“Don’t be a dick, Zeph,” Ella cut in, stepping up to my side. “We were just about to start. And we don’t need to be managed.”
“That remains to be seen,” he replied, his eyes still holding mine. “Go on then, pixie flower. Show me what you can do. I’m waiting.”
“Do you think it’s wise to goad the chick who almost killed me two days ago?” Ella asked, folding her arms. “No offense, Aflora.”
“She’s fine. She’s wearing the new and improved choker, right?” He seemed to see right through me, his green irises gleaming knowingly.
“Right,” I said, swallowing. “I’ll be fine.”
“Then stop stalling and give me a show, pixie flower.”
Heat crept up my neck at his words and the tone with which he uttered them. Hard, demanding, and inflexible. Three words that absolutely described Zephyrus.
With a resolute nod, I faced Ella and caught Kols and Shade standing beside Tray, observing the entire exchange.
Great. So I would be giving them all a show.
“Just kick my ass and get it over with,” I muttered to Ella as we entered the circle drawn on the mats.
She gaped at me. “Did you just curse?”
“I know how to curse,” I said, falling into what I hoped resembled a fighting stance. I’d watched a few Powerless Champion duels in the Elemental Fae kingdom. I knew what to expect. I just hadn’t enrolled in any of the Academy courses, preferring solo athletics to combat sports.
“I’m small, but I’m fast,” Ella warned me.
“Good, then this will be over quickly.” Because I had no idea what I was doing and I refused to hurt her like last time.
It was a miracle she forgave me so quickly. Actually, it made me question her intelligence. But she claimed to like me and said we had a lot more in common than I realized. Not wanting to deny a gift of friendship, I let the lack of common sense slide. After all, it was in my favor.
Her fist flew at my face, causing me to jump backward on instinct. She followed up with a punch toward my middle, which I avoided by spinning out of her reach. “That’s how we’re going to do this?” I breathed, dodging another fist.
“You said to get this over with quickly. Stand still and I’ll grant your wish,” she panted, kicking out this time.
“Why the hell would people want to take a course on violence?” I demanded, glancing at Zephyrus. “What purpose does this”—I ducked again, narrowly missing Ella’s elbow—“serve?”
“It’s physical exercise that also enables you to protect yourself in untoward situations.” Zephyrus’s arm snaked around my waist as he hauled me backward into his hard body.
“What kind of ‘untoward situations’?” I spun and found my wrists caught in one of his hands before I could even consider my next move.
“Midnight Fae frequent the Human Realm regularly.” He started backing me up off the mat.
“And there are situations there that require combat?” I asked while trying to find Ella over his shoulder. He thwarted my attempt to seek her intervention by speeding up his pace and practically shoving me backward with his grasp.
There had to be a way out of his hold, which I suspected was the lesson here, but my body seemed to obey him on impulse despite my brain’s commands to the contrary.
“Many dangers exist in the Human Realm, Aflora,” he murmured as my back met a wall. He pinned my hands over my head, his opposite hand going to my throat. “Weren’t you recently captured and overpowered in the Human Realm?”
“By a Midnight Fae,” I replied, glaring up at him. “Not a human.”
“Hmm, but had you known how to properly defend yourself, maybe you wouldn’t be here now,” he said quietly, his grip tightening around my throat. “Even now, you’re helpless with no idea how to fight me. I can feel your capitulation with every swallow. I own you right now, and there isn’t a damn thing you can do about it.”
The words were soft, his gaze burning into mine.
Everything seemed to fade away around us, the moment stretching as he held me captive in a decidedly in
ferior position. It should have infuriated me. Instead, it heated my blood, and not in a combat sort of way. Even if I could fight him—which I absolutely couldn’t—I wouldn’t. Because I liked him overpowering me.
The realization swept over me, causing me to melt beneath his hold.