Dark Empathy Archibald Bradford (best books to read in your 20s TXT) 📖

Given that its difficulty was geared towards humans, it typically wasn’t challenging enough for the monster girls in the Aegis. So instead he ran it alongside the other human cadets, and he always came in last.

Though much more physically fit than he used to be, physically gifted he was not.

“Don’t worry, you can get the Amazons to rub your tired shoulders when you’re finished.” She said cheekily.

When Nameless decided to join the Aegis, he was under the protection of the Saenga tribe of Amazons, now, at the Academy, the close personal protection was largely unnecessary, and even inconvenient.

But there was no way that the Aegis would turn away an Amazon war party, and there was also no way that Myrina and the other Saenga warriors would leave after a second encounter between Nameless’s bond-mates and Evadne.

So while there might not have been a place for the wild Amazons within the academy, Margaret Bloom had come up with a solution.

With Yana Brael missing, her war-sisters were also at something of a loss and in need of some extra support. So at the councilwoman’s advisement the two groups joined forces to act as extra security for the academy, led by Tiana, Yana’s second.

There were those on the council, Aegis Booker in particular, who did not agree with tying up so many monster girls, but ultimately the headmistress was able to justify the extra security by arguing that the Academy would be a particularly juicy target for Evadne and Jonathan, especially with Nameless there.

As such, while not the everyday occurrence as it once was, Nameless and the others did get to see the beloved Amazons of both tribes semi-regularly.

Such was the case a few hours later when Nameless was heading to the showers, covered in frozen muck from his run against the obstacle course. Much to his chagrin, he had fallen off of the rope bridges twice, landing in the frigid mix of slush and mud below.

And worse, he was the only one to do so.

“Valkyrja-datta!”

A familiar voice called to him and he looked up to see Escrya striding towards him.

With golden tufts of Valkyrie feathers braided into their hair and their deadly spears always at hand, she and the other Saenga girls had always held a wild edge that fascinated, and slightly intimidated, him.

The icy-eyed young Amazon wore an amused expression as she looked him over head to toe.

“You look... well.”

“Ha ha.” He said through chattering teeth.

She chuckled at his response.

“Helena asked me to bring this to you, it’s a letter for Goodman Fletcher.”

While in Kettering the Amazon in question shared a brief dalliance with the old farmer and his Cockatrice flock.

Escrya held up the little square of paper as proof of her words, but didn’t hand it to him as he was dripping wet.

“Evidently he made an impression on her?” Nameless asked wryly.

She laughed again, her voice rich and musical.

“Just so! But I would presume that you are heading to the bathing rooms to warm and cleanse yourself, do not stop on my account, I wouldn’t want the mud to freeze around you in the chill.”

Even shivering as he was he couldn’t help but return the friendly smile, but her words were more accurate than she knew and he quickly continued on his way to the bathroom at the dormitories.

To his surprise, she followed him.

“What?” She asked innocently; “I need to make sure you arrive safely, it is my duty.”

Nameless was not fooled by her innocent expression.

“Right.” He replied with amused skepticism; “And I’m sure you want to ensure I get into the shower stall in one piece as well?”

Her smile widened and she deliberately winked at him.

“That would be safest.”

Together they walked through the chill air until they reached the dormitories where he bade her farewell and firmly closed the door in her pouting face.

Quickly stripping out of his muddy training clothes, he took up a towel and headed for the showers.

He didn’t really have the time to savour the hot spray of water cascading down on him: the rest of the cadets and their monster girl partners would soon be grabbing lunch before their afternoon lessons, and it wasn’t like the instructors would care that he had to clean icy mud out of his nose.

As it turned out, he ended up needing the time he saved in the shower: Escrya was still waiting for him when he finished, sitting on his bed when he got back to his room.

“Oh! Um, hey, what are-”

He flinched back as she tossed something at him with a negligent flick of her wrist.

He nearly dropped the towel around his waist in a bid to catch it.

Thrown off guard he brought her heartstone up in his hand before looking to her inscrutable expression.

“What is this?” He asked carefully.

She raised one eyebrow and smirked, causing him to turn a bit pink.

He felt decidedly exposed, and not just because he was wearing next to nothing.

“Okay, I know what it is. But... what does it mean?”

Her own features were a bit pink as she looked away and drew in a deep breath.

“Once, some time ago now, I promised my mother that I would not offer you my heartstone again unless you asked for it. But I have come to the conclusion that you never will.”

This was not the conversation Nameless expected to have when he got up this morning.

“My sisters and I have all offered ourselves to you, but you have claimed none of us. I offer my heart again, with no expectation of you accepting it, because I feel the need to remind you that it is yours for the taking.”

Her voice was steady, but he could feel her resignation at what she suspected his response