Page 51 of Knight’s Retribution

Surely she didn’t mean that in a literal sense?

It had to just be motivation. But at Grace’s words, Kyler’s heart raced faster—not from fear but from excitement.

* * *

Grace meant it literally.

The class was a full-on self-defense and combat class. Kyler had never in her life done anything like it. She was sweating, and she didn’t need to look in a mirror to know her face was bright red. Her limbs were shaking like Jell-O and her heart was pounding, and she felt—amazing.

She grabbed her drink bottle and drank deeply, the adrenaline still thrumming through her, along with a massive release of endorphins. She hadn’t felt this good in…in so long.

Meredith and Luna had told her several times that the class would help, but she hadn’t allowed herself to believe them.

Luna was standing beside her now, her grin infectious. “It’s a good feeling, right?”

“I never expected to feel like this. That learning to fight would make me feel so…”

“Empowered?”

“Yeah,” Kyler said. “That’s exactly how I feel.”

Luna sipped her water and leaned a shoulder against the wall. “Has Rocco told you my story? Where I was before I came here?”

Kyler shook her head.

Luna sat on the mat, and Kyler did the same as the others joined them.

“You don’t have to share, Ky,” Meredith said, “but I think it’ll help you to know that some of us have been through some tough stuff, that we’ve all felt like no one could ever understand. But if anyone could, it’s Luna.”

Kyler turned back to Luna and her stomach clenched at what she saw on the other female’s face. She shook her head. She didn’t want to hear Luna’s story if it would hurt her to relive it.

“You don’t have to tell me,” Kyler said.

“I’m okay to talk about it,” Luna said and gave her a reassuring smile. “My brother, Ronan, and I spent most of our lives imprisoned by a twisted fallen angel. The asshole worshiped Diemos and used us both for our power. Ronan and I are dhampir…and in exchange for feeding us, he used us, in every way it’s possible for a person to be used.” Sadness filled Luna’s eyes. “I haven’t seen my brother since he escaped. Even now, I don’t know where he is.”

“Oh god, I’m…I’m so sorry.” Kyler tightened her fingers around her drink bottle, pain lancing through her.

“At least he’s free now. I just hope he’s okay.” Luna shook her head. “But one good thing came out of that fucking awful time, it brought me to Gunner. And when the evil bastard who hurt me and Ronan came for me again, thanks to Grace and Meredith, Eve and Mia—because of my sisters, I was ready.”

“You fought him?” Kyler asked, shocked.

Grace wrapped her arm around Luna’s shoulders and tugged her in, smacking a kiss on the top of her head. “This little warrior took the fucker’s head off.”

Kyler’s mouth opened and closed. “You’re not joking, are you? You killed him?”

Luna nodded. “But not on my own, with their help. We’re not weak, Kyler. Demi-demons are gifted with powers, and when we use them, especially together, we can defeat any enemy, even Diemos. I truly believe that.”

The other females made noises of agreement.

“But first,” Eve said, “we need to get you mentally strong. That fucker is still in Hell, Kyler, but you’ve brought Diemos with you, in here.” She tapped the side of her head.

“I’ve been there,” Luna said. “I’ve been right where you are now. Mia’s been there, Grace, Eve, Meredith, we’ve all had to fight those demons inside us, trying to hold us back, telling us we can’t have that happiness, that we’re too broken. It’s bullshit, Ky, that voice in your head is wrong. And we want to help you truly believe that. You’re our sister. You always will be, no matter what. So whenever you’re ready to share, to talk, we’ll be here, and we’ll help you through to the other side.”

Kyler dipped her head, emotion clogging her throat.

No one said anything, they waited for her to gather her emotions or to let them out. To talk if that’s what she wanted, or to just sit if that’s what she needed instead. But she felt it, their silent support, the sisterhood they were offering, the friendship. It was the purest thing she’d ever felt in her life.

She looked up at Luna. “I’m so scared,” she whispered before she realized she was going to speak. Then she kept on talking because she wanted help, she wanted to get to the other side of this so badly. “I can’t stand to be touched…not even by Rocco. When I…I close my eyes and I see him, I see Diemos. I feel his cold hands on me, hear his voice, his twisted words.”