He sidestepped, left and right, smoothly evading me. His eyes were locked on mine, as if he was able to predict every movement. An opening came and I went for it, almost connecting with his jaw, but he grabbed my wrist before it was able to.
“First failure,” Malakai noted, looking utterly disappointed.
I glared at him, before realizing how close he was. My eyes flickered to his hand holding my wrist firmly, before I met his gaze again, as he cocked a curious brow at me. He was a demon, but he looked like any man…
I placed my free hand on his chest and his brows furrowed. Slowly, I let my fingers glide along his shirt in a lazy circle, before traveling upward.
“Unexpected,” he noted, watching like a hawk.
I jerked suddenly, my hand clenched around his throat, trying to squeeze, but he spun around, keeping his grip on my wrist as he pulled my arm to my back and pressed to lock me down.
“However, not very original,” he chuckled dryly, his free hand appearing around my throat pulling me back against his chest. “That was your second failure.”
I snarled angrily at him, apparently he wasn’t foolish enough to fall for such cheesy tricks.
Without a warning he released both his hands, and I fell to the ground with a thud.
“Try to not be too predictable, kitten.”
I was fuming, but I burned with determination to prove to him that I was stronger than he cared to admit.
A few hours later I surprised him when he stopped to drink some water, trying to tackle him from behind. He didn’t move an inch. “Third fail.”
No matter. I’d just keep trying.
I made another move the next day, surprising us both as I had somehow managed to swing a flame-whip at his leg, ensnaring him. I looked confused at the burning rope before he simply grabbed hold of it and tugged until I fell flat on my stomach and the fires died out.
He sneered at me, and he didn’t even have to say anything out loud for me to know what he was thinking; fourth fail.
We found a little creek, and we stopped to refill our water pouches. I looked over at him, he was hunched down, his fingers dipping into the water as if enjoying the cool touch.
My eyes slid to his shoulder imagining fire erupting.
Nothing.
Shit, this was complicated…
I felt myself growing restless, annoyed, and suddenly a flame sparked on his leather jacket. His head turned and his hand tapped against the flames, choking them out, before he glared at me.
I stuck my tongue out at him, before another small fire lit up on his kneecap. He brushed it away just as easily.
“Are you even trying?” he taunted, tilting his head at me.
“Sorry,” I muttered, mostly because I was embarrassed by my sad attempts.
The next morning, Ihadhim. Malakai had dozed off against a trunk, forcing me to sleep next to him, blaming it on the cold, but I didn’t mind because now I had the upper hand.
Slowly, I turned, placing myself on my hands and knees. His arms were crossed over his abdomen, his head slightly tilted towards his shoulder. If I hadn’t known better, I would’ve mistaken him for being peaceful. My hand reached and began searching, carefully, his shirt pocket; empty.
Nothing tied to his belt, no pouches besides the one with water in it. I glanced down at his pants, it felt indecent to even try searching them, and perhaps a bit too obvious. Besides, what if he woke up and I was rummaging through his pants? I’d never survive the shame.
“Are you enjoying the view?” Malakai asked lazily.
My eyes shot up to his and he peeked at me.
“No!” I hissed, before quickly placing my arm on his throat, pressing it against the trunk. “Tell me where the wooden piece is.”
“Go ahead—search. Don’t let me get in your way,” he smirked, not the slightest distressed by my threat.
