I twist abruptly, yanking my arm back to shove againsthis chest with everything I have. It’s in no way enough to knock him down, but it’s something.
“Don’t touch me!” I shout, panic racing through my voice as I lunge past him toward the far end of the hallway.
Dante lunges for me as I bolt past him, but of course he misses on purpose, selling the chaos.
Finnic swears under his breath and takes off after me himself.
I push myself harder, legs burning as I run the length of the warehouse, desperate to see how far he’ll chase me. How badly he’ll want to drag me back to that stuffy room.
A smile makes its way onto my face as I continue to sprint away from him. As much as I hate running, it is pretty funny doing this to someone who thinks I am actually trying to get away.
He is in the fight of his life while I am just having fun as if we are playing tag.
Before I get close to the exit door, hands clamp around my waist from behind, locking tight and halting me from going anywhere else. I flail around, doing my best to make him struggle with his grip.
“Stop!” he shouts. “You’re going to hurt yourself if you keep freaking out like that.”
I thrash violently, breaths coming out ragged as his grip tightens. He then turns, moving to guide me back toward the room.
I feel childish as he carries me in air-jail back into thehallway. I feel similar to a child who wasn’t able to get a toy from the store, kicking and screaming the whole way out.
Good for Finnic though. He gains a loyalty point just by doing this one thing.
I need to make it a little tougher for him though.
I clutch his arms, digging my nails into his skin deep enough to draw blood.
“Let me go!” I scream, fighting like someone with nothing left to lose.
My foot comes down hard on the top of his toes. I’d used that once or twice in the past on Dante during sparring and he’d always let go once I did.
“Damn it-”
His hold shifts, but surprisingly becomes much firmer. His arms cinch around me, containing any fight I try and throw his way.
My back presses to his chest as he hauls me along.
“Easy,” he whispers near my ear. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
His breath tickles my ear causing a giggle to slip from my lips. “I’ve heard that shit before.”
My elbow drives back into his ribs. He grunts, grip loosening just enough to give me room for one more move.
I lunge forward and sink my teeth into his forearm, biting down hard enough that blood floods into my mouth as my canines break his skin. Luckily, his sleeves had rolled up at some point. Probably from me thrashing around.
He snarls and shoves me away with force, straight into Dante’s waiting arms.
I barely have time to register the gasp that tears from my own throat before something sharp pierces my upper arm.
A genuine shriek escapes me as I look down to see a needle in my skin before it’s being withdrawn.
The strength drains from my limbs almost instantly, the fight leaking out of me like water through cracked glass. My head drops forward causing my brown hair to spill over my face.
“Please,” I whisper faintly, hoping Finnic will hear my pleas.
Chapter Six
Dante
