A weakness of the flesh had finally gotten its claws into me.
"Don't push me,god," Darin sneered. "Angel is with me tonight, and I will defend her right to choose that."
Moving beyond their energies crashing into mine, I somehow found my independence again. Lifting up on my toes, I slammed my head back, cracking into the underside of Reece’s chin. As soon as his hold loosened, I spun and pummeled my fists into either side of his chest, aiming for the most vulnerable spots on his body.
Reece had no choice but to pull his arms into his sides and protect himself because I might be smaller, but I was far from weak.
Darin stepped in closer again, hands up like he was about to help me. Shooting him a narrow-eyed glare, I snapped, “Stay back. I defend my own honor." With one last spin I turned my body to slam my knee into Reece's side, knocking him out of my way.
Fury beat at me as I stepped out from between them and walked away. "Now you two can kill each other," I called back.
Cursing those sexy-as-fuck, dangerous-as-fuck, and annoying-as-fuck desert males, I never looked back as I headed toward the exit.
This moon was supposed to be a new beginning, but as always, it was off to a rocky start.
22
Mera made a move to intercept me, but I waved her off needing a second to cool down. Reece, once again sticking his nose where it wasn't wanted, was ruining the slivers of happiness I’d been desperately trying to bring into my life. What reason could he have for interrupting my time with Darin? Was this the same shit he’d been doing with Len? Could his petty ass really expect me to live alone for the rest of my long life?
I should have stabbed him when I’d had the chance. The next time he tried to interfere, I’d call my blades and he would be bleeding from places that weren’t so easy to heal.
When I was halfway across the tented space, a swift wind rushed around me, grating over my exposed skin as the force swept me off my feet. It was such an unexpected attack that by the time I’d registered the hold, I was already shooting up hundreds of feet toward the peak of this giant tent.
Height and speed did not bother me or cause panic, and I already had my weapons in hand by the time I blasted out of a small slit in the apex of this structure. Fresh and surprisingly cool air hit me as I ended up in the now blue-tinged sky, half a mile above the Desertlandians who were reveling in the opening night festivities.
Breathing in deeply, I did not fight the hold. Ochre sands held me, and their fluidity was unaffected by my blades. I also didn’t want to shoot my power into it, as two opposing forces of energy could create an explosion, killing innocents below. It was best to find some patience and prepare for who or what had decided to fuck with me now.
By the time the sandstorm stopped its upward sweep, I was ready in my favorite fighting stance holding my favorite weapons—curved blades. This pair were light and agile, responding to my every command and giving me the ability to come in from multiple angles to wound and kill.
The sand that surrounded me wasn't thick enough to obscure my vision as it continued to hold me prisoner, and when no one immediately appeared, I started testing the limits of this barrier. Taking a step forward, the sands followed, and even as I sprinted across the sky, the barrier of sand never left. Using my wings, I attempted to take flight, surprised when I was released to do so, but of course, the moment I tried to head for land, I was caught and flung back up.
I’d only known one being who could control the deserts like this, especially against my power and skill, so there was no surprise when anasshole of a desert godrose up through the tent. Unlike me, he was surrounded by his red Rohami sand, but it didn’t matter since all sands obeyed his command.
"How dare you!" I snarled, racing as fast as I could, my wings sliding away because I didn't need them. "You have no right to remove my free will. Just because you’re stronger here in your homeland, don't think I won't draw on my power and test that theory."
I’d originally decided there were too many innocents below to use my power, but if Reece didn't release me soon, my priorities might change.
"We need to talk," he said shortly, remaining in a cloud of his sand, "before you make another mistake you'll regret."
If any statement was going to make me see red, it was that one. My speed increased, and when I was close enough for an attack, I returned my blades to the tent and threw myself forward. Hand to hand meant this would last longer.
Reece was going to feel the full brunt of my centuries-old fury toward him.
“You have taken too much from me already,” I raged, slamming a fist into his side and cracking ribs with the force. Reece’s jaw twitched, but he didn't move. He also didn't fight back. “I’ve had enough.”
Every hit and curse and rage I sent his way he absorbed and healed until I was the very definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. My attacks might be hurting him, but he was so powerful that the pain only lasted a few moments before it healed. If he didn’t fight back, I couldn’t use more lethal means, which meant… We were having this conversation.
Slowing my assault, I breathed heavily as I stared at him, deflated. "What do you want from me?"
He was a statue, the deep, midnight-blue light of the dark-moon just enough to showcase his godlike features. Staring at him as I was now, it was laughable to think that any other Desertlandian could ever come close to having the raw magnetism of Reece.
"Stay away from Darin."
Stepping into him, I shook my head. "You don’t get to dictate my social life."
His smile was a little feral, matching the light in his eyes. "Actually, Lale, that's exactly what I dictate. Until such a time as I say so, you do not touch, kiss, or fuck any Desertlandian."
As my body jolted, I wasn't fast enough to hide the shock on my face. “I will fuck whomever I want to," I managed to say, feeling the fire of our energies mingling in our close proximity. "You’re just going to have to accept that my happiness is no longer yours to control.”
