The Benefactor by Dylan Steel

Author:Dylan Steel [Steel, Dylan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: young adult dystopian
Publisher: Heritage Publishing
Published: 2017-09-16T04:00:00+00:00

13. ORDEZKO

Sweat rolled sideways down Sage’s forehead. Her left foot was hanging in the air when she noticed Weston leaning casually against the door frame, watching her. She straightened, dropping her leg.

“Oh, please. Don’t stop on my account.”

“I can practice later.”

Padding over to the couch, she grabbed a towel and pressed it to her face. She looked back at him hesitantly. Things had been tense between them for the past two weeks—ever since Grayson’s party—but they hadn’t talked about it. In fact, despite all the time the tether forced them to spend together, they’d barely talked at all. Weston had seemed particularly broody, and Sage wasn’t the only one who’d noticed. Most of the staff had been giving him a wide berth, making the enormous manor even lonelier than usual.

“Did you need something? Or are we going somewhere?” She ran the towel across her shoulders, still breathing hard.

He pushed off the doorway, strolling into the room and taking a seat near her. “It’s good you’re still practicing. But you’ll need a sparring partner if you really want to keep up your skills.”

She shrugged. “It’d help, but I don’t exactly have any volunteers.”

“If I’m not mistaken, that’s only because you haven’t asked for any.”

Mischief glinted in his eyes. He kicked off his shoes and stood. Muscles rippled along his shoulders as he peeled off his shirt, assuming a ready stance in front of her.

Sage arched an eyebrow, pursing her lips to avoid gawking at his hard physique. “You?”

“Why not?”

“You’re a benefactor.”

“What’s your point? Think I’m too soft?”

“No, I just—” Sage was glad her cheeks were already red from exertion, or he’d have no trouble sensing that wasn’t at all what she’d been thinking. She glanced around, taking note of the furniture spread on either side of where she’d been working on her forms. She tried another approach. “My room isn’t exactly set up for—”

“Fights don’t happen under the perfect circumstances, Sage. This will be fine.”

She started to argue, but before she could open her mouth, he’d taken a wide swing at her. She jumped back, dodging the blow. It had been more of an invitation than an outright attack, but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t have hurt if he’d connected. Weston’s lips ticked up in an eager grin as he circled her.

Her eyes narrowed. He really wanted to fight? Fine.

Sage lunged forward, bobbing on the balls of her feet as she waited for him to make another move. She’d never seen him fight before, so to her, his movements were as unpredictable as his moods.

His weight shifted back abruptly—her only hint to duck before Weston’s heel slammed forward, catching the air where she’d just been standing.

Exploding from a crouch, she shot out with an uppercut, a move which mostly just glanced off his taut abs. He’d already stepped back and hooked an arm around her elbow before she’d finished extending the punch. Her arm locked up, and the room became a whirl of color as she was launched forward.

Surprise flitted over her features for a moment, but anger quickly rushed in its place.

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