Read Online The Claimed by Caridad Piñeiro - Free Book Online Page B

“You’re angry that I went out alone.”
    “I’m supposed to protect you and I try—”
    “But I don’t make it easy,” she acknowledged. Although Rafael could cast a wide net to keep an eye on her thanks to his affinity with the wind, he couldn’t be everywhere, nor did she want him to be.
    “You don’t,” he confirmed.
    Victoria didn’t care for his tone or another air she was sensing in him—a territorial one, as if he suddenly planned on staking a claim to her. Maybe that was the reason for the look her father and Rafael had shared just moments earlier.
    “I don’t need you to be my keeper.”
    “I don’t want to be your keeper. I want to be more, and while I may not be the most powerful Hunter in our clan—”
    “I’m not interested in you as a mate, Rafael. You’re a friend and my captain,” she said with command as well as compassion. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt his feelings.
    His full lips thinned into a sharp slash and the words that followed cut deep. “You think I’m not good enough because I’m damaged.”
    “I’ve never thought of you as damaged, Rafael.” She laid her hand on his shoulder, imparting a comforting touch and brush of healing power.
    His frustration abated and bright color worked up over his cheeks, but then he raised his face and said, “I’m glad to hear that, Victoria. Maybe in time you’ll change your mind.”
    She shouldn’t have missed the signals. Sammie and Jan had certainly seen what she’d been blind to, not that she had listened to their admonitions.
    “How about a training session? It’ll help chase away the chill from the water,” she said in an attempt to move away from the awkward discussion.
    “As you wish,” he said with a restrained incline of his head and muted emotions. He was back to being her cadre captain, and she hoped that in time he would turn his attentions from her to some other eligible woman in their Light Hunter clan. Or maybe even her friend Samantha, who seemed to possess such intense vitality.
    “Why don’t you go to the shop? I’ll be down as soon as I change.” Without waiting for his reply, she raced up the stairs to her bedroom where she quickly slipped into comfortable sweats and sneakers.
    Bounding down the two flights of stairs, she met Rafael in her shop. There was a large open space in the middle where they normally prepped their customers for the parasail or kayak rides. It was a perfect spot where she and Rafael regularly trained to hone not only their martial arts skills, but their control over their energy.
    When Rafael noticed her arrival, he adopted a loose fighting stance dead center of the space, his knees bent and flexible. Hands raised like a boxer’s, with his palms exposed and showing the first hints of glowing orbs of energy, he was ready to either defend or attack. His face was blank, devoid of any emotion as it should be.
    Never show fear or confidence to an enemy. Both could get you killed.
    Victoria mimicked his stance, well-trained in martial arts as well as the unique powers her people possessed.
    As Rafael jabbed at her, she ducked his first blow. A second jab came quickly and she blocked it, but experienced the jolt of his Hunter power as the energy orbskimmed along her forearm. It stung at the place where skin met skin and sent a tingle along the nerve endings before numbness set in.
    Although she was surprised Rafael was escalating their training so quickly with the use of Hunter power, she welcomed the engagement. Not only would it help keep her skills sharp, it would work off some of the worry from the day’s events.
    She ducked and parried Rafael’s punches and kicks, but as she did so she thought of the young man’s injuries and wondered if had survived. She also recalled the surge of healing power that had come from Christopher. It still bothered her since she had no clue if he presented a possible threat.
    Slightly distracted with those thoughts, she barely ducked