“If Noah is correct, I think Steele’s power might be the only way to potentially save your life in the end.”
Of course she wouldn’t expand on that, saying that was Steele’s private information to disclose to me. Becauseof courseit was impossible for me to have all of the answers I needed at any point in time.
A bead of sweat trailed from my brow and into my eye, stinging slightly as I tried to rub it away. A frustrated huff puffed over my lips as I shook my head, feeling way too many eyes on me now that we were using the public training room. This was the same room we fell into when we took the portal from Alfemir and landed on our asses here. I thought this was what I wanted—to train with the others and feel like a real part of the Rebellion.But now that it seemed that everyone knew I was the Star Keeper the Rebellion had been searching for…what I wouldn’t give to go back to our little secluded bubble.
I wasn’t ready to accept my role in the prophecy yet, but I knew the time was fast approaching when I would have to decide to fully shoulder the responsibility or walk away and accept the consequences.
My eyes darted over the shifting muscles in Steele’s back, watching as he rammed his shoulder into his opponent’s stomach before using his long arms to sweep their legs out from under them at the same time. The woman stood no chance against him, and I almost felt bad for her as I heard her body thud against the mat. I knew the pain of that move intimately at this point. But then she smiled up at him, fluttering her lashes as he reached a hand down to help her up.
He’d never helped me up.
A monster born from jealousy reared its ugly head in my chest, fueling the rage I felt at his easy dismissal of my appearance this morning after, despite knowing damn well the exact prophecy Amelia was sharing with me. He knew just how hard that pill would be to swallow, and yet he didn’t seem concerned in the slightest, telling me to warm up as Gabe held me, rubbing soothing circles on my back.
If Steele really was the only way my life could be saved, I was fucking doomed.
My chest heaved as I pushed myself into an even faster pace, pumping my arms at my side as the hard turf sent reverberations up my legs with every footfall. I put my everything into focusing on the run, unsure of how many laps I’d done. The world fell away until it was just my heartbeat in my ears and my controlled breathing. In and out.
“Kieran!” Steele barked, snapping me out of the trance I’d fallen into. “That’s enough!”
I grunted and rolled my eyes, ignoring him. Now he suddenly cared about my well-being? No thanks.
When it was clear I wasn’t going to listen to him, he jogged over to me as I reached the loop nearest to him on the track. His hand clamped down on my wrist, dragging me to a stop despite my body trying to still propel me forward.
“Get your hands off of me,” I said quietly, seething as I ripped my wrist from his grip.
Fury slanted his brows and narrowed his eyes as he took a step closer to me until our chests were touching. His words were clearly meant for me alone as he whispered, “I saw how you reacted to Georgia flirting with me on the mat—how angry you looked. Are you mad that I don’t feel that way about you, Princess?”
Indignation sparked in my chest and I snarled, “Why would I ever want the attention of the guy who treats me like shit, despite knowing he is likely theonlyperson in the universe who can save my life?” I shoved a finger against his chest, my heart hammering with my much built-up anger. “How do you sleep at night knowing that my life hangs in your hands? Do you get off to that shit, knowing you might have all the control and power to determine if I live or die?”
His face went blank and his body rigid, looking like he’d locked down every emotion within him in an instant. Quick, short breaths pushed his chest closer to mine before pulling it away again as we stared at each other in tense silence.
“What did Amelia tell you?” he finally asked in a strained voice.
Oh, now he wanted answers from me? How the tables have turned.
I cocked a single brow. “I don’t have to tell you shit. You showed me that when you withheld your knowledge of the prophecy from me.”
He growled as his hand snapped up to grab my finger that was still jabbed against his chest. The warmth of his skin engulfed my hand as his grip tightened and his lip curled back. “Did she?—”
“Steele!” a feminine voice called out from behind him, effectively cutting him off. “Let’s go again!”
He glanced over his shoulder, voice low and gravelly as he snapped, “Not now, Georgia.”
I took his momentary distraction as a chance to take a small step back and pull my hand from his hold. I didn’t like the way my body burned under his touch, like electricity was sparking with each place that our skin came into contact.
His head swiveled back around to pin me with a glare, but Georgia whined, “Oh, come on! You’ve been training with her constantly.” I could practically picture her foot stomping like a toddler, despite Steele’s large frame blocking her from my view. “It’s not fair to the rest of us.”
My mind instantly converted that to: It’s not fair tome.
He sucked his bottom lip into his mouth, biting down as his eyes fluttered shut. I barely contained the laugh that wanted to pour out of me at the way she was grinding his gears right now. Instead, I settled for taking advantage of the perfect chance to shove his words back in his face. “Muzzle your plaything, Steele,” I practically purred, quietly enough that Georgia couldn’t hear me. The barb was for him,nother.
As soon as his eyes snapped open, I brushed past him with a smirk on my face. I eyed Georgia, who stood only a few feet away now. She was cute. My eyes ran over her tall, slender frame, and her stunning face, that was currently scowling at me. Somehow it did nothing to mar her striking beauty. Or maybe it was all just enhanced by her dark hair that was cut short, with the front pieces being the longest.
Our eyes clashed and I laughed as I passed by her. “Trust me, I don’t want him.”
Seriously, whoever ended up with him would need therapy to deal with his mood swings and bad attitude.
Her voice was icy as she snapped back, “Then stay the fuck away from him.”
