Exquisite

Heat

A/N (IMPORTANT): THIS CHAPTER HAS A SIZZLE SIZZLE CALM YO WIZZLE MOMENT, DON'T READ THE SECOND HALF IF IT MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABLE. 

Now that's been dealt with, (phew) If you've been following this book till now, please read this note. 

I would like to thank all those who have been following this book's severely irregular update schedule. I have no defense except the fact that Law School is crazy and I barely have time to breathe, let alone finish chapters. 

Having said that, I promise that I will finish this book before September because I want to enroll it for the Wattpad India Awards (fingers crossed). And that's why, please stay tuned. Your love means the world to me and my characters. 

@devil_ 169 has been with this book from the beginning and I can't thank them enough, but they also reminded me of something very important when they texted me saying they'd like to see more of Cassien and Neith interaction outside of work: YOU ALL. 

DM me with what you'd want to see more of. This book is as much yours as it is mine, tell me what you want to characters to be doing. I have a plotline that I'm following, but I can fit in things if I feel they add to the overall effect. I would love to. Tell me what you want to see. 

Enjoy this chapter as we're getting closer to the end of this book. Comment, please. It makes me want to update faster.

Lots of love.

~Damen~

This was such a bad idea.

"This is a bad idea." 

Neith rolled her eyes, tying her hair into a tight knot at the nape of her neck elegantly. 

At the back of my mind, I wondered how she had learned all this if she'd grown up with males surrounding her, but all thoughts flew out of my head when she took off her sports jacket. 

My jaw clenched and anger seared up the column of my back when I saw the angry scars across her torso, the bruises an ugly shade of purple against her light skin. I was glad I wasn't wearing a shirt because if I had been, breathing would have become impossible. 

"It doesn't hurt anymore," I realized she was talking to me and I blinked. 

Neith smiled, a deep dimple popping as she walked over to me and touched my cheek. "I told you, it'll take a lot more to get me down." She winked.

I exhaled, leaning into her touch before I stood up straight. "Let's get this over with."

She nodded seriously. "You can't go gentle, okay? If you do, I'm not letting you come with me." 

My resolve which had broken down considerably was now rebuilt stronger than before. Just this one time, I told myself. The mere thought of touching Neith in a way that could hurt her made me want to break something but this was necessary. 

 She had to know I could keep her safe. 

"We'll start with basic hand-to-hand combat, and then we'll move to weapons -" She paused as Cassien and Vivienne entered, dressed in pajamas. 

"You honestly thought you could do this without us knowing?" I fought the urge to groan; of course they had to be here.

"Just don't start making out midway," Vivienne said matter-of-factly as my brother gave her a disgusted look, "Otherwise we're golden. Let's start."

Neith bit back a giggle. "We'll try." She winked at me and despite myself, I felt my face turn hot. 

I knew Neith wasn't going to be an easy opponent but the moment she began to move, I realized this was going to be a lot more difficult than I had hoped it would be.