Chapter 39
Thirty-nine
“Your upper body strength isn’t where it needs to be. It’s great that you’re comfortable with the daggers, but you need to wield any weapon. Practice with the swords today.” Orion instructs me as we walk to the training grounds.
“So bossy,” I mumble, stomping away towards my friends.
Merri, Lenny, Celeste, and Aria are standing near the rack of weapons. I search for Leo, finding him running the track with Atlas. I haven’t spoken to Atlas since that first training day. Now that I think about it…
“Does it seem like Atlas has been avoiding me?”
Merri laughs, the sound like twinkling stars. The others join her. I spun from where I was facing Leo to look at them all. “What? What am I missing?”
“You didn’t know?” Aria asks, her hand on her hip.
“Know what?” I exclaim, exasperated.
“Leo pulled Atlas aside after that first day and said some… things,” Merri whispers the last word. I swear, she’s an angel—so innocent and full of light.
Celeste nudges her. “The words will not bite you, Mer. He told Atlas, and I quote, to ‘stay the fuck away from you.’”
We weren’t even together yet. I’m pretty sure I still loathed Leo.
“He can’t do that!” They all laugh in unison again.
Mouth hanging open, my head turns from the group to the track and back.
Irritation and … is that satisfaction coursing through me?
Ugh, what is wrong with me? “Unbelievable, overbearing ass,” I mutter, moving to the weapons and grabbing a sword.
Oof, these things still feel heavy. “Len, my man, care to play?”
While the sword has more weight to it and my movements are slower, my overall progress is clear.
I’m able to swing the sword, thrusting and parrying.
The movement is nowhere near easy, but we all start somewhere.
Thanks to the healer, my shoulder is nothing but a dull ache, allowing me more motion than I would’ve had without their magic.
“Miles makes this look so easy,” Lenny grunts.
“I don’t think Miles is human.” Our swords cross, the movement vibrating down through my hands. “I can’t feel my arms; can we call it?”
“Please.” Lenny’s arms droop, dragging the sword to the ground.
I search the grounds, finding Orion standing with the other sponsors, arms crossed. I wave to him, signaling that I’m done for the day. He nods in confirmation and continues his conversation. I’m grateful he doesn’t plan on walking me back tonight, because I have some choice words for Leo.
I storm over to where Leo is already waiting, by the entrance to the grounds. “You look like an incoming storm.” His eyes sparkle mischievously.
“Did you tell Atlas not to talk to me?”
Leo crosses his arms, his forearms flexing distractingly. “Not in those exact words, no.”
“You can’t do that!”
“Already did, sweetheart.”
Fuming, I walk by, brushing his shoulder. He can walk back alone for all I care. My world flips upside down when Leo hauls me over his shoulder. I shriek in frustration, pounding on his back. “Leo!”
“You want to walk away from me? Don’t you know I’ll chase you?”
“You are a brute!”
“I’ll follow you across every planet, every galaxy. I’ll tell anyone who looks your way that you’re off limits. Because that’s what you are—fucking mine.” He growls, and my body immediately responds to his words, heat pooling deep in my core.
“Put me down!”
“No.”
I huff, defeated, allowing my body to dangle. Leo doesn’t put me down until we’re standing in his apartment. He slides me down his chest until my feet are planted, my head angled up to look him in the eyes. His eyebrows furrow as he places a hand on my thigh. “What’s this?”
I slowly slide my dagger out and lay the blade in his hands. “It was a gift from Orion.”
Anger flashes through his eyes, gone faster than lightning. I take it Leo’s still not a fan of Riri after the fire stunt. “And when did you start trusting him again?”
“When did you stop trusting me?” I bite back.
“I trust you. I don’t trust him.”
“We want the same things, Leo. He’s allowed to make mistakes, too.”
“I don’t like the way he looks at you. I swear, if he touches you—”
“You’ll what?” I point a finger towards his chest. “I don’t have time for the jealous boyfriend bullshit. I don’t need this.”
Leo snatches my finger, pulling me against his hard body. He slides my dagger onto the island and grips my chin tightly, pulling my eyes up to meet his. Our lips are a breath apart as he murmurs, “You underestimate how much I need you. I would destroy these worlds before I let anyone touch you.”
“Then how did Solene succeed?” I quip.
He shoots me a glare—I’m riding a fine line with him. Not wanting to push him over the edge, I put my hand on his chest. “You’re awfully possessive.”
His hand wraps around my wrist, a fierceness in his whiskey eyes. “Tell me you’re mine.”
I drag his hand with mine lower. “Or I could show you…”
“You’re impossible.” He nudges my nose with his.
“Impossibly yours,” I promise, sealing my pledge with a kiss.