CHAPTER 5 WINTER

My eyebrows lift as I point over my shoulder at the guy standing in the

studio. “Is that Paulie?”

The man who was about to leave nods. My gaze drifts over his body that

looks like a lethal weapon, his muscles tense as if he’s ready to attack at any

moment. Bringing my eyes back to his face, I take in his chiseled jaw, his

sharp cheekbones, and then his dark eyes. There’s no emotion in them.

Everything about this man screams danger, and it makes a shiver crawl

down my spine. Still, he’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever laid eyes on.

“Don’t go anywhere. This won’t take long,” I say, the corner of my

mouth lifting with confidence, but all I get in return is an impassive

expression, and for some reason, it only makes him look hotter.

I walk toward Paulie, the guy I’ll fight first. He’s shorter than the other

man, with a broader chest. His stocky build will make him slow. I can use

that to my advantage.

Glancing at the door, I notice the other man leaning against the doorjamb,

crossing his arms over his chest. It makes the toned muscles and veins in his

arms prominent and hard to ignore.

Danger has never looked so attractive before.

Paulie tosses me the hand wrap, and I quickly cover my palms and fingers

with it.

When I’m ready, Paulie gives me a toothy grin as if he’s already won the

fight, then he chuckles, “Unlike Damien, I’ll take it easy on you, Princess.”

Damien?

Damien who?

“Remind me to thank you once I’ve won,” I reply, my lips curving

slightly.

We begin to circle each other, and I keep my body relaxed while holding

my hands up in front of me.

Paulie takes a jab at me, but I duck and avoid the blow easily. Wanting to

end this fight so I can face off with Damien, I dart forward, and grabbing

hold of Paulie’s shoulders, I deliver a double-flying knee kick to his chin.

Paulie falls backward on his *** ending the fight.

“Thanks for taking it easy on me,” I say to Paulie before turning my head

to Damien.

“You okay, Paulie?” Damien asks as he steps back into the studio, his

muscles rippling under his golden skin.

“Yeah,” Paulie mutters as he climbs to his feet. “Just embarrassed.”

“Damien?” I ask, tilting my head.

“Really?” Paulie gasps, surprise flashing over his face as he wipes the

blood from his busted lip. “You don’t know who Damien is? Have you been

living under a rock?”

No, just a secluded island. I shrug. “Let’s pretend I have.”

“Damien Vetrov,” Damien says, his voice filled with pride and warning.

My eyes snap to his face as shock vibrates through me. “Demitri Vetrov’s

brother?”

“The one and only,” Paulie answers.

Oh, God.

Damien’s stare is sharp and intense, closely watching my reaction to

finding out who he is.

Fear trickles through my veins, and I pray to all that’s holy, it doesn’t show on my face.

Cillian told me for generations the Vetrovs have raised the elite of the

elite when it comes to protectors. He spoke of them as if they’re gods. I have

no doubt Damien will end up being just as good as his older brother, Demitri.

‘Unkillable, merciless, with a devastating potency no one can escape.’

Cillian’s words vibrate through me as Damien comes to stand opposite

me. Knowing who he is, makes his body seem like an unstoppable force of

nature.

Shit. I’m about to get my *** kicked.

Stupid, Winter. Next time make sure who your opponent is before you

throw down the gauntlet to fight.

If Cillian was here, he’d scold me for making such a stupid mistake. But

he also taught me backing down from a fight is worse than losing. I roll my

shoulders to loosen my muscles and mutter, “Let’s do this.”

Damien’s penetrating gaze lazily sweeps over me as if I’m a waste of his

time. When he doesn’t make any effort to move, I narrow my eyes at him and

dart forward. He brings up his left arm, thwarting my blow, and then his right

hand shoots out.

His strong fingers clamp around my throat, and when his grip on my neck

tightens, I know what's coming. I brace myself as Damien sweeps my legs

out from under me, and my back slams into the hard floor with a dull thud.

Grabbing hold of his wrist, I try to buck my body up. Damien moves fast,

and with stealthy power, he slips under me while securing his arm around my

neck. His right leg locks both of mine to the floor, and his left arm wraps

tightly around my waist, effectively incapacitating me.

His masculine scent folds around me, only making me more aware of the

brutal power surrounding me. I should fight back, but for the first time in my

life, I’m overwhelmed by a man. This is nothing like when I’m sparring with Cillian.

Suddenly Damien shoves me off him, and my body rolls to the side.

“You’re no match for me, Princess,” he hisses.

Picking myself up off the floor, my eyes burn into Damien’s broad back

as he stalks out of the room. Formidable strength and danger emanate off

him, serving as a constant warning.

Shit, I don’t stand a chance against him.

I’ve never seen any of the Vetrovs up close, so coming face to face with

the youngest one is startling, to say the least. Life has taught me the most

exquisite things in life are the deadliest, and Damien’s too attractive, too

strong, and too much of a threat.

Worried about what this means, I pull the wrap off my hands and toss it

aside, my breaths rushing over my lips.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Not only is Damien good, but he’s… attractive in a way that demands

your admiration. It’s too disarming, and I can’t allow myself to be distracted

while I’m here. It’s a huge problem, and I don’t know how to deal with it.

Then another thought enters my mind. Damien could’ve hurt me, but he

didn’t. I know the Vetrovs live by a code. They only kill to protect whomever

they’re loyal to, and that might be my only saving grace right now.

But once Damien graduates and he’s paired with an assassin, I’ll have

both him and Demitri to worry about. And the assassins they’re guarding.

God.

“Don’t feel bad. Damien’s the best. He’s broken all of Demitri’s records,”

Paulie says, reminding me he’s still in the room.

My eyes flick to him before I walk toward the door.

“Nice meeting you, Princess,” Paulie calls after me as I turn into the

I knew it wouldn’t be easy attending St. Monarch’s. Still, nothing

prepared me for coming face to face with Vince Blanco… and Damien

Vetrov on my first day here.

The Blanco family had my mother killed and tried but failed to kill me.

All to send my father a message. They want Africa.

It’s going to be near impossible to watch Vince Blanco laugh… breathe…

and not try to kill him.

And Damien?

The blood flowing through my veins warms just at the mere thought of

him.

I head up the stairs to get to my quarters, my eyes continually scanning

over my surroundings. As I climb the last couple of stairs, I come to a sudden

halt. Standing in the middle of the hallway are Damien Vetrov and Carson

Koslov. They’re giving each other a brotherly hug.

The spit dries in my mouth at the sight.

Holy mother of saints.

Fear soaks into my bones. If they’re paired and team up with their

brothers, my family and I are as good as dead once someone hires them to

assassinate us.

Carson has the same blond hair as his brother, and when his dark eyes

flick to me, it sends a chill rushing over my body. Vigilant and deadly.

Slowly he tilts his head, the corner of his mouth twitching. “Winter

Hemsley.” His low voice makes my name sound like a warning.

‘Show no fear,’ I hear Cillian’s voice in my mind.

Lifting my chin, I lock eyes with him. “Carson Koslov.”

The corner of his mouth twitches again. “Not what I expected a princess

to look like.”

Wanting to make a statement, I lift my hand and brush my hair back over hallway.my shoulder, so the scar on my neck is clearly visible.

“I’m no ordinary princess,” I murmur.

I begin to walk again, my gaze moving from Carson to Damien as I pass

right through the middle of them. For a moment, pressure builds, and I’m

inundated by the testosterone coming off them in waves.

Show no Fear. Not ever.

I keep my chin high, and when I reach my quarters, I take hold of the

doorknob and glance back at the men. They’re both watching me, probably

sizing me up.

Pushing the door open, I step inside. I lock it behind me and then let out a

breath of relief.

Instead of crumbling in fear, it only makes me more determined to

become the best. I have two years to train in combat and armory.

Walking to my bedroom, I pick up my bag, and pulling my phone out, I

dial my father’s number. I already called him to tell him I arrived safely, but

now I need to warn them.

“Twice in one day. Do you miss us already?” Father’s warm voice comes

over the line.

“Carson Koslov and Damien Vetrov,” I get right to the point. “It seems

they’re already pairing up.”

“Fuck,” Father hisses. “You saw this with your own eyes?”

“Yes.” I take a trembling breath. “Go back into hiding. I need to know

you and Sean are safe until I’m done with my training.”

“I’ll send more guards for you,” Father says.

“I won’t step off the grounds. Don’t worry about me. I have Cillian. You

need to leave as soon as possible. Let me know when you reach the island.”

The island’s not easily accessible. Any plane, helicopter, or boat can be

taken out before they reach land. Right now, it’s the safest place for them.

“We’ll leave within the hour. I’ll send out a tracker to watch Alexei

Koslov and Demitri Vetrov. As soon as they move in our direction, I’ll alert

you. It will be better for you to join us then.”

“They won’t try anything at St. Monarch’s. No one dares the risk of being

banned,” I remind Father. Being banned comes with a steep price on your

head. An open contract that will have every assassin in the world coming

after you.

“The Koslov and Vetrov families have honor. They’ll wait until I

leave the academy. I’ll see the rest of the attendees at dinner tonight. I’ll

notify you if there are other families we should be keeping an eye on.”

“Do that.” Father clears his throat.

“Let me know as soon as you reach the island,” I remind him.

“I will. Stay safe, my princess.”

“You too, Father.”

We end the call, and I quickly dial Cillian’s number.

“Poppet?” he answers, his voice tight with worry.

“I’m fine. I’m just calling to let you know Damien Vetrov and Carson

Koslov are here.”

“Fuck,” he spits the word over the line.

“Be careful,” I warn him.

“I will.”

“I have to get ready for dinner.”

Cillian lets out a heavy breath. “Remember, keep your head high and

show no fear. I’m right outside St. Monarch’s.”

I nod. “Vince Blanco is also here. I didn’t tell father.”

Another curse escapes Cillian. “Christ, poppet.”

“I’ll be okay,” I try to ease his worry. I lick my lips before I continue,

“But the moment we leave St. Monarch’s, I want him dead.”

“Consider it a graduation present,” Cillian promises.“Stay safe,” I murmur before I cut the call, and knowing I only have an

hour and a half left to prepare for dinner, I run myself a bath.

Tonight I get to dress up. I’ve picked a light gray dress with a heart shaped bodice. The top layer of chiffon shimmers, reminding me of

diamonds, and the bottom layer is stained red. That’s why I chose it. Tonight

I’ll be the proud Blood Princess, here to remind my enemies I’ve survived

death once, and I can do it again.

I’m not some weak girl they can swat out of the way. Never. I’m a fierce

woman with Hemsley blood running through my veins. I’m a force to be

reckoned with because I have too much to lose.

（＾～＾）（＾～＾）

（＾～＾）

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