Page 47 of Living Legend

Our swords met in every direction as she tilted one way, and I met her going the other. I had her backing up at each strike. “What’s too bad is that you’re starting to rub off on me.”

She met one of my hits and shoved her sword towards mine, pressing her weight into it she looked at me from between them. “I could rub off on you in a different way if you’d prefer.”

Her voice got deeper, sending a small shock wave through my body. She was so blatantly forward that I didn’t know what to make of her verbiage sometimes. After tonight, I knew she would show up more in my thoughts, more in my head than she already was. I fucking hated myself for it. I fucking hated myself for looking down at her chest. I couldn’t cross that line.

I felt her leg hook behind my ankle. She gave her sword one good thrust forward, causing me to spring backwards. She shifted to the right and rammed the hilt into my shoulder. I held onto my sword as I landed on my side on the hard floor. She walked around me, squatting down when she got to my head. She let her fingers glide over the side of my head and down my cheek. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe my flirtatious energy can win me some fights. Since we’re on the same team, I could give you some pointers.”

She was doing the same thing as when we were flying to Oculus, letting her nails graze my skin. “I think you just like me in this position.”

“I think I would like you invariouspositions.” She licked her top lip and pressed her fingers to my mouth, tracing my lips.

Fuck.

I reached out and grabbed her ankle, pulling her so she was went flying backwards towards the ground. Her sword flew towards one side of the room, hitting the window and bouncing to the floor. I jumped up, sword still in hand, tilting it down towards her neck. I pressed the cold metal to her throat, letting her feel it just a tiny bit. “Now what did I say about letting your guard down? Tsk, tsk.”

She lifted her arm and flicked the metal. “Has anyone ever told you you're kind of hot when you get all bossy?” She pulled her hair tie and sat up, shaking out her hair as it wildly tumbled down her shoulders. Each curl had a mind of their own. Some of them went right back and remained in place, while others recklessly did what they wanted.

I brought my hand out to help her up and in return, she ended up so close to me, I could smell her breath: raw cinnamon, just like the rest of her. “Thank you for the compliment.”

“You still won’t tell me what Markus talked to you about, will you?”

“You’re still on that, I see?”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake Nicholas, you think that some sparring and sexy banter is going to just cause me to forget? You don’t know me at all.” She kicked my sword out of my hand.

“I reallydon’tknow you at all, so that’s a fair point. As for Markus, it really wasn’t anything of any importance.”

“How doyouknow what I find important? I could find your conversation interesting, and you would never know because you’re being a secretive little bitch who won’t tell me,” she argued, shoving her hair out of her face. “Fine, keep it to yourself, but know I’ll ask you again.”

“I don’t doubt it. You’re a persistent demon, but I’m stubborn. We’re at an impasse.”

“Or I can just figure out where you have my dagger and make you tell me.” She narrowed her eyes at me, her thick lashes almost hitting underneath her eyes.

“Why do I get the feeling you wouldn’tactuallydo that?” I pressed, reaching down to pick up my sword.

I felt her eyes follow me as I moved, as if calculating every second I was in motion. “Maybe youarestarting to know me, Nicholas. Though I do kind of like being without it for a while; it gives me a clear head. I’d advise you to not hold it for too long, though. It can mess with your head if you aren’t the wielder.” She let that notion sit in the air; I didn’t bring up how the minute it hit my hands, I started to hear whispers and feel cold. I looked back at her to see her brown eyes dancing around with amusement, as if what she said was just a fleeting thought. “You and Reese are fighting for the spot of my favorite angel, you know.”

“Oh really?” I answered, smirking. “I’m surprised I’m not already at the top.”

“Nicholas, I promise, you can be on top anytime you’d like.” Dani grabbed my arm and slid her hand down until she skated over my fingers.

I pulled away; the ghost of her fingers felt like the sting of a burn, a phantom whisper of where they had been. I was starting to get too warm in a room that was meant to be kept a constant cool temperature. I wanted to be close to her, but I also wanted to stay as far away as possible. I lifted the bottom of my shirt to wipe my forehead, hoping some of the cool air would reduce the heat I felt on my skin. It was almost instinctual, the way Dani’s eyes moved to my stomach. She cocked her head to the side as she pulled her lip between her teeth.

“If this is your way of telling me to back off, you’re fucking terrible at it. I think you’re a flirt without trying, Nicholas,” she teased, turning her head at the sound of the door opening.

“You don’t happen to have any of the magic dampening handcuffs, do you?” Reese asked, exasperated.

Elise walked in behind him, a sly smile on her face. “Stop whining. I didn’t do anything.”

“The fact that you could have is the point!” Reese shouted.

“Well, I’d advise you to calmly wait instead of banging on the bathroom door every five seconds while a girl is getting ready. I wouldn’t have to threaten you with violence!”

Reese looked around the room incredulously. “What could you possibly need to do that takes twenty fucking minutes?”

“A lot of things! Wash my face, brush my hair, and oh! I know, take a massive shit in your honor!” Elise laughed, striding over to me.

I stood in front of Reese as the windows in the room started to shutter. Not loudly, but they shook and moved as if it was an illusion. Slowly and meticulously, a circle was carved in front of us. A light wind blew as the circle closed and caved inward. Electric sparks flung off the sides and bounced around the rounded edges of the portal.

---