Chapter 78: I’m strong enough

Chapter 78: I’m strong enough Eva’s eyes brightened with interest. He was clearly embarrassed at having his secret found out, trying to hide it behind a mask of disgust. "You don’t have to lie to me I understand." Ethan quickly blocked her lips before her words became more exaggerated. "I thought our sex life made you aware of my preference or was I not satisfying you enough?" Ethan spoke through gritted teeth, his eyes flashing dangerously. Eva stiffened, her eyes widening, hair standing on end at his gaze. She quickly jumped out of his body and dashed far away from them. She was not mentally prepared for another round of that intensity. Ethan stared at her running figure a flash of amusement dancing in his eyes. But when he turned to Julian, they both felt their skin pricked with disgust. "Don’t hang around me for now, before Eva thinks I...gross..." Julian couldn’t complete his sentence, his face scrunched together like a squeezed orange. "Oh my God, did you like me, as she said? No wonder everyone looks at us strangely. I know my feelings are normal but I don’t know if it’s the same for you." Julian’s eyes widened, clutching his chest dramatically as he moved back. Ethan snapped. He could ignore Eva’s words, but Julian, who had stayed with him since he was little, shouldn’t have spurted rubbish. Julian stopped his coming kick with his hands, "Calm down, I was just thinking, I didn’t say it happened!" Julian complained as he blocked another attack aiming for his mouth. His hands numbed from the force of the attack, "Tsk, who doesn’t know would think you are hiding something with your reaction." Julian clicked his tongue and dodged the ice dagger, a hair’s breadth from his throat. "One more word from you, I would gouge out your tongue." Ethan’s eyes narrowed, and daggers hovered in the air, surrounding both of them. Julian nearly laughed aloud—he always thought Ethan was stone-faced. ’Ha...this is golden; why haven’t I thought of using this to get a raise from him before?’ "Woah, I didn’t think I would cause a lovers spat," Eva said, her voice filled with surprise and excitement of watching drama. Their heads snapped towards her to meet her gossipy eyes, and she picked up a drumstick from the plate. Feeling their gaze on her, she motioned for them to continue, "Just ignore my presence, you can continue." Her words were muffed by her chewing but it was clear. Julian exchanged glances with Ethan, who nodded in understanding. Eva felt something was wrong with their expression, she got up quickly when she saw they were heading for her. "Wait! I said I am sorry for disturbing you! Why are you coming over here, stay back!" Eva grew panicked but she didn’t forget to finish the meat in her hands as she ran. Before she could go any further, she was lifted off the ground, her vision tilting downward. Dangling over Julian’s shoulder, she struggled to get free—until a sharp spank made her stiffen in shock. "You dare tease your husbands, right...?" Julian drawled, followed by another spank. "Ow! Don’t you dare hit me again!" Eva screamed, throwing punches at his back, but Julian didn’t stop. Another spank followed. "Whose wife ships their husbands together? The next time it happens, you won’t move for days." Julian’s voice held threats. He spanked her for a while under her wailing voice, her voice grew hoarse until she fell silent. Ethan took Eva from him, and Eva nearly cried out in joy at being saved, but Ethan’s next action made her recoil in fear. "I’m sorry! (⁠っ⁠ ̩̆⁠╭⁠╮⁠ ̩̆⁠)⁠っ not the balm." She cried out, but Ethan ignored her and laid her on the bed, caging her in as he removed her jeans. Her reddened butt cheeks were out in the open, and he took some balm on his fingertips. "Ah!" Eva’s loud scream startled the beasts in the forest. "I just asked a question, woo hoo why are you bullying me." Eva cried out her grievance. Ethan didn’t have the heart to see her like that and hugged her, "Shus...I’m sorry, we don’t have that kind of relationship, we only love you." Ethan consoled her while explaining seriously to her. Julian nods at the side. Eva flushed at his words. She fanned her reddened cheeks and squealed internally, ’Ah! He said the L-word! My heart can’t take it; it is beating faster than normal. What should I say? What should I say? No, it’s so embarrassing to confess like that.’ she was so lost in thought that she giggled and moved her head back and forth. Julian and Ethan watched her strange behaviour and exchanged glances, Julian’s eyes held confusion. ’Did I spank her too much that it started affecting her?’ thoughts floated through Julian’s mind. Ethan pinched her cheeks, noticing he had her attention, ’’Your core is weak, I’m going to train you.’’ Ethan commented with a frown. He felt her stomach and her arm strength, and his frown deepened. Eva’s hair stood on end at Julian’s pitying stare. ’’I-I-I passed the dungeon test; I don’t need extra training; I’m strong enough." Eva stuttered and crept out from his hold, moving far away from him. ’’What you learnt was a survival instinct, not systematic combat. And I promised to train you before.’’ Ethan’s tone was firm, he wasn’t compromising on this. ⊙⁠.⁠☉ Eva was dumbfounded, wandering when their discussion changed to Ethan training her. The sweetness of love cleared from her mind. Julian’s expression rubbed her the wrong way, but she quickly regained her calm. ’At most, it would be like Julian’s stern training; what can go wrong?’ instilling words of confidence in her heart, she nodded in acceptance. "Alright, we begin tomorrow," Ethan said, his eyes softened slightly feeling he was being too serious. "I wish you luck. You will need it." Julian leaned in, whispering in her ear before patting her back in encouragement. Gulp... Eva swallowed hard, wishing badly to go back on her words but couldn’t. *** Inside a secret room, gold, silver, and metal hands of human and monster sculptures lined the walls, each in its designated spot, except for an empty glass case in the centre. They glistened under the crystal light, while a figure sat at the edge of the room, taking in the beautiful yet sickening sight. Cadien admired his creations, but when his gaze landed on the empty glass case, his eyes dimmed. This was the special spot for that man’s hand. He wanted just one and was willing to pay a hefty price, but the attempt nearly cost him his life—the icy cold still lingered in his mind. This was the first time he failed at getting what he wanted but he was far from giving up. One day, he would take that hand for his collection. In Eva’s space, Ethan sneezed, rubbing the goosebumps rising on his arm as he watched his wife’s sleeping figure. A helpless smile curled his lips as he recalled how she tried to pry his training plan from his lips. "Go easy on her tomorrow—my ears are already numb from her wailing." Julian’s words made him frown. ’My training is always easy,’ he muttered inwardly.