She huffed a laugh. “Which part, General? You didn’t intend to throw the force of the bond at me so I wouldn’t stab you? Or you didn’t intend to take down your walls and realize your mistake too late?” The hellion stepped closer. “I know cordistellas can’t physically harm each other. It wasn’t a lesson I needed to learn. But I was curious to see if your block changed things.” She lifted her chin. “It does.”
There was so much meaning behind those two words that I considered lightening my block to understand what she was feeling. But I couldn’t. I just fucking couldn’t.
MJ stepped between me and the hellion’s heated glare. “Let’s focus on one bond at a time.” She ushered the hellion over to where the pet stood awkwardly.
Alexei groaned. “I should have a say in what we drill next. This was my date.”
“Aww, poor Bowel babe not getting what he wants?” MJ mocked. “I’m sure one of your countless females would be happy to stroke your ego and provide your binky back at the castle.”
Lightning slammed between her feet, forcing her to jerk back.
“Careful, MJ. Wouldn’t want you to lose your ability to stomp on kittens.”
Challenge and excitement glinted across MJ’s face. “As much as I’d love to slow-roast you, you’ve already injured one appendage. It’d only be cruel of me to injure another.”
The clouds darkened from a glum white to a tumultuous gray, thunder rumbling overhead.
“Alexei,” I warned. “I’m not in the mood to get rained on.”
“So hide under a tree.”
Sighing, I kicked his knees and shoved him. He crashed onto his stomach with an oomph, the hard-packed snow barely cushioning him. Then Rune sat on him for good measure.
MJ and the hellion snickered while I held back a smile.
Alexei worked his jaw, half-heartedly glaring between Rune and me. “Rude.”
“They enjoyed it.”
“Traitors,” he mumbled, trying to push Rune off him.
Isnapped my fingers, and she finally moved, but not before lining his face in slobber.
Alexei’s expression was more than sour when he stood. He aggressively swiped at his face. “Fine. Explain the purpose of this training.”
MJ raised a brow. “Isn’t it obvious? We have limited knowledge about the guardian bond. We need to see how it works with them, and how they’ll behave in certain situations.”
“Well, it seems the guardian bond has the same murderous praesidium trigger as the cordistella bond.”
“Seems so.” I stared at the pet, who watched the hellion with a defeated expression.
Lucille shook her head. “Except I never went through with hurting you, Alexei. But if Ronen hadn’t been here…”
Guilt weighed down her trailing words. She would’ve tried to kill MJ.
The pet bowed his head. The sight pleased me. He had a lot to feel guilty for, and I hoped it brought him to his knees every night.
“We would’ve had some fun,” MJ said in a playful tone, unbothered. “But we’ll note Ronen helps the?—”
“GBPC,” Alexei interrupted. “Guardian bond praesidium craze.”
MJ shook her head. “Sure.”
“How do you want to proceed, MJ?” I asked.
MJ’s gaze flicked between me and the hellion. “We’ll fight—three versus two. You’ll be with Aspen and Lucille. And Rune can play spectator.”
Alexei bounced lightly on the balls of his feet. “Rules?”
