Fated By Starlight by Krista Street
Chapter 6
~ AVERY ~
We spent the rest of the day training and working out. After the ropes course, we ran, did sit-ups and push-ups, and hiked a long trail in the woods. My body ached by the time Wyatt called it quits in the early evening.
The only ones who didn’t seem fazed by the physical exertion were Chris, Charlotte, and Zaden, which wasn’t surprising. Vamps and wolves gave supernatural its meaning.
“You all did well today,” Wyatt said as we stood around him on one of the large training fields. The sun had begun its western descent, the temp finally cooling. “Tomorrow we’ll continue training, much as we did today. Expect to be sore and tired every morning when you wake up. Know that I won’t go easy on you. This is why you’re here, and physical fitness is expected from all of you.”
I made my shoulders stay back and kept my head high even though all I wanted to do was crumble to the ground and go to sleep. Fire burned in my muscles, and my legs felt about to collapse.
Wyatt’s attention shifted to me. “I know this isn’t easy for a lot of you, but you’ve made me proud.” He placed his hands behind his back. “Now, grab some dinner and enjoy the evening. We reconvene at 0630 tomorrow morning in front of the women’s barracks.”
Everybody started heading toward the cafeteria, but Wyatt stepped in front of me before I could join them. Scents of oak and pine, his natural woodsy fragrance, wafted toward me. My head spun. I hadn’t scented that in eight years, and it brought back a firework of emotions.
Despite reminding myself to act professional, my stomach dipped. It didn’t help that I had to arch my neck back to make eye contact. My gaze crawled up his chiseled chest, strong jaw, and aquiline nose.
But his face remained expressionless. “Private Meyers, I noticed that your hands are bleeding.”
I curled my fingers into my palms, embarrassed that I was the only one that hadn’t properly figured out how to slide down the ropes without hurting myself. “It’s okay, sir. It’ll heal.”
“You should head to the healing center. The witches can help with that.”
“Oh, of course, sir. I’ll go there now.” I bit my lip, trying to remember which building and door would lead me to the healing center.
His lips quirked up. “Do you know where it is?”
I shook my head.
“I’ll take you. Follow me.”
The rest of my squad mates were already a fair distance away, but Charlotte looked over her shoulder and arched an eyebrow in my direction. I firmly ignored her. The last thing I needed was her making a sly comment about Wyatt and me again. A comment that my commander would undoubtedly hear.
Wyatt led me in the opposite direction of my squad. I hurried behind him, not sure if I should stay following or walk at his side, but he slowed his pace and inched over until we strode alongside one another.
Around us, other SF members walked on the various pathways in the early evening sunshine. Some marched in groups, others practiced shooting in the distant fields, and some just sat on benches chatting with one another. It was easy to forget that this facility wasn’t just for training. Hundreds of SF members also called this place home since they lived permanently in the barracks.
“You did well today.” Wyatt’s chin dipped my way. “I know it wasn’t easy for you.”
I grimaced in humiliation because even walking at the moment hurt like a bitch, never mind how I would feel tomorrow. “Thank you, sir, but I think we both know that I’m the slowest and weakest in the group. If the Institute and SF didn’t have a training agreement, I wouldn’t be here. I never would have qualified.”
He shrugged. “Maybe not, but you didn’t give up today. That’s admirable.”
I laughed softly. “To be honest, giving up was tempting.”
A crack of a smile parted his lips. “Was it the rope burn that made you think twice?”
I studied my palms again. Dried blood caked the cracks. “No. I won’t lie, the rope was a bit painful, but it wasn’t the ropes course that made me cringe. I think it was the running. In general, I don’t really run. Well, not unless it’s away from something, like my neighbor at my flat back in London. That woman could talk to you all day about the lotto tickets she’d purchased and how each one was going to be the big one. It was amazing how she could spend twenty minutes telling you how accurate her predictions were, only to lose and return to the corner shop the next day to purchase more tickets. I always wished her the best for winning, but when she cornered me it was hard to find an escape, so I generally ran the other way when I saw her coming, but that’s probably the extent of my running experience.”
Wyatt gave a choked laugh but then smoothed his expression. “So, no gambling either for you then?”
“No.” My lips curved up, and despite knowing better, I felt myself slipping back in time, feeling and acting like I had in high school. “I’ve been a poor college student for the past few years. I prefer to keep my meager savings in my pocket . . . sir.” Damn, it was so weird to call him sir and not Wyatt.
“So, you’re saying to motivate you, I should begin discussing the SF’s weekly gambling pot about who’s going to return from an assignment with the most scars?”
My eyes widened. “The SF has that?”
His lips tugged up, his eyes sparkling. “No, but if it helps to motivate you, I’m fine with spinning a few tales.”
I laughed, the sound bubbling out of me before I could stop it.
Another smile graced his lips just as a fellow commanding officer passed us on the sidewalk. “Major Jamison,” he said, nodding his head in greeting.
The smile on Wyatt’s face disappeared. “Major Carlisle.”
I sobered when I remembered we weren’t alone, and we weren’t back in high school. We were at the SF. And he was my commander.
I garnered Wyatt felt the same since a veil descended over his features, his sparkling eyes dimming.
We walked a bit farther but then curiosity got the better of me. “Sir, gambling and running aside, has there ever been an ambassador recruit who didn’t pass training?”
“A few.”
I nearly tripped on the sidewalk. Righting myself, I stopped to face him since the healing center waited ahead with its glowing green medical sign hanging above the door.
“So there’s still a good chance that I won’t pass training?”
His eyes softened. “Given how hard you worked today, I don’t think that’s likely.”
“But will I be able to do it tomorrow?” My muscles were already killing me. A sense of sudden doom came over me. Yes, I’d worked hard today, but could I keep it up? Could I do this day in and day out?
I didn’t know.
And if I couldn’t, I wouldn’t be allowed to begin my ambassador position at the Institute. My heart withered.
All I’d dreamed about during my years at university was becoming an ambassador, but training at the SF was mandatory for acceptance into the Supernatural Ambassador Institute. I’d already finished the other requirement—my degree in paranormal politics—but without passing SF training, that degree would be useless.
Wyatt placed his hands on his hips, his expression fierce. In the early evening sun, his brown hair glinted with chestnut streaks, and his deep-set grassy-colored eyes were so vibrant that for a moment, I completely forgot what I was stressing about.
“I know that you’re worried, Avery, but remember that a lot of what we ask of you, what I’ll be asking of you, is mental.” He relaxed his stance, and a slight twinkle lit his eyes again. “And while physically, yes, it can hurt—as you may have experienced with running today—you need to remember that our bodies can withstand so much more than what we ask of them. Every time it hurts, every time you want to give up, remember why you’re here. Use that to focus, and it will help you push through the pain to persevere.”
I nodded and let his words sink in. “So focus on my goal and remember that it’s all mental.”
“Exactly. The first few weeks are the hardest. Get through those, and you’ll make it.”
I took a deep breath, my anxiety subsiding. “Okay. I think I can do that.”
His lips kicked up before he said slyly, “Or if all else fails, remember your neighbor in London and pretend that she’s chasing you.”
I laughed, again unable to stop it. “Of course, sir. I’m sure my imagination could do that.”
The corners of his mouth twitched before he nodded ahead. “The healing center is on the second floor. The witches will see to your wounds. I’ll see you at 0630 tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you.”
He nodded curtly, although I could have sworn merriment still glittered in his gaze, but then he did a one-eighty and strode away.
My heart beat harder as I watched him. I’d seen parts of him during the ropes course that reminded me of the boy I once knew. And just now, while walking here, I’d seen actual sides of him that I remembered from high school—the laughing, lighthearted Wyatt who all the girls wanted to be with and all the guys wanted to be.
But he was different now too. Harder. More serious when his job called for it. More mature. He’d pushed me relentlessly today, but he’d also encouraged me and made me believe in myself.
My heart fluttered when I crossed the sidewalk to the healing center’s main doors as his advice filled my mind.
It’s all mental.
I chewed on my lip. If I wanted to succeed and become an ambassador, I needed to do this. I had to push past the pain and keep going day in and day out.
Remember why you’re here.
I took a deep breath and reached for the door.
Or if all else fails, remember your neighbor in London and pretend that she’s chasing you.
I laughed and pushed through the door.
∞ ∞ ∞
Thirty minutes later, I hopped off a bed in the healing center with healed palms and a small vial containing a potion to relieve my sore muscles.
“Now, remember,” Rosalie said as she swirled about the room in her long robe, “take that potion tonight, soak for thirty minutes in a hot bath, then head straight to bed. If you follow those instructions, you’ll wake up able to train again tomorrow. You won’t be pain free, but it will be drastically less. Okay, dear?”
“Yes, thank you. Take the potion, then a hot bath, then go to bed. Got it.”
Rosalie smiled sweetly. “Lovely. Now be on your way, dear. It’s getting late and you’ll want to eat before heading to your barracks.”
I thanked her again before leaving the ward. Despite my cuts and rope burn being healed, my legs were another story. Going down the stairwell was quite possibly worse than going up it. My thighs screamed in agony with each step, so I breathed a sigh of relief when I finally made it to the main floor.
From there, I headed out of the building to the cafeteria, knowing that my squad mates had probably already eaten and left.
Sure enough, when I arrived, I didn’t spot any of them. With a frown, I grabbed a tray before getting in the food service line.
My stomach growled when I caught the scent of roast beef. Letting my nose lead me, I ended up in the line where they were serving smoked beef brisket. A light reduction sauce was drizzled over the meat before the kitchen server added a hefty portion of mashed potatoes and grilled kale on the side.
It was a simple meal but looked so damned good that my mouth was watering as I grabbed a fizzy soda.
Once back in the large cafeteria that was nearly full with SF members, I searched for a free spot. On the far wall, a small table was empty, so I nabbed it before anyone else could and began digging into my food.
On my second bite, a man said, “Do you mind if I join you? Seats are a bit limited right now.”
I looked up to see a tall vampire wearing normal street clothes, which was definitely odd in a facility where everyone wore matching uniforms. He looked to be in his early thirties, and his hair was longer than most SF members. Dark blond strands brushed the tips of his shoulders, and an air of confidence surrounded him that made me wonder if he was a superior who didn’t have to follow protocol.
“Of course, sir,” I replied, waving to the seat across from me.
He pulled out the chair and smiled before nodding at my tray. “I was tempted by that brisket when I saw it, but I couldn’t say no to the burger. It’s been a while since I’ve had American food and it’s impossible to find a decently cooked cheeseburger in Eastern Europe.” His words lilted with an accent from long ago.
I swallowed the bite of kale I’d been munching. “Oh? Have you been traveling?”
“I have.” He squirted ketchup next to his plate of fries. A small dollop landed on his glass of blood, which he wiped off with his fingertip. “I’ve been working in eastern Europe for several hundred years.”
I perked up, a smile lighting my face. “Where in Eastern Europe, sir? I lived in Poland for a while as a child.”
“Is that right? Mówisz po polsku?”
“I’m afraid not. I didn’t live there long enough to learn the language, sir.”
“Neither did I.” He lowered his voice to a conspiratorial tone. “And just so you know, you don’t need to call me sir. I’m not an SF superior, but merely an SF consultant.”
I blushed. Well, that explained the casual clothes.
His gaze swept over my ruddy cheeks, his pupils dilating in desire or hunger—I couldn’t be sure—but he had good enough manners to look away and pretend he hadn’t noticed the rush of blood to my cheeks.
After picking up his burger, he sank his teeth into it, then moaned in delight. “Delicious. Even though I don’t need this food to sustain me, it certainly tastes sinful.”
A flutter ran through my stomach. Between his moan and the way he appraised me while he chewed his food, I felt like I was on the dinner menu.
I sighed internally. Vampires were always so sexual. Everything about them oozed sex appeal and their carnal appetites were legendary. I’d lost my virginity to a vamp when I was nineteen. It’d been a memorable encounter.
I briefly fingered my neck, remembering how my ex had bitten me quite enthusiastically on occasion during sex.
I glanced up to find the vamp watching me, a curious glint in his eyes.
I cleared my throat and forked another bite of meat. “So where in Eastern Europe do you work?”
“Bulgaria,” he replied. “And forgive me for being so forward, but I’m quite curious how you came to live in Poland at one point in your life?”
“My parents are ambassadors. I spent my childhood traveling and living in various countries. I lived in Poland when I was eleven.”
He cocked his head, a new interest lighting his eyes. “You’re not Avery Meyers, are you?”
I paused, my fork halfway to my mouth. “I am. How did you know?”
He grinned, which transformed his face from being merely attractive to unsettlingly arresting. “I heard an ambassador student started at the SF this week. I contract to the Institute when matters arise in which utilizing the international libraries are needed.”
My jaw dropped. Eastern Europe held the largest supernatural libraries in the world. Inside that secretive monolith, hundreds of gargoyles worked, since the little stone creatures were well renowned for their academic achievements. However, gargoyles didn’t live like other supernaturals. Like leeches, they only came alive after feeding off of a supernatural’s life source. Supernaturals condemned in the courts were their unfortunate victims, and the longer a criminal’s sentence leeching was, the longer the gargoyle was able to come alive and work in the library. But they only came alive during the day. Each night, they returned to stone.
“So, you’re a gargoyle representative?” I said, putting the puzzle pieces together. “Of course, that would explain why you’re working in Eastern Europe and why you’re a consultant to the SF.”
“Indeed. I’m Nicholas Fitzpatrick, at your service.” He gave a mock bow, which made me laugh. His satisfied smile followed. “Well, what luck this evening has turned out to be. I thought I was merely asking a young, attractive woman to have dinner with me, and it turns out she’s also the sole ambassador recruit at the SF this quarter.”
My core tightened, and I wanted to smack myself, but I knew there was no use. Quite simply, vampires and I didn’t mix. I had next to no defenses against their sexual pull since my magic was so weak. It didn’t help that Nicholas’s pull was stronger than most. The strength of his allure hinted at his age. He had to be at least five hundred years old.
Damn. My goal tonight had just changed to not only taking my potion and going to sleep, but to avoid ending up in bed with a vampire fucking me senseless.
