me.
His masculine scent folds around me, only making me more aware of the brutal power surrounding me. I should fight back, but for the first time in my life, I’m overwhelmed by a man.
This is nothing like when I’m sparring with Cillian.
Suddenly Damien shoves me off him, and my body rolls to the side. “You’re no match for me, Princess,” he hisses.
Picking myself up off the floor, my eyes burn into Damien’s broad back as he stalks out of the room. Formidable strength and danger emanate off him, serving as a constant warning.
Shit, I don’t stand a chance against him.
I’ve never seen any of the Vetrovs up close, so coming face to face with the youngest one is startling, to say the least. Life has taught me the most exquisite things in life are the deadliest, and Damien’s too attractive, too strong, and too much of a threat.
Worried about what this means, I pull the wrap off my hands and toss it aside, my breaths rushing over my lips.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Not only is Damien good, but he’s… attractive in a way that demands your admiration. It’s too disarming, and I can’t allow myself to be distracted while I’m here. It’s a huge problem, and I don’t know how to deal with it.
Then another thought enters my mind. Damien could’ve hurt me, but he didn’t. I know the Vetrovs live by a code. They only kill to protect whomever they’re loyal to, and that might be my only saving grace right now.
But once Damien graduates and he’s paired with an assassin, I’ll have both him and Demitri to worry about. And the assassins they’re guarding.
God.
“Don’t feel bad. Damien’s the best. He’s broken all of Demitri’s records,” Paulie says, reminding me he’s still in the room.
My eyes flick to him before I walk toward the door.
“Nice meeting you, Princess,” Paulie calls after me as I turn into the hallway.
I knew it wouldn’t be easy attending St. Monarch’s. Still, nothing prepared me for coming face to face with Vince Blanco… and Damien Vetrov on my first day here.