My breath snagged in my ribs as his eyes met mine, and he smirked.
Cocky asshole.
He knewexactlywhat he was doing. Just because I was livid with him, didn’t mean that the sight of him shirtless suddenly stopped turning me on.
Sebastian stopped a foot or so away from Kade, squaring his chest. “Sawyer’s coming. That's not up for discussion.”
Kade straightened his own posture. He nearly matched Sebastian's height, though lacked an inch or two. “He just outright announced how he would be a liability. We already have one of those coming with us.” His golden glare scanned towards me in a demeaning manner.
Sebastian released a life-threatening scoff, his jaw cracking in sync with his disbelief. “You surely did not just refer to Maeve as a liability? Tell me that I misheard you.”
“You heard me correctly,” Kade managed to emphasize while still using a tone of nonchalance. He aimed an open palm at me. “Look at her. Her body is still broken, and she holds power that she can’t possibly contain no matter what she claims. That screamsliabilityto me.”
“I can turn you into a liability if you don't shut your damn mouth,” Sebastian growled, clenching his fists by his sides.
“Would love to see it, Hawthorne.”
“You wouldn't. Trust me.” Sebastian moved forward, putting himself in Kade’s face.
“Fuck, just kiss already. This tension iskillingme.” Sawyer closed his eyes and imitated a wet smooching noise.
A laugh managed to fall from my lips despite the hand I swiftly used to conceal my mouth.
In response to my non-so-discreet cackle, Kade’s undeviating attention settled upon me.
He stepped toward me, his long strides eating up the space between us much too quickly. To my surprise, he outstretched his hand. “I haven’t formally introduced myself. Kade Lyrise. Pleasure to meet you.”
Just to piss Sebastian off, I rose and accepted Kade’s gesture, my finger grazing the ruby along his knuckles as I shook. “Maeve Willawood, the liability.”
Kade’s teeth shone white with his smile. “Sense of humor. I like it.”
“Fire wielder,” I noted, nodding towards the rock that held his power. “Seems fitting. We haven't spoken much, but you seem to have what I would call aninflamedego.”
While my smile broadened, his faded to black.
Kade dropped my hand and pivoted on the heel of his boot to readdress Sebastian. “Meet me at the stables tomorrow morning. I’ll show you our strongest horses and we can discuss who comes to Draemor.”
Without waiting for a response, Kade silently stomped out of the room.
Sebastian teased a hand through his dark locks. “I don’t like that guy,” he spat, dropping to the sofa where I had been sitting, likely in hopes that I would join him.
I didn’t.
“Jealous?” Pia chimed, a teasing smirk fighting its way onto her face.
“Why the fuck would I be jealous?” Sebastian growled.
“Because he’s kinda hot and his balls are definitely bigger than yours,” Sawyer mocked, not even trying to hide his smirk.
“Do you likeyourballs, Sawyer?” Sebastian pulled his shirt back over his head, covering up my enticing view. “Because all it will take is one swift flick of a blade to shut you up.”
“Tough crowd.” Sawyer produced a disgusted grimace and folded his hands over his manhood.
Sebastian’s sight settled on me as I took a chair on the other side of the room, banging my knee against the armrest as I sat. Biting my lip to suppress the curse forming on my tongue, Irecoiled in pain, Kade’s reminder of my broken body proving to be accurate.
Gods fucking damnit.
If I was going to make this journey to Draemor, I actually needed to take care of myself. Which meant resting so I could finish healing. Although I had plans for the evening—plans that were the opposite of medicinal. But what would one hour of training hurt? I’d take it easy afterward.
