Page 41 of A Kingdom so Crimson

"Kaizen!" Levon's voice pierced through the rage swirling inside me.

Kaizen smirked, lifted one leg, and released my hands. Without thought, I slammed my fist into his handsome face and shoved him off, spitting at him once more.

He fell back with a grunt, chuckling as he slowly rose to his feet. His eyes glinted with amusement as his hand touched his red cheek, mirroring my throbbing knuckles. I stood up, preparing to throw another punch, but Levon's hand gripped my shoulder, forcing me to face him.

His crystal eyes shimmered with rage as he tilted my chin up to examine my face. I could feel a bruise forming and swelling around my eye from the rock, but I was too consumed by anger to care. I quickly shoved Levon away and turned back toward Kaizen, who was still disturbing the peaceful morning with his laughter.

"Are you out of your mind!?" I hissed at Kaizen, storming toward him as he proceeded to clap with amusement.

"Well done, Eliah," he breathed. Standing just a breath away, he stared down at me. "You wouldn't last through one round." Stepping back, he turned to Levon, who was now seething with rage. "And there's no way in Geisha I'll allow it."

Levon gritted his teeth, his jaw fluttering as he stared at Kaizen with the same intensity.

My stomach churned, burning my fingertips and turning the air metallic. I could taste it on my tongue and sensed that Levon and Kaizen might have felt it, too, judging by their backward steps and side glances at each other.

I grasped Kaizen's tunic, feeling his breath against my face. Oh, how I longed to shatter every bone in his pretty face.

"You know nothing about me!And you, of all people, do not get to choose what I do!" My fury surged through me, pulsating with every heartbeat. I could feel it thickening the air around us, enveloping us in my seething rage.

Kaizen took a step back, gently prying my hand from his shirt. His gaze shifted towards Levon, who stood there pale, his eyes blazing with ice.

"I won't. It's too dangerous," Kaizen declared, his voice edged with firmness.

He turned back without waiting and stalked to the barrel, stooping to retrieve the sword and slammed it into place.

I felt an overwhelming urge to keep punching something, to scream, to cry with rage as I watched him stalk away.

Levon's touch on my hand effortlessly brought me back to reality. "Eliah…" his voice trailed off, laden with frustration.

"No!" I shook off his touch. "I don't want him training me, Levon. I'm sorry I left last night—but look at me!" I faced him now, extending my arms and gesturing to the whole of me. "I'mfine!I don't need protection; Ineed youto teach me how to winthis Match that you'redetermined to keep a secret!You saw how easily he took me out."

I stopped and palmed my face, heaving in a breath, trying to calm my racing mind, which only began spiraling downward.

"Eliah, Kaizen is a different breed—"

"I wasn't looking for comfort," I snapped. I turned back towards him, seeing his jaw clench as he glanced at Kaizen's figure rounding the other side of the estate. "Why can't you tell me?" I yelled, scaring off any peace left.

"Because I don't know!" he shot back, matching my anger and running his fingers through his unkempt hair. "Do you have any idea how infuriating you are?" He turned away, cursing under his breath as he rubbed his face in frustration.

I stood there with my arms crossed, demanding more explanation.

He looked back at me, his frustration evident. "I'm serious when I say I don't know," he trailed off, his expression growing pale. "There have only been a handful of Matches in his lineage, but each one is always different, always a surprise until right before, and always deadly."

My throat closed up, but I held my head high.

I scoffed a laugh.Why else would Jesri send me here if not to be rid of me and gain something? The realization hit me hard, and the weight of my repressed emotions seemed to press down on me, intensifying with his confirmation that he didn't know.

"Thank you for sharing what you know," I said, my voice strained but steady. "And…I apologize for what happened last night."

"Don't. I would do the same in your situation," Levon cut in.

We stood there in tense silence for a few moments before I broke it.

"Who is Geisha?" I asked.

He looked at me with shock and confusion. "What?" he retorted quickly.

"Kaizen, when he said he wouldn't allow it?"

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