Page 63 of An Empress of Air & Chaos

Bullseye. He had just hit a nerve. “Maybe Emara would like to wear my towel sometime.”

Gideon’s jaw ticked again. It was too easy.

“Don’t you dare speak about her like that. She’s not just some plaything that has turned up on your doorstep for you to toy with. Leave her out of your games, Torin.”

Torin thought over the silent threat that was lined in Gideon’s words and revelled in the thrill that it gave him. It also staggered him to see his brother so bothered by a female. But the fact remained that Gideon was telling him not to do something…

Torin would do what he wanted, when he wanted, and no one would tell him otherwise. In fact, if he were told not to, he would. He had always been twisted that way. It was a curse. At times he wished he could change it. But after years of fighting it, he decided to embrace the rebellious streak that lived in his soul. Unless it was an order from the commander, of course.

But even then, it was hard for the rebel in him, not to make an appearance every now and then.

“I think Emara Clearwater is more than capable of making decisions in how she handles herself.” Torin threw a wild smile towards Gideon and his face turned red with rage.

Another bullseye.

“It’s a shame you weren’t on the dancefloor last night, actually. Good dancer! She knows how to move her body.”

Torin knew from the Goddamn minute Gideon had saved Emara from Mossgrave that he would be besotted by her beauty. Torin found it oddly irritating that he had made it so obvious, too. His brother was entirely predictable.

Save the girl, fall in love, have little hunter babies, and live happily ever after, carrying on the Blacksteel legacy.

If the prime allowed it.

Even the thought of that life made him want to shoot rum through his eyeball and taste a thousand different kisses.

Being the first-born Blacksteel, it was inevitable that he would have to settle down in a marriage soon. A marriage that would be without love and warmth, but of course, he would do it for what it could provide for his clan. It would be a marriage ceremony that could make alliances in foreign territories stronger. Not a marriage of love, but a business deal.

The thought of it made him feel like the sky was slowly closing in on him, crushing down on his chest, his head dizzying. The thought of marrying a woman he barely knew chipped away at a little part of his soul every time he thought about it. So, he would have fun whilst he could.

A lot of fun!

Gideon’s voice brought him back to the matter at hand. “You didn’t tell me that you had danced with her.”

“In all honesty, I had forgotten about that part,” he lied. He certainly had not forgotten the way she had moved, or her bright smile as she let her body relax. Her hair as she let it flow in abundance around her…

“Convenient.”

“I also forgot to mention that I almost kissed her. And I—”

Torin was cut short as a fist crashed into his face so hard, he had to blink twice to make sure it happened.

Yup. It had happened. The pain shot into his jaw and up his cheek. He wiped his mouth to make sure there wasn’t blood, because if there was, – Gideon better be on the move, running from this room. Fast!

“I am telling you right now, don’t even think about going near her. She’s not like the girls you go for,” Gideon spat. “She’s different,” he spoke through his teeth. “She’s been through a lot and doesn’t deserve to be pulled into another one of your flings.”

Oh, she’s different, alright. But Torin wasn’t about to reveal how different she truly was.

“Is that a warning, little brother?” Torin spoke as he took a step towards Gideon. He should put him on his ass for even trying to fling a punch at him, never mind landing one.

“Yeah, actually, it is.” Gideon also stepped in, face to face with Torin. Nose to nose.

Interesting…

“It’s a rather brave move for someone who actually doesn’t know half of who she is.”

But that’s our secret.

“And you do?” Gideon scoffed. “As if you would even take the time to get to know any girl.”

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