Page 63 of Shadow Bonds

The guys share a look and all get up. Cyrus takes Knox’s place on the bed.

“Where are you all going?” I ask.

“You’re training with Cyrus, and we…” Three vicious, cruel smiles stare back at me. “…are going to hunt some Shadows.”

Outside, in a small field by their obstacle course, I watch Cyrus as he walks toward me, thinking how damn pretty he is.

Sharp jawline, high cheekbones. A tall-broad shouldered build and thick dark lashes that any girl would kill for.

The way he moves is graceful and fluid too. Even his dark tousled hair is damn near perfect.

He whips his top off, placing every chiseled muscle on display.

Damn. It’s like he was carved from stone, every fucking inch of him impossibly perfect.

My eyes eventually find his and spot the slow teasing smile that spreads across his face.

“My eyes are up here.”

“I was admiring your tattoos.” Tattoos I didn’t even notice until now.

“Sure.” He steps in front of me, and a hungry look flickers across his face. “Can you create that shield again?”

I blink up at him, trying to focus on his words instead of his abs. “I haven’t tried since it happened.”

His eyes sparkle with mischief. “I have faith in you.”

Sighing, I step back and close my eyes, thinking back to the red zone. I wanted to feel safe, protected. I take that feeling and wrap it around me.

A warm energy slides through me, and I open my eyes to find a shadowy shield forming around my entire body.

Cyrus moves closer and places a hand on it and pushes.

The slightest hint of pressure pushes at the corner of my mind. But I focus on the shield and think about it becoming stronger and more resilient.

He yanks his hand back with a hiss. “You changed it.”

“I did?”

He nods, his expression a mixture of shock and awe. “You made it offensive instead of just defensive. How did you do it?”

I shrug. “I thought about it becoming stronger to keep you out.”

His eyes sparkle, his mouth curving into a wide grin. “Then let’s try something a little harder.”

Darkness explodes out around us, encasing us both, and I feel the warm energy from the shield disappear.

Damn it.I guess I’m not as good as he thinks I am.

I can barely see in front of my face. “Cyrus?” I reach out to him but jump when a low groan brushes across my ear.

“Nothinghas ever calmed my dark the way you do when you’re near.” He places a kiss just under my ear, making heat coil down my spine. “I was hoping to see how you could manage with my darkness, but you’re too tempting like this.” His shadows draw back as he steps in front of me once again. They quickly disappear, leaving him staring down at me, his lips parted slightly, his breath shallow.

“Let’s see if you can call on my weapons instead.” His tattoos glow black, and dark shadows rise from his skin. As if lured in by them, I reach out to touch them, brushing my fingertips along one of the swirls.

Realizing what I’m doing, I pull my hand back and glance up at him to find his gaze darkening with heat.

“I thought we were going to play with your weapons,” I remind him when it seems neither of us are going to make a move.

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