Merciless Saints (St. Monarch's Academy 1)

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.

DAMIEN

Dressed in a black tuxedo, I let out a sigh as I leave my room. I’m not in the mood for this dinner, but it’s obligatory.

Another door opens down the hallway, and I glance in its direction. I suck in a sharp breath at the sight of Winter Hemsley. She looks absolutely breathtaking, her hair curled and pinned back with a diamond comb. The moment she starts walking toward me, the dress moves, and I get glimpses of red as the fabric swishes at her feet.

She keeps impressing me. First with her fighting skills when she dropped Paulie in eight seconds, then wearing her scar like a warning to all that she’s a survivor. Now elegance and pride exude from her with every step she takes. It makes her irresistible.

Winter lifts her chin, once again giving me a view of the scar on her neck. Her eyes lock on mine, and when she’s only a couple of steps away, she murmurs, “Thinking of how you’re going to kill me, Vetrov?”

It doesn’t escape my attention that she didn’t say try to kill her, which means I’m the biggest threat in her eyes.

“You’ll be here for a couple of years. I don’t plan that far ahead.” I let my eyes drift over her body before bringing them back to hers. “For now, I’ll admire the view.”

She stops in front of me, the corner of her mouth lifting. “Care to show me the way?”

Clever girl.

If I agree, it will show the other families I’m giving her the time of day. They’ll think twice about coming after her because they’ll think I’m her ally.

I shouldn’t waste a second of my time on her, but I still find myself nodding. Winter links her arm through mine, resting her palm on my forearm. Instantly her touch sends a spark through my arm.

As we begin to walk, I shorten my strides to match hers while dismissing the obvious attraction I feel toward her.

“Paulie says you’re the best. You’ve beaten your brother’s records?” Winter’s voice is nothing but a soft hum, threatening to spin a web around us.

“I have,” I murmur, keeping my own voice low.

“And you’ll be paired with Carson Koslov?” she asks another question.

This time I only nod as I realize what she’s doing. Keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer. This is a strategic move on her part and has nothing to do with making a statement to the other attendees.

I’m the enemy she fears most.

Turning my head, I lower my eyes to her face. It only takes a second before she glances up, and our gazes lock. We come to a stop at the top of the stairs, and an uncanny anticipation begins to sizzle to life between us. Whether it’s because of the physical attraction or a predator setting sights on its prey, I don’t know yet.

Winter pulls her arm free from mine as she lifts her chin a little higher. “I’m here to train as a custodian for my family. I’ll protect them.”

My eyebrow rises slightly. “You think you can compete against me?”

Her lips curl up in a beautiful smile that has my eyes lowering to them. Full and red, like a strawberry that’s ripe for the picking. “I’m not here to compete,” she replies to my question. My gaze snaps back up to hers as she adds, “I’m here to become the best.”

My eyes narrow on her, and even though she’s acting brave, the fear trembling in her green irises tells me a different story. I can’t help but smile at her boldness. “Good luck.”

“Flirting with death again, Hemsley?”

I watch as all emotion drains from Winter’s face before she turns to look at Vince Blanco. She keeps her body positioned sideways, so her back isn’t turned to me.

Winter again impresses me as she scoffs at Vince. “The assassins your family sent missed.”

Vince takes a threatening step toward her, a scowl narrowing his eyes. “Your mother is a rotting corpse. I’d say the bullet hit the target.”

Fire sparks to life in Winter’s gaze. She closes the last of the distance between her and Vince, and even though she has to tilt her head back to look up at him, she seems a million times more powerful than him.