1. Catriona

1

CATRIONA

TEN MONTHS LATER

" Y ou're dead," I say mildly, the blade of my dull sword against Felix's neck. "Again."

The infuriating man flashes me a grin, pushing the sword away like this is a game. "I did better that time."

I turn from him, my eyes on the sunlit windows in the training room. Outside, the ash trees are turning yellow. They're always the first of the season. I should have a class full of new recruits right now, but the guild president decided not to bring in any this year. No one retired, no one was dismissed, and I still have a straggler from last year's batch of trainees.

Felix has become the bane of my existence. He delights in torturing me, refusing to take his training seriously. He only remains here because his father threatened to disown him if he quit.

"You're pensive today." Felix ambles up next to me, offering me water.

"I'm wondering how quickly you'll die if I send you out as an apprentice—and trying to decide if Arthur will hold me responsible when you do." I take the cup from him, downing the water in one go.

Felix raises a brow, amused. "Even if he wouldn't, who will you pawn me off on? I don't remember any of the senior hunters offering to take me."

"You shouldn't sound so happy about that. Most men would find it humiliating."

"Hardly. I'd much rather spend time with you." He rests a hip against the table, his blue eyes bright. "And we both know you enjoy my company."

I smack the empty cup on the table. "Let's go again."

We don't talk about last year's autumn ball, but Felix came dangerously close to mentioning it just now. He's been doing that lately.

Since Elizabeth is alive and well, and she and Benjamin are now happily married, it was easy to brush my failure under the rug. But I've promised myself that sort of mistake won't happen again. Felix and I now maintain a proper trainer/trainee relationship.

Mostly.

Felix readies himself, lifting his training sword and giving me the signal to come at him.

I growl when I easily knock the blade from his hand. "It's like you're not even trying ."

Felix shrugs, unconcerned. "I'm just not good at this sort of thing, Cat."

He used to call me Miss Mason. Then Catriona. Now Cat.

The line I've drawn between us becomes fainter with each passing day. We're friends now, as much as I hate to admit it.

"You've trained with me for almost a year and a half," I say. "You can't be this wretched unless you're doing it on purpose."

"Maybe I should do more work with the sandbags?" he suggests, mischief in his eyes. "The sword is awfully heavy."

His smile tells me it's a lie. Without thinking, I grasp his upper arm like I would any other mouthy trainee, ready to prove I've built muscle there.

On instinct, Felix flexes under my touch, his bicep tensing. The muscle is warm iron, solid and strong.

I realize my mistake the moment my fingers are clamped around him. This close, Felix must have seen the surprise on my face. The appreciation. The split-second moment of time when my heart seized and heat flooded my stomach.

His ego was already large enough, and now I've stroked it.

"Getting a bit grabby, Miss Trainer, don't you think?" he says near my ear.

I rip my hand away, glaring at him. "You're not a weakling. You can hold a two-pound sword. Pick it up. Do it again."

We're preparing for another round when Arthur enters the training room. Felix glances at his father, smiling. "You're just in time to watch Miss Mason trounce me again."

The guild president grunts, studying us.

"Focus, Felix," I command. "Put some effort into it, or you'll be running laps around the guildhall."

And then I lunge.

We come together, dull blades clashing, the padded walls muting the echo.

Felix is usually terrible when his father watches him train, but today, he fights like a fish that's been hit in the head by a boat rudder. After flailing for two solid minutes, he turns to Arthur. Breathing hard and holding his sides even though he hasn't even broken a sweat, Felix asks, "What do you think? Am I ready for a desk job?"

"I think you're ready for an apprenticeship," Arthur responds.

" What? " Felix and I say at the same time.

"All you're lacking is the proper motivation. Catriona can't provide that, but a werewolf can. I have a job for you."

"Lord Cunningham, please." I turn to my employer, beseeching him with my eyes. "Start him with an imp. Or anything small that can't kill him without trying really hard."

Felix shoots me an amused look.

"I'm afraid I can't do that. Felix's new partner is going after a werewolf, so that's the monster he gets."

"Who did you pair him with?" I ask, feeling something desperate clawing at my throat. He's not ready.

I doubt he'll ever be ready.

"You."

"Me?" I stare at the guild president, certain I heard him wrong. "I've never had an apprentice."

"You never have before, no. But you usually have trainees for half the year. This is a golden opportunity for you to work personally with a slow bloomer out in the field."

Normally, I'd find wicked delight in Arthur calling Felix a slow bloomer. Or any sort of flower, really. But this…this is a disaster. Not only is Felix going to die on our first job—but it's going to be my fault.

"When do we leave?" I ask resolutely.

"As soon as Felix talks to Benjamin about his kit and they get everything sorted."

At least a week, then. Benjamin loves paperwork, schedules, and systems—and nothing is quick about it. We'll be lucky if we leave before the werewolf dies of old age.

Arthur crosses the room, clasping my new apprentice's shoulder. "Congratulations, son. You're officially a hunter."

Felix gives him a tight smile. "Huzzah."

As soon as Arthur leaves, I turn on him. "This is your fault."

He laughs, but he looks mildly concerned—as he should. "I had nothing to do with this."

"Do you know how long an apprenticeship is?"

He extends a hand and shrugs.

"Eighteen months. We're going to face monsters, Felix. Big, dangerous monsters with sharp teeth and dark intentions."

"I know what a monster is," he says wryly.

"They're going to eat you alive if you don't get your act together."

He crosses the space, giving me a sympathetic look. "We best measure me for a coffin now and save you the trouble later."

I refuse to meet his teasing eyes. "There won't be enough of you left to bury."

"It'll be fine," he says with an amused snort.

I finally look up. "How do you know that?"

He flicks my shoulder. "You'll protect me."

"I won't."

"Look at the bright side—this might be fun." Felix grins. "Just you and me, going on adventures and killing monsters. We'll do a little sightseeing on the side."

"I should quit," I say as I leave the room.

Unfortunately, Felix chuckles and follows me into the hall. "You're not going to quit."

"I will."

He drapes an arm across my shoulders, still grinning. "My father won't let you."

I look at him, a witty retort on my tongue. Unfortunately, his eyes are distractingly blue in the light of the hall, and I forget what I was planning to say.

His smile becomes crooked as I stare at him.

"Unhand me," I finally say, shrugging out from under his arm.

"Yes, Miss Mason," he teases. "Where are we going, anyway?"

" I'm going to the dining hall. I don't know where you're going."

His smirk grows until just a hint of a dimple shows in his left cheek. "Everywhere you are, apparently."

It's going to be a very long eighteen months.