Page 16 of Shadow

I didn’t move. Instead, I stayed and watched Sirena and Bryce, noting his affection for her. If he gave a shit I was still there, he certainly didn’t seem like he did as he took the cupcake he’d gotten her and opened it.

“Here,” he murmured. “Try it. I made it in the baking class I’m taking.”

She parted her lips as he fed her a bite of the cupcake. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. We fed her, and seeing it made the rage inside me creep closer to the surface. I inhaled deeply, trying to calm myself.

She chewed and swallowed, a bit of frosting on her lip. He made to reach for her and wipe it away, but I jumped up and got between them. Lifting her easily, I sat and put her on my lap.

Bryce let out a sigh and gave me a frustrated look.

“I’m hungry, motherfucker. Feed me,” I said.

He narrowed his eyes at me for a moment before a soft laugh left him. He held the cupcake out to me and smirked.

“Try it, Malachi,” he said, clearly testing me.

I stared back at him momentarily, noting Sirena's tension. She was worried I was going to lose it.

Fuck it.

I leaned forward and bit into the cupcake Bryce was holding. I tugged it away and let the rest fall into my mouth as I tipped my head back. Chewing, I maintained eye contact with him. He gave me a sour look.

“Bring enough for the whole class next time,” I said.

He shook his head. “I’ll make a note of that.” A muscle thrummed along his jaw. He turned his attention to Sirena in my lap before reaching for her hand. She slid her hand in his, the move irritating me.

“I’m not the one,” I whispered, tearing my focus from their hands to Bryce’s face. “I’ll choke you to death with my fucking noose.”

“And I assure you you’d be in for a big surprise.” His hazel eyes were hard as he stared back at me.

I shifted Sirena off my lap and grabbed him by his shirt before dragging him to his feet.

“Fucking wow me,” I snarled at him.

If he was afraid, he made no show of it as he stared back at me. In relation to height, he was only slightly shorter than my six feet three. And size? I worked out a fuck of a lot, so I had height and mass going for me. All of us guys did, even fucking Asylum, who was just as tall as I was and could probably match me a pound for pound. Church was only slightly taller by an inch, something he proudly made sure we all knew in our house. Asher was the shortest at six-two. But this little fucker’s size was irrelevant as I stared back at him.

“No,” he said softly. “I will not.”

A warm hand rested on my arm, and I looked down to see Sirena staring up at me. She looked upset.

I turned my attention back to Bryce. He needed to learn who was in charge around here.

“If you aren’t brave enough to prove yourself, how will you ever protect her? Why do you think you’re good enough?”

His Adam’s apple bobbed for a moment before he looked at Sirena and then back at me.

“With all due respect, Malachi, you’re strong and brave and couldn’t protect her.”

His words hit an emotion within me that I didn’t think I had.

My fist connected with his face in a sickening crack, sending him stumbling back. I didn’t stop. I was on him in an instant, my fists hitting any part of him I could get to, my rage blinding.

I could feel Sirena’s hands trying to pull me off. There was no stopping me when rage took over. Everyone knew that. I’d go until someone died.

I straddled Bryce, smashing my fist into his face. In a surprising move, his legs came up and bent around me. He shoved me back with them, effectively knocking me off.

I was on my feet in an instant, barreling down at him as he wiped at the blood on his face.

“Malachi, don’t do this,” he warned before I swung on him again.

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