“We—”
Matt clamped a hand on his shoulder and turned toward me without any particular hurry.
He was Dusty’s antithesis—the light to his dark. Not just in skin tone and hair, but in the remorse lingering in Dusty’s eyes compared to Matt’s unflinching arrogance.
“We figured it would be best to work together since we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. We can push each other.”
“That’s great. But I disagree. More importantly, I gave you an order.”
He smiled and lifted one shoulder as if he were trying to be cute.
“I guess we have a difference in opinions.”
Opinions?
“Go switch with Valarus.” My nails dug into my fists as I held back my twitchy Infernus.
A full night of free rein in the fireplace, and now it was demanding more. It could feel my desire to unleash it. One pull. One tug, and Matt could be begging for his life on the spit-and-blood-coated sand.
Arrows flashed through my periphery, thunking into targets. Swords shinged and clashed behind me. Boots shuffled, skin slapped, and squad leaders shouted orders.
We stood in the arena’s cacophony, tension tightening with each second Matt refused to move.
“It’s fine?—”
Matt’s hand dug into Dusty’s shoulder as he grinned at me.
He reminded me of Moira, except he hid his vileness behind pleasantries and manipulation.
I stepped toward him, mirroring his fake grin.
“Careful, Matt.”
“Of what?” He laughed, throwing his hands up.
Pressure built behind my eyes as my Infernus hovered just beneath the surface.
Without a second of doubt, I shot out my hand and gripped Matt’s neck. His nostrils flared, and the ground vibrated.
I leaned close, tilting my face toward his ear, then let my chilling Infernus bleed into my palm.
“Of me,” I whispered.
The shaking ground stopped, but I believed it was more from suspicion than fear. Matt never dropped his arrogant grin; he only narrowed his eyes.
“Dusty, switch with Zera,” he ordered.
Dusty eyed me warily before heading toward the archery range.
Mischief hooked one side of Matt’s lips, twisting them into a taunting smirk. He knew what he was doing. He gave me what I wanted, but in a roundabout way that let him keep all the power.
Ice crackled in my ears along with the other songs of my Infernus.
Matt pressed into my hand, and I ached to wrap his neck in ice.
But I refused to be baited by him.
Valarus walked over with a scowl, and I dropped my hand from Matt’s neck.
