“Hm, time, yeah,” Ena said, her mood becoming surly.
“Do you want to stop?” Ty asked. He didn’t want her becoming too cranky. That wasn’t the point.
“No, let’s go again,” Ena said, getting back in her stance. “I want to.”
“Okay,” he said. “Try and surprise me this time.”
Ena paused for a second, as if contemplating her move. Then, quick as a snake, she struck out with her right hand, going for his throat as he heard her whisper.
{Ignis}
The darkrock lantern on the wall a few feet away exploded with fire. It startled Ty, who leapt back from the flames, right to where Ena had her dagger waiting, pointing directly at his balls.
He looked down slowly at it, feeling it before he saw it, then up at the feral grin on her face.
“Surprising enough for you?” she asked, feigning innocence, but he could tell she was incredibly proud of herself.
Ty felt an answering wolfish grin spread across his face. “There’s my viper,” he said.
Ena laughed as she pulled her knife back, looking far too pleased with herself. Maybe he should punish her later anyway…
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of heavy footsteps coming down the passageway outside of the fighting ring, and he tensed.
He felt Ena turn towards the sound and take a step backwards into Ty as the door opened.
She was right to be cautious as Gunnar and Chans, two of Cole’s currently favored upper-level daemons, entered the room.
Ty looked to Turner and saw concern written on his cousin’s face. This was about to be fucking annoying.
“Ty,” Gunnar said, his grin displaying several of his missing teeth. The man was about a decade Ty’s senior and had always been an asshole as long as Ty could remember. The last several years, he’d been rising in the ranks. Cole frequently chose him for missions because of his Power—the ability to incite panic, ormetus, was obviously useful for serving Iblis. “Good to see you again,” the man said, rubbing a hand through his closely cropped brown hair.
“Gunnar,” Ty said simply, not bothering to hide his annoyance with the man’s presence.
“We just came to train a bit, if you don’t mind sharing the space,” he said, his eyes darting to Ena.
Ty fucking hated it and had to physically stop himself from lashing out at the man. “We were just finishing actually,” he said calmly. “The space is all yours.”
“Shame,” Gunnar said darkly. “I would have loved to play with your witch-slave a little bit. That is, if you’re willing to share her?”
His companion, Chans, snickered next to him, eyeing Ena in a murderous way.
Ty felt rage boil up inside him. It yearned to escape, to break upon Gunnar for the mere suggestion that he share. He’dsharedher for the last nine fucking years and he was absolutely done with that shit. She was his, and he’d never share her again with anyone if he had his way, let alone these absolute dickbags.
“Not in the mood for sharing,” he managed to grit out. He had to keep his cool. He couldn’t let them know how strongly he felt for Ena. They would almost certainly relay that information to Cole, and that would only spell trouble for her.
“Are you sure?” Gunnar asked, moving closer to Ena and pulling a dagger from the sheath on his waist. “I’m sure we’d all appreciate the chance to make the witch scream.” His eyes filled with malice as he dragged it down Ena’s jawline—not hard enough to make her bleed, but Ty saw her flinch back a bit in confusion and fear.
Ty whipped out, grasping Gunnar’s wrist before his dagger could complete its perusal of Ena’s jaw. “Don’t worry, Gunnar,” he said, feigning nonchalance and taking a step closer to the man so he stood between him and Ena. “I’m making her scream enough for the both of us.”
Gunnar looked at him and grinned, his crooked nose spreading out as he did. “If you say so,” he said, his dark eyes staring lecherously at Ena, filled with both hatred for her kind and lust for her beauty.
Gunnar turned away, heading for the wall of weapons, but Chans lingered.
“Filthy witch,” he said, spitting on the floor at Ena’s feet.
Ty snapped, and he knew there was now no fucking way they were leaving this room without blood on them. “You know what,” he said, much too calm. “I changed my mind. I will share her with you two…if you can beat me.”
Gunnar turned around where he stood at the weapons wall. “You want to spar with me and Chans?” he said, looking pleased.
