His shoulder dips, and I dodge it, aiming my blade for his upper ribs, where I’d be able to puncture a lung if this were a real weapon.
He blocks it, but I strike again, this time going for his carotid artery.
He blocks it for a second time, raising a brow, momentarily pausing, but I don’t stop.
Instead, I use his moment of distraction to my advantage and spin so I’m behind him. I aim a quick jab at his left kidney, hitting my mark, and he grunts.
But then he moves too fast for me to react and sweeps my legs out from under me.
I hit the ground hard, the air knocked from my lungs. Before I can recover, Jax is on top of me, pinning me down with his weight. He straddles my hips, holding his wooden sword lightly to my throat with one hand while his other is braced beside my head.
We’re both panting, our chests rising and falling in unison. His golden eyes hold mine with an intensity that makes my heart race for reasons that have nothing to do with the fight.
“You go for the kill,” he notes, my mind barely registering his words. The feel of him, the heat of him, the way his gaze commands my attention. It’s too much and not enough all at once. “Remind me not to make you mad when you’ve got a real blade in your hands.”
And then, just as quickly as he pinned me, he hops to his feet, extending a hand to pull me up.
I take it, and my legs tremble as I rise.
“You’re quick, and you’re smart. That’ll keep you alive. Even without being an Essentari, you’d be able to survive the third trial.”
My breath stutters, and I shake my head.
There’s no point in pretending.IfI survive the trial, it’ll be because of the flames.
He releases my hand.
“I thought we were done with that,” he says, clicking his tongue to the roof of his mouth, his voice more annoyed than anything, and nowhe’sthe one shakinghishead.
“Done with what?” I cross my arms, hating how he can make me feel…I don’t evenknowone minute and then like I want to smack him the next.
“You know your way back.” He points at the entrance to the secret tunnels, the place right next to the vent I’d once used to spy on him.
“Done with what, Ryjax?” I call after him, but he’s already walking away, his sword dangling by his side.
“You doubting yourself.”
And the way he says it…it’s as if he’smadat me, and then he’s gone.
Justgone.
My teeth grind.My fists tighten.
What thehelljust happened?
Chapter 21
Serafina
Dipping the tip of my quill into some ink, I continue transferring my notes into the journal Theo gifted me. It truly is a beautiful notebook—exquisite, really—with its soft exterior and firm pages.
I add in notes about what Jax had told me yesterdaybeforehe stormed off like a temperamentalchild.
I dig my nails into my palm, still feeling beyond pissed at both himandme. Him for being an overdramatic lunatic, and me for staring into his eyes a bit too long. For enjoying the feeling of him on top of me a bit too much. For…fuck. No.
I’mnot doing this.
I need to focus. What did he say to me when we were walking to the training room?
