Fifty three

“Raina” Lucy called when she noticed I was already distracted.

“Whose fault do you think it was?” I asked. She sighed.

“Most people don't agree with me but I think it was Gonzalo’s” She answered me.

“Why don't they agree?” I asked. She chuckled.

“Don’t you see it? Gonzalo knew Guinevere was Ambrogio’s and still wanted to take her forcefully” She responded. I frowned.

“He was trying to save her from that monster”

“He was also a wolf and he knew better than shifting that close to a human girl” Lucy defended.

“So you think werewolves are the cause of the feud?” I wanted to be sure what side she was on.

“Yes”

“Well I think he was only trying to help a helpless girl from the vampire” Why I’m I trying to argue? She already said each reader to their own opinion. I should respect her view. Maybe I’m just been biased because I am a werewolf. No, that’s not it. She didn’t deserve what Ambrogio did to her and Gonzalo was only trying to help.

“I’m not going to argue Raina but think about it, Ambrogio bought her meaning he could keep her for as long as he wanted and Gonzalo knew this all too well. He shouldn't have interfered when it came to Guinevere” She explained.

“So you are on the vampire’s side?” I questioned.

“I am a hybrid. Wolf and a witch why should I side with them? This is not about picking sides, Gonzalo knew his place and he should have stayed there maybe eventually things would have gotten better for her” Lucy wasn't sounding very interested in the topic anymore but I needed more explanation on each person's view.

“Why then is this the cause of the feud? I mean if she was only a slave why did her death matter so much enough to cause a rift between the two of them?” Lucy sighed.

“Nobody really knows except from Gonzalo’s slave boy who was killed but I think it wasn't really about her death, it was more about the wolf interfering in Ambrogio’s business” She explained.

“Why do I feel like there is more to the story? What about Lilith? Did Ambrogio start to treat her better before the arrival of Gonzalo? Why did_”

“I wasn't here a thousand years ago Raina. Enough with the questions” She said her voice stern. I sighed.

“I’m just very curious. That can't be the only reason there has been a feud for a thousand years” I complained.

“Anything can blow up into something big. Nobody was here when all of this happened. Each person to his own story. Everyone heard different stories.”

“What if we_”

“You need some rest Raina and maybe after that, we can start training you” She walked out leaving no chance for me to argue with her. I followed her shortly after she left.

I went back to the room to meet a very worried Lucian.

“What happened back there? Where did the fire come from?” He asked. I looked around unsure of how to respond to this worried man. I can I explain something I do not fully understand? It's impossible. I looked at his green eyes for a while before I spoke up and told him nothing but lies.

“I don't know Lucian. Even Lucy is very confused” I lied.

“Does she have any guess of what might have happened” If I do not come up with something he is going to want more answers from somewhere else so I quickly thought of something and answered him.

“Yes,” I said giving myself a little more time to say my perfect lie.

“What is it then?” He looked so worried and I hate that I was lying to him about this.

“Uhm_ She thinks the book has some sort of spiritual meaning to it and because I'm not in the pack yet I couldn't read that far” He rose his eyebrows watching me. I felt so shaken under his intense stare.

“That’s a lie, Raina. You had the book with you for a while before” Shit! Why didn't I think of that?

“Uhm_ no it's not. I was reading it in the library that's why” I quickly added.

“Give up. The first time you read the book was in the library. You think I didn't know about Ri bringing you here?” I facepalmed myself. What's worse than getting got in a lie?

“I’m sorry” I mumbled giving up on trying to hide the truth from me.

“Why don't you trust me, Raina? I’ve been trying for this work” He sounded defeated and I hated that I was the one causing this for him. I moved my hands to touch him.

“I do trust you,” I told him.

“Then why are you keeping this from me?”

“I truly don't understand what is going on. I will explain as soon as I do Lucian” I pleaded that he understood me.

“Is that a promise?” He asked still not looking content with the decision. I smiled.

“Yes,” He pulled me into a hug.

“I’m glad you are ok,” He said against my skin.

“Whose fault do you think the feud was?” I said in his neck while we were still in each other's arms.

“As much as I hate to admit, Gonzalo” He replied. I moved away from him.

“Are you serious?” I asked with wide eyes. Why I'm I the only one seeing a good in what Gonzalo wanted to do.

“He was trying to help, yes but he honestly had a really bad approach to the situation” He answered to the sentence I didn't even think I said out loud. I hit his shoulder softly.

“I wasn't supposed to say that out loud”

“But you did” He laughed and I hit him one more time.

“You hit like_ your fists need some training” I rolled my eyes knowing exactly what he wanted to say.

“I’m not a terrible fighter” I tried to defend myself.

“I know that but you could do so much better for the child of warriors” He countered.

“Never had a teacher after my parents” I confessed.

“I will be more than happy to fill their spots as your teacher” He beamed.

“That means so much to me” I smiled at him.

“Change. Training starts in ten minutes” He announced standing up.

“Wait! What? I am not feeling it today” I whined.

“You are never prepared when an attack happens. Training starts today Raina so get dressed” He repeated not very pleased that I made him repeat himself.

“What do I get for this short notice torture?” I asked. He was quiet for a while before he responded.

“A kiss” He had a smirk on his perfectly shaped face that I felt the need to punch away from his face.

“I don't think that is happening” I replied standing up.

“I want you ready in ten. I'll be back” With that he left. I knew training was not going to be easy. I remember when I used to train when I was thirteen, it was never easy especially with the fact that both my parents were warriors. They didn't go easy on me during the training because I was their only child and daughter. With how Lucian is I knew he was definitely not going to go easy on me.

I made my way to the bag I hadn't had the time to unpack. The bag was empty. Of course. I looked through the drawers until I found the one that had my underwear in them. I picked out a black sports bra. I wanted to pick the pink one but with training, I knew it was a bad choice of colour so I went for black. I picked a black fitted short right above my knees. I packed my brown hair into a rough bun. I sat on the bed for about three minutes before Lucian walked back in.

“Ready?” He asked. I nodded, yes.

“Let’s go,” He said. I stood up and followed him out of the room. We walked two rooms down before he stopped.

“I like to train alone sometimes” He informed me opening the door.

I stood in the middle of the room in awe. The room was a nude colour. The room had a very large space in the middle. There were some items for working out that he had on the right side of the room.

“Nice place. I don't get why you have to be selfish with this place” I joked.

“It’s nice to have something to yourself where no one can share with you” He answered. I didn't say anything as I continued to look around taking notes of everything in the room.

I groaned in pain when I felt a sudden pull at my ankle causing me to fall.

“Fuck Lucian” I scolded.

“Never be caught off guard” I guess that's lesson one. He smirked moving closer to help me up. I raised my hands up at reaching it forward for him to help me up. He held my hands and tried to pull me up. I was made sure to hold myself down to pull him down with me. He laughed when his body connected to the space on the floor beside me. I also started laughing.

“I guess the trainer needs a trainer”

“I was just trying to be nice to a first-time student” He frowned getting up then pulling me along.

“Know who your friend is then,” I told him something my father always said to me whenever he got me off guard too.

“I think we are both training each other” He smiled.

We started we exercise to warm both our bodies up before Lucian insisted I fought with him.

“That’s not fair. This is only the first class” I argued.

“Not if the student has prior knowledge” He helped himself in his defensive stance. We both walked in circles with her knees bent, elbows a little high and our fists balled ready to throw the first punch.

“Come on, punch” I moved to punch him which he blocked with his right arm. I tried again with my left hand but he blocked again. I moved further away from him frustrated that I could not land a punch.

“Come on! Punch!” Lucian encouraged again. I moved closer to him mindful of his moves too. When I moved to punch his stomach he stopped me. I thought he was going to push me back but instead, he rolled me over and dropped me on the floor. I groaned when my back hit the floor. I looked up at him in shock.

“Your enemy won't care Raina! Stand up and attack!” Standing up wasn't as easy I thought. I stood up eventually and blocked out the pain in my back as I stretched. I saw Lucian charge towards me so I waited until he was near before I ran under his arm moving to his back. Not giving him time to recover from the shock I threw punches at his back before giving him a final kicked. He cursed falling on his knees. I walked closer and used my left leg to kick his knee away from the fall making him fall. Unknowing to him he already held unto my hands making me fall with him.

“That wasn't so bad” He chuckled. I gave a smile laugh.

“Forgot to warn you” He obviously knew I could do something because he didn't even fight with me like I was his student.

I did not take note of both our positions until I felt him hold my waist. I looked down to see that he was laying on the floor with his back to it while I was laying on him with my chest and now I was locked in the position because he trapped me against him with his hands.

“Lucian_” I trailed off not taking my eyes off his lips. The closeness and the silence were making me think too much of the situation. I tried to free myself from his hold but he wouldn't bulge.

“Your reward for being a good student” He raised his head from the floor allowing our lips to touch.