Page 80 of Malice
That made my heart flutter, along with other parts of me. “Good. You need to loosen up.”
“Think I’m a stodgy old horseman, do you?”
“Yep.”
He surprised me by grabbing me around the waist and pulling me astride him. “I’ll show you.”
And that’s exactly what he did all morning long.
Chapter
Twenty-Three
CHAOS
My fist connected with the heavy sandbag I’d suspended from a beam in the converted carriage house. Plumes of dust exploded from the back and sides as the seams threatened to split. I’d already destroyed three others, their carcasses sitting abandoned on the now sand-covered floor. Malice wouldn’t be thrilled with the mess, but what he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him.
A growl ripped from my throat as I let loose another punch that sent the bag flying across the room.
Make that four carcasses.
The whole point of coming down here early was to get Malice off my mind. Namely, who he was with and what they were doing.
Grabbing a fresh bag, I hung it up and got back in place.
There’s no reason to be jealous. It was his turn. She wasn’t choosing him over you.
But what if that’s exactly what happened?
My chest gave a sharp pang, stopping me mid-swing. I’d never known jealousy like this before. The only time in my existence I’d been in competition with anyone, it had been battlerelated. And that was easily remedied. Didn’t have the skills to get the attention I wanted? Train harder. So long as I was willing to put in the work, it would eventually pay off.
But Merri wasn’t a commanding officer. She was a woman. If she made up her mind that Malice... or Sin... was who she wanted, there was nothing I could do to sway her. I was at a complete loss, my need for control spinning me into a frenzy I couldn’t rein in.
I was so far up my own ass, I didn’t hear the approaching footsteps.
“Wow, did they insult your mother or something?” Merri asked, inspecting the mess I’d made of the space.
Landing a powerful blow to the center of the sandbag, I heaved a sigh as it split.
That was five.
“You’re late. As usual,” I snapped, turning to face her.
“Ooookay, then. Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed.”
It hurt to look at her. She was fresh as a fucking daisy, clearly bursting with power, and its effect on her nearly sent me to my knees. Was it too much to hope for one of her gentle touches? Everyone else seemed to get one.
Another growl escaped me as I scrubbed a hand down my face. I swear to God, I was ready to crawl across this mess of a floor just to kiss the top of her damn shoe.
I fucking hated this. I wasnotthis person. I was a proud Spartan warrior who faced legions without fear. I was the horseman War who could decimate armies with the sweep of my sword. Who knew Merri would be my kryptonite?
Ever since Sin made his declaration yesterday, I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it. She fucking loved him. How did I stand a chance with her now? I’d lost her just when I realized how much I wanted her.
I was my very own Greek tragedy.
“Helloooo, earth to Chaos. An apocalyptic one, but you know, still earth.” Her smile was so charming, goddamn blue birds might as well flutter around her head like a crown. I half expected music to play with every step she took, or sunshine to burst out of her perfect ass.
“We should start with sparring. You’re out of practice.” Adjusting my stance, I readied the makeshift pad we used for her safety, pulling the modified straps over my forearm and holding it in front of my torso. “Remember the rotation I taught you?”
