“Fine.”
He narrows his eyes warily.
“What?” I throw my hands in the air. “Would you rather I sassed you?”
He takes a step forward. “I can deal with the sass, but nonconfrontational is a new look for you. Screw me if I’m suspicious.”
Can’t fault his reasoning. “Contrary to popular belief, I don’t enjoy fighting with you.”
He raises a brow, and my lips twitch. “Well, not all the time,” I acquiesce. “I’d like to have a civil conversation about the training facility on the drive there,” I admit. “I want to be prepared.”
“Why do you think I suggested we ride alone?”
“Because you’re a jealous, possessive Neanderthal and you want to monopolize my time?”
“Don’t flatter yourself, sweetheart.” He throws my bag in the trunk alongside his, before pushing his chest into mine. “Don’t confuse my desire to fuck you for anything else.”
He’s so full of shit. We both know it’s more than that. His previous actions and words already prove it, but I’m not about to get into it with him.
“It’s not me who’s confused,” I retort, pointing at Caz and Theo as they exit the barn. “Have a word with your buddies.”
Galen appears in the doorway, and from the grimace on his face, it’s clear he’s still in agony and still rolling in self-pity.
“And keep that fucking asshole away from me,” I add, turning on my heel and jogging to the passenger door.
“What do you want to know?” Saint asks after we’ve driven a few miles in stony silence.
“What can I expect from the skills test today?”
“They built the facility in the middle of Mantiss Forest and—”
“The Sainthood sure is obsessed with forests,” I interject.
“It’s ideal burial ground,” Saint replies, glancing at me as he steers the Land Rover out onto the highway. “Perfect for disposing of enemies and annoying girls who interrupt people midsentence.”
“I thought you loved my sass.” I kick my booted feet up on the dash.
“I never said that, and get your feet down. Your boots are muddy.” He swats at my legs, and the car swerves on the road.
“Do you have OCD?” I unlace my boots and kick them off. Planting my sock-clad feet back up on the dash, I smile mockingly at him.
“This is the first new car I’ve ever had. Sue me if I want to keep it clean.”
Shock splays across my face. “Why didn’t Sinner buy you a new car when you got your license? It’s not like he’s short on cash.”
A sneer appears on his face. “He offered, but everything he does comes at a price. I wanted to buy it myself so I owed him nothing. So it wasn’t tainted by that evil piece of shit.”
I stare at him, momentarily speechless at his honesty and hurting for him. What must it have been like to grow up with a parent who showed you no love and always expected something from you?“So, um, Mantiss Forest,” I mumble, needing to redirect the conversation to safer topics, because Saint has just opened himself to me, and I’m feeling far too much. I can’t let emotion affect me because it screws with my head.
“The training facility has this massive assault course on the grounds of the forest, and that is where your skills test will take place.”
“What’s involved?”
“Water crossing, zip lines, tunnels, rope swings, high walls, balance beams, etcetera.”
“That’s doable.”
“It’s testing your strength, stamina, and agility mostly. After that, you’ll enter the maze. It’s a simulated war zone, and it’ll test your combat skills against the other trainees. Then, there’s the shooting range test.” His lips kick up. “We know you’ll ace that one and the knife throwing test.”
