If I had to guess, there was a day of working out ahead of me. Based on what I’d learned about him so far, Steele would be all too happy to kick my ass throughout it.Lucky me.
He let out a laugh that echoed through my room. “To me? It’s absolutely necessary,Princess.”
Of course it was.
Steele and I clashed like oil and water, but at this particular moment, his entire existence was grating on me like nails on a chalkboard.
I wasn’t sure if I was just grouchy from being woken up so early that there was barely any morning light streaming in the window, or if I was just already done with the way Steele treated me. Either way, my body surged forward to stand on my bed, ignoring the stiffness I still felt despite the salve helping the bruises fade away almost completely.
From this vantage point, I was taller than him, and with my hands on my hips, I did my best impersonation of his glare. We stood there for a moment, gazes locked, before I questioned, “How’s it feel to be looked down on, Steele?”
I hoped it made him feel just a tiny bit uncomfortable or inferior.
Before I could rattle off the list of insults parading around in my head, he shrugged nonchalantly and said, “About the same as it does when your feet are on the ground, Princess. It takes more than height and a bad attitude to intimidate someone.”
My fists curled at my side so hard that my nails began to dig into the soft part of my palms.
The way this man got under my skin was like nothing I’d ever experienced before. The urge to scream at him was building, but I pushed it down, knowing that’s exactly what he wanted. Hewantedto see how riled up he could get me. I just didn’t understand why—what did he gain from it? Besides enjoying being an asshole, of course.
“Oh really?” I questioned, leaning down until my face was inches above his. “I’m pretty sure that’s your whole fucking gimmick, don’t you think?”
A rumble spread through the air between us as his face twisted into a harsh scowl. I couldn’t help but smile in return. I’d won that round by keeping my cool.
I almost pulled back as he pushed his face forward to erase all distance between us, but I refused to retreat at the risk of looking scared of him. Our noses touched, and his breath fanned across my lips as he growled, “So is your entire gimmick acting like a damsel in distress and then getting yourself off like a creep outside someone’s door? Sounds like you really can’t be judging anyone with those…” He trailed off as he pulled back just enough to let his eyes sweep over me before he continued, “Issues.”
A damsel in distress?Absolutely not.I’d take his comment on the chin about getting off in front of Gabe’s door because I really didn’t care what he thought of that moment. It was supposed to be private, but I was the one who took it to a public space. That was on me. But to be called a damsel was insulting after the life I’d lived and the choices I’d made for myself to even be here in the Rebellion.
My blood boiled and heat crawled up my chest, through my neck, and onto my cheeks as I gritted out, “Get out of my room.”
Yeah, he’d won that round.
He shot me a lopsided grin as he took a step back. “It’s my house, Princess. You’re only here becauseIallow it. Remember that.”
There was that pesky detail I kept forgetting about because I viewed this as Gabe’s home as well.
“I’d be more than happy to find a different place to stay,” I countered, jumping from the bed and to the floor as he started for the door. “Think about how lonely you’ll be when Gabe is with me, though.” Maybe that was a low blow and unfair of meto put Gabe in the middle, but I wasn’t above Steele’s pettiness right now. I wanted to get even with him. “From what I’ve seen, you don’t have many friends, Steele. And staying in this big house alone?” My brows rose. “Yikes.That’s a little depressing to think about.”
His feet stilled, and I prepared myself for whatever he was going to throw back at me. However, he shocked me by simply saying, “Get dressed and grab the dagger. I’m bringing you to meet your new teacher this morning, and then we begin combat training after. If you want to prove you’re an asset to this community, take today seriously.”
I couldn’t tell if I’d struck a nerve or if he was just over our heated banter.
He left me standing in stupor from the whiplash of his energy and topic changes. I let out a heavy sigh, my body relaxing with his departure before making quick work of throwing on a pair of black leggings and the stretchy long sleeve shirt Steele had thrown at my face. After padding to the bathroom to do my quick morning routine, I stared at my reflection as I stood in front of the mirror. I wanted to see a woman determined to make today everything she dreamed of, but that wasn’t what reflected back at me.
The bags under my eyes weren’t awful, but I still looked tired. Leaning in closer, I noticed a few pimples popping up, my skin clearly not doing well with the climate here. I had nothing to do with my hair besides braiding it and putting it up, and there was no makeup to wear. Back home I would’ve at least been able to look a bit more put together, even if it was just a facade to help boost my confidence. With a sigh, I let my head hang for a moment as I turned on the faucet.
While I was excited by the prospect of meeting this new teacher and finding out where I could fit into the Rebellion, I’d be a liar if I didn’t acknowledge the way my chest squeezed. Allof the failed affinity tests back in Alfemir had conditioned me to think that there was no way there would be a good outcome if they decided to test me here too.
I didn’t want to be a failure here as well.
Sucking it up, I did the best I could to look presentable and ready for whatever would be thrown my way. Quickly snagging my bag from beneath the bed, I grabbed the dagger before jogging down the stairs. While the weapon was behaving and staying in my bag since we got here, I wasn’t sure if it was because it didn’t sense that someone was trying to take it from me or if we just didn’t have a connection anymore.
The second option left me feeling more crestfallen than I’d like to admit. The dagger had given me the idea that maybe therewassomething special about me.
“Let’s go,” Steele gruffly announced as soon as my feet touched the wood of the first floor. He rose from the couch and headed out the front, leaving the door open for me to follow behind him like a good little girl.
I didn’t see Gabe, which was unusual considering I was learning that he was a morning person, and I simply assumed Bastian was sleeping in after not sleeping well recently.
Ronan approached from the kitchen with a coffee in hand. “I made this for you, but it looks like you don’t have time for itorbreakfast.”
