The Vampire’s Servant novel Chapter 121

Training the next day was tough and I was thrilled about it. I wanted to learn to fight. I sparred with Jean-Claude. He got annoyed at how well I was reading him and started attacking harder and faster.

Dillon had taught me how to block and punch, so it made him more upset when he tried to hit me and got hit instead. He tried to kick my legs out from under me and I ended up jumping into the branches of the tree near us. It made Dillon laugh.

“Looks like your vampire tendencies are coming out. What’s your next move?” He called out.

Jean-Claude was in a defensive stance. I couldn’t see an opening. If I tried to jump behind him, he would be able to hit me before I landed. I smiled as I figured it out.

I jumped from the tree, as if I was trying to get behind him. I managed to throw my weight backward as he was turning and ended up behind him, hitting him in the back before springing away.

He turned and launched himself at me. I managed to leap and brought my knee down in the middle of his back, knocking him to the ground. Jumping off him, I landed a few feet away.

“Damn. I thought I had you.” He coughed. “You should fight her Dillon. She needs someone who fights like a vampire. I’m too slow.”

Dillon grinned at me. “You want to fight me, cookie?”

“That depends.” I smirked. “Are you going to go full speed with me?”

“She’s so cute when she’s confident like that.” He laughed. “Let’s do this, cookie. No time outs. This is until someone is down.”

I prepared myself as Jean-Claude moved away. Dillon attacked. I understood why they’d had him holding back, he was a lot faster than Jean-Claude. I had trouble following his movements.

The entire time, I had few chances to attack. I tried jumping away, but he leapt with me and ended up right where I landed, continuing his attack while I tried to block. I became frustrated at my futile efforts to block my body from his hits.

In my frustration, I didn’t block as well as I should have and he knocked me back, before jumping behind me and sweeping my legs out from under me. I lay on the grass, panting and staring at the morning sky. I wondered if I could ever be good enough to win a fight against him.

“Good job, cookie. You did a lot better than anyone, without as much training as I have, should do. You even got a couple hits in. If you learn from this and apply what you learned, you should be able to beat me in a month or two.” He smiled and reached out his hand.

“How long will you two be with us?” I asked.

“Six months, total. After that, it’s up to you and Gray to keep training and keeping you ready to fight. I’ll come visit next summer to see how you’re doing. You, Victor, and Gray should come up to visit Lune Rouge. I think you’ll love it up there. I know you’d love the gardens around the pack house.” Dillon said, hauling me to my feet.

“I know Bellamy would love to have the three of you visit. She’s probably told everyone about you by now.” Jean-Claude chuckled.

“Everyone?”

“Her uncles, cousins, friends, probably her parents too. Bellamy is pretty chatty when it’s gossipy. Like my mate here. Quiet when he needs to be and chatty the rest of the time.” He replied.

“Hey! That’s not fair. Gossip is the backbone of a solid friendship. Bemy and Cara know that.” Dillon huffed. “We don’t just grunt at each other like you and your friends.”

I wanted to laugh. They were so funny and cute. The way they got closer while they were teasing each other. The way they smiled like they weren’t insulting each other a little. The kiss that always ended the teasing.

That sort of relationship was where I wanted to be with Gray. Victor didn’t do teasing well, but Gray was always fun. I wondered how his training was going as we walked back to the house.

It wasn’t a long wait to find out. Talia stood in the kitchen while Gray was sprawled out in a chair at the kitchen table. He looked like he had been beaten up by a gang of other wolves.

“Gray! Are you alright?!” I asked, rushing to his side.

“I’ll be healed in time for school. Don’t worry, angel.” He smiled painfully.

“Talia. Why did you beat him up so bad?”

She shrugged. “I got bored. I didn’t break anything. He’s a healthy young wolf and will heal quickly.”

“She can’t go easy on me, angel. I need to be able to fight Victor. I’ve never fought a vampire before Sunday morning. She let me off easy yesterday. Trust me, I’m fine with this.” Gray said.

“We’ll get him up to his room. Victor’s still awake, Echo. You need to get away from Gray.” Dillon told me quietly.

I hated not being able to take care of my injured mate. I knew it was to keep Victor from trying to hurt him more, but it didn’t make me any less upset. I backed away and let the men help Gray to stand.

“Everything will be fine. This is only a temporary situation, Echo. Soon, Victor will be back to normal and you will be able to coddle Gray as much as you desire.” Talia said, taking my hand.

“I know. This is just a lot harder than I thought it would be.” I admitted.

“Of course it is. Your first instinct is to take care of the people you love. That means tending their wounds. Don’t take this too hard. Everything will work out. I won’t let Victor die, Echo. I already turned him against his will. I’m not going to let him find love just to lose it again.” She whispered.

“I need to go get ready for school. I believe you, Talia. I know that you’ll try your hardest.”

“NO. I will NOT let Victor be killed by this curse. Even if I have to burn this territory to the ground. I will not lose my childe.” She growled and stormed out of the room.

Quietly, I headed to my room to shower and change for the day. I hated feeling weak, but I did after the workout I had. Breakfast was an event, because I could barely lift my spoon. Victor ended up feeding me. It seemed to make him happy.

Gray drove me out to the bus stop. He was careful not to touch me until we were too far to be seen from the house. At the stop, he slipped his arms around me. I loved being held by him and it felt more precious because we couldn’t do it whenever the urge hit us.

“Here comes your bus, Echo. I’ll see you at school.” He murmured, letting me go.

“You’ll give me a hug when I get there, right?” I asked.

“Of course, angel. I miss holding you.” Gray said.

The bus stopped and the door opened. I gave a final glance to Gray’s retreating form as I boarded. I hurried to my seat. Rosario was sitting in the seat I normally shared with Sean. He wouldn’t be on the bus today, since he was driving his mom’s car to school.

Rosario smiled at me and scooted over. “You look like you had an eventful morning.”

“I had training this morning. I’m exhausted.” I sighed.

“There’s a bruise on your neck, Echo. Take your hair out of the ponytail and let it lay flat, or someone will report it.”

“Thanks, Rosario.” I replied, taking my hair out of the ponytail and smoothing it over my neck.

“No problem. I have the benefit of glamour to hide my bruises.” He said.

We rode awkwardly for a while. I didn’t like the sound of what he was saying. Did someone hurt him, or did he just train a lot?

“I’m… I’m thinking of asking Val and Harmony to come live with me.” I said, changing the subject.

“That’s a great idea. Maybe I should move in with you too, until the curse is broken. We can keep the whole team together.” Rosario grinned.

“We’d have to move Sean in too.” I told him. “If we want to have the whole team together. I don’t know if we’d have the room for that.”

“He and I could always share a room.” He whispered.

“So this is all a plan to get Sean into bed with you?” I laughed.

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