Lionel snapped his teeth together. “I’d rather watch her back than let you gamble with her life like it’s worth less than yours.”
Malakai’s eyes darkened. “Last time I checked, you’re all puppets that I do whatever I wish with, do you understand,soldier?”
Lionel tensed, but he lowered his gaze and straightened himself. “Yes…sir.”
“Boys, boys, careful. If you keep puffing your chests like that, someone might think you’re in love,” Nate sneered, from where he was rewrapping Mey’s arm, smirk playing on his lips.
“Huh?” Malakai turned, the mere sound giving away his rising bloodlust, as his eyes slid towards Nate, his stare almost freezing him into ice on the spot.
“Sorry, sir,” Nate corrected quickly. “I have no filter.”
Malakai’s attention returned to Lionel, lingering for a beat too long. Without warning, he pushed off the wall and closed the space between us.
I stiffened, fingers tightening around the rag I’d been using to clean my sword. He didn’t touch me at first, only leaned in close enough that the scent of ash, leather and steel clung to the back of my throat. Then, with precision, he brushed a loose strand of hair back from my face, not tender at all, it was full of mockery that screamed that I was a weakling.
“What are you doing?” I asked, carefully.
The touch was fleeting, nothing more than a soldier’s gloved fingers against my cheek, but it caused heat to crawl beneath my skin all the same. Because of the uncertainty he brought, the stillness before a storm, the understanding before a kill.
His eyes caught mine, steady and unreadable. For a breath too long, I couldn’t tell anything by his expression, if he was mocking me or simply putting me in place.
“Were you harmed, kitten?” His voice was sweet, as if talking to a lover.
He wasdefinitelymocking me.
“No,” I hissed, as I slapped his hand away from my face.
His gaze flicked past me, back to Lionel.
“Tell me, sniper. What if she doesn’t need a watchdog?” Malakai asked, his voice normal again, smooth and calm. It was Lionel he was testing this time…
Lionel’s fists clenched, his jaw tight enough to crack.
“Stop it,” I snapped, the rag crumpling in my fist.
Malakai tilted his head, grin sharpening, eyes sliding back to me.
“Make me,kitten,” he purred low, taunting, but softer than before.
My pulse jumped. The familiar insult twisted in his mouth, sounding different this time, dangerous in a way I didn’t want to name.
“Leave her out of this,” Lionel snapped, taking a step closer.
The Lieutenant didn’t move, his smirk only deepened, as though the weight between the three of us amused him. The tension snapped taut, heat pricking my skin.
“Well, if we’re taking volunteers, I suppose I can throw my hat in too.” Nate raised his voice, cracking through the tension with his teasing voice. “What do you say, honey? Fancy a man with a sense of humor instead of these two brooding statues?”
I groaned, scrubbing a hand over my face. Ashley let out a bark of laughter, nearly dropping the bomb she was polishing.
“Careful, Nate. You’re liable to lose an arm in that fight,” Ashley snickered.
Eve glared at them, crossing her arms. Mey hid inside of her hands, ashamed of her own brother.
The mood broke, but tension still hung in the air. Malakai took a step backwards and leaned against the wall, smug but silent. Lionel shook his head, muttering something sharp under his breath.
And me?
I wanted to disappear.
