Page 48 of Dance of the Phoenix
“Time stopping,” Logan murmured, glowering at the floor. “Of course she just had to be different ...”
Ragnor’s face turned murderous.
And I was through. “Can you not talk about me as if I’m not in the room?” I snapped, fury rising inside me.
Ragnor and Logan ignored me. “Let’s focus on general training for now,” Ragnor said, his voice as angry as he looked. “In two days, we’ll start the group training, and you’ll sharpen your cooperative skills while facing the other pairs in mock battles. So for now, let’s start with the basics of Iovan’s Imperium.”
Logan scowled. “Can’t we use another method?”
“Since you’re versed in it to a certain degree, I believe this method to be best,” Ragnor said. “Of course, we won’t neglect other methods. But let’s start with this one as the basis of the strategy we need to develop for you to use in the Hecatomb.”
Logan’s dissatisfaction was evident. I, too, was growing angrier as the minutes ticked by. Part of me wanted to leave the room and escape this suffocating tension. Another part wanted to hit both of them for ignoring me and acting as if I were nothing but air.
But I forced myself to practice patience. This was too important to let myself stoop to their level of pettiness. So even if they wanted to act this way for the entire training, I had to be the bigger person and swallow my anger.
So for the rest of the training, while Ragnor basically instructed Logan, with both of them avoiding talking to me at all costs, I gritted my teeth and focused on the training only.
Despite the evident animosity between the three of us, we managed to outline some sort of strategy for the Hecatomb. With Ragnor’s chilly suggestions and Logan’s monosyllabic responses, we at least managed to communicate, albeit poorly.
I’d been on my best behavior. I’d taken the high road. But the moment training was over and the two men got ready to go, I couldn’t restrain myself any longer.
“You really want me to die, don’t you?”
Both men stopped what they were doing.
Furious, I walked toward them. “I allowed it for this session,” I said quietly, my hackles rising, “but next time you decide to act like I don’t exist, or like I’m public enemy number one, I’m not going to stay silent.”
Ragnor was the first one to look at me, his eyes devoid of emotion. I glared back. “I know you both feel wronged by me. I’m deeply sorry for that. But that doesn’t excuse your behavior. You two should know better. Especially you,” I snapped at Ragnor. “You’re supposed to be older than dirt, aren’t you? Then act your fucking age, old man.”
I turned my glare to Logan, who was now staring at a spot beyond my shoulder. “And you, Logan,” I said, my voice trembling. “I know you have issues with me. But please put them aside until after we make it out alive in the Hecatomb. After that, you can go back to treating me like I don’t exist, but at least until then, treat me like your Hecatomb partner.”
I didn’t wait for them to respond. I took my leave before either of them could speak, feeling a wave of exhaustion draping itself over me.
But beyond all that was hurt. Not because of Logan, though that hurt in its own way, but because of Ragnor. Because despite everything we’d been through, he’d never behaved like this before. He’d never utterly ignored me.
And that scared me far more than the prospect of dying in the Hecatomb.
Chapter 22
Aileen
That afternoon, Ragnor wasn’t the one who waited for me near the cafeteria entrance. Instead, Magnus was there, drawing attention from most female—and some male—vampires, who openly salivated over his admittedly godly looks.
When he saw me, he waved his hand and I approached him, feeling my anger from before blooming again. “Hey,” he said when I stopped before him. “I’ll be training you today.”
“I figured,” I murmured, clenching my hands into fists. “Where’s Ragnor?”
Magnus seemed pained. “Look, I don’t know what’s going on with you two,” he said quietly, “but whatever it is, I recommend you fix it sooner rather than later. We’re heading to the Hecatomb in a few days,” he added, “and you should really not let your issues be your undoing.”
With those eerie words, and my distress already rising the closer the Hecatomb got, Magnus took me to Ragnor’s town house, and the training commenced.
Knowing Magnus was right, I decided to see Ragnor that evening. I was still beyond furious with him, not to mention extremely hurt by his behavior, but the Hecatomb was almost upon us. I had to make sure things were at least amiable between us if not fixed entirely.
So instead of heading straight to the suite, I went to his office. His secretaries, however, told me he wasn’t there.
I looked for him in the cafeteria, but he wasn’t there, either, so I headed to the Troop gym, hoping to find him there.
And I did find him there.
