My feet came to a stop just past her, and I glanced over my shoulder at her, not appreciating the threat in her tone. “Or what?” I questioned, in a deadpan tone.
Part of me wanted to believe that I asked her the question simply because I wasn’t going to let anyone bully me, but deep down, I could feel that pang of the jealous monster within me rearing its head once more. A feral urge to prove that he wanted me bubbled up within me, and I hated it.
I felt Steele’s gaze burning into the side of my face, yet I ignored him as Georgia graced me with a fake smile. “Trust me, Sweetie, you’re not his type. I’d know. Don’t waste your time.”
It was a not-so-subtle dig at all of the differences between us, while implying she’d warmed his bed before.
A petite woman who I would guess was around my age appeared suddenly, jogging up and linking her arm through mine before grinning at Georgia. “If that’s the case, then why are you so intimidated by her, Georgia? If you have to chase a man, he’s probably not yours,Sweetie.”
The way she laid the saccharine, sweet thickness on with the last word pulled a genuine smirk to my lips. I stared at the woman at my side, taking in her full, pink lips and bright, blue eyes that contrasted beautifully against her tanned skin and dark curls. I didn’t know who she was, but she was my favorite person at that moment.
Before I had a chance to get to know my new ally, Steele stormed up and grabbed my arm, tugging me away from her andGeorgia, who was absolutely staring daggers at me. “We are not done with our conversation. You’re coming with me, now.”
While it was on the tip of my tongue to tell him to stop manhandling me, if this conversation meant I could get the answers Amelia wasn’t willing to tell me, perhaps it was for the best that it happened. I wasn’t sure if it would actually be a productive conversation, seeing as Steele and I were clearly back to nipping at each other with every word, but I supposed we were about to find out.
He let go of my arm after glancing down at me and realizing I wasn’t fighting him anymore. As we passed Ronan, Gabe, and Bastian, who were hitting the gym equipment near the entrance, I waved off their concerned looks. “I’ll be fine,” I mouthed.
Steele navigated us back to the private training room just off of the side of the main building that we sometimes used. He didn’t bother holding the door open for me after he passed through, and I shook my head at his lack of manners. The cool air blowing in here felt like heaven to my sweaty skin, and I let myself bask in the silence of the empty room as I followed him in.
We didn’t stop until we were on the sparring mat. He turned to face me, holding his hands out. “Clearly you’re pissed at me and don’t want to talk, so let’s get some of that anger out. Come at me.”
I pursed my lips and crossed my arms, keeping my tone bland as I responded, “Fighting you isn’t going to fix anything, Steele. Answers will.”
His eyes ran the length of me, and the brief flash of heat I saw in them took me off guard, making me an easy target as he suddenly lunged for me. It was a move meant to trap me against his chest as he held my arms, making it hard to break out of. Thankfully my body was beginning to respond more naturally tothese moves, and I dropped to the ground quickly before kicking out at his feet.
While he was a hell of a lot bigger and stronger than me, I was much faster.
He jumped back, dodging my kick with a smirk on his face. “Not bad.”
The words grated my mind and I hissed, “I don’t want your fucking approval. I want to finish our conversation, like I assumed you dragged me in here to do.”
He straightened to his full height as he crossed his arms against his chest. I pushed to standing but kept a slight bend in my knees so I could be prepared to move easily.
“You sounded jealous back there, Princess,” he tossed out as he began to circle me.
I kept my eyes on him as he prowled, refusing to give him my back at any point. “You sound obsessed with knowing how I feel about you,” I quipped back as my heart rate rose.
The sudden intensity with which he stared at me made the room feel ten times smaller, and the fact that we were completely alone became glaringly obvious to my mind.
His voice deepened as he asked, “And what if I am?”
My jaw dropped openly slightly as I blinked repeatedly, unsure if I’d heard him correctly. This time when he lunged at me, I wasn’t prepared at all. He easily tackled me to the ground and my back smacked against the mat. I lost my breath for a moment from the impact, and when I finally refocused, I felt his body pressing firmly on top of mine, trapping me here.
His forearms were pressed against the ground on either side of my head as he stared down at me, just inches away from me. “I taught you better than that. Are you going to make it so easy for your enemies? I promise when they get word of who you are, the might in which Alfemir will take swift action will make your head spin.”
I let out a chuckle, “Be careful, it almost sounds like what happens to me matters to you.”
My words might have sounded controlled and flippant, but inside I was a mess. I had no doubt he could feel the insane pounding of my heart against his chest, but I refused to let himseethat he was actually having an affect on me. That was the last thing his ego, or I, needed.
His bright silver eyes narrowed on me, avoiding the bait in my words. “Tell me what Amelia said.”
I refused to be the first to cave, still stinging from the confirmation that he’d known the prophecy and what my affinity was, but kept his lips sealed. “Tell me what your dead affinity is,” I countered, hating the way my eyes dropped to his lips for just a second.
While he ground my gears like no one else I’d met before, I’d be a liar if I said our quips and banter didn’t create some insane tension between us. The intensity of it had never been so evident to me as it was in this moment with the way it had built up within me, creeping up on me silently.
He didn’t answer, and our breathing mingled for what felt like an eternity as he stared down at me. I was becoming acutely aware of his hardness and length pressed against my lower abdomen, confirming I wasn’t the only one feeling the building of whatever…thiswas between us.
“I’m a Rune Maker.”
