Page 52 of Dance of the Phoenix
Forcing my reawakened libido down, I cleared my throat and handled the coffee carefully as I grabbed my seat on the other side of the table. “They were out of O minus, so I put O plus instead,” I told him when I pushed the mug toward him. “Hope that’s okay.”
He frowned at me, and for a moment I wondered if the change was that drastic, until he suddenly moved to the chair next to mine. “I don’t like you sitting so far,” he murmured almost petulantly as hegrabbed the mug and sipped, his arm spread over the back of my chair possessively.
Feeling giddy at his uncharacteristic boyish, immature behavior, I did my best to keep my cool exterior as I ate my breakfast.
It didn’t help that Ragnor pushed his thigh against mine under the table constantly while his hand behind my back played with my ponytail.
After so many days of going to sleep alone and being ignored and avoided by him, this situation almost felt like a dream. But I was determined not to let my bitterness fester.
We needed to get a handle on the Hecatomb situation first before we let ourselves work through our relationship issues.
Once breakfast was over, Ragnor said, “I’m heading to the office for a bit. Please start training with Logan until I arrive.”
I nodded, and when I saw the worry in his eyes, I cupped his face and gave him a soft, chaste kiss. “Thank you,” I said, holding his midnight blue gaze.For not asking me any more questions about Logan.
He gave me a somewhat pained smile in return. “I learned my lesson,” he said somewhat sadly before giving me another kiss and leaving in the direction of his office.
When I arrived at the training room, Logan was already there, only this time, he wasn’t doing stretches. Instead, he seemed to have been waiting for me, seeing as he was leaning against the wall with folded arms, his eyes on me the moment I walked through the door.
Before I could even close it behind me, Logan said, “You were right.”
Immediately alert, I cautiously stepped toward him. “About what?”
“We need to work together if we don’t want to die,” he said bluntly, scowling. “Though I can’t deny that I hate that we were paired up.”
I nodded slowly, heart racing. “I understand.”
His eyes flashed and I froze in my place. “You understand?” he said, voice dropping an octave. “Youunderstand?”
Fuck.
“Logan,” I said, attempting to sound calm despite my voice growing small and tense as anxiety covered my skin with perspiration. “I meant to say that I understand why—”
“You understand shit,” he snapped, cutting me off, as he pushed himself off the wall and strode toward me menacingly. My instincts told me to step back, but I held my ground, even when he was all but in my face. “Just looking at you takes my entire mental capacity to deal with. Hearing your voice is even worse. It feels like I die inside every fucking time, and if this goes on, your mere presence will finish me off before the Hecatomb has a chance to.”
His words cut deep, right at the guilt I would forever feel when it came to him. I began to shiver, distressed, as I whispered, “Logan—”
“And now I have to see you acting all lovey-dovey with our Lord?” he said incredulously, laughing humorlessly. “What a fucking joke.”
I flinched, and he leaned forward, his nose almost touching mine. “So I thought hard about how I can fucking cooperate withyoufor the sake of the Hecatomb,” he snarled, turquoise eyes glowing a bright neon green. “And I decided there is only one way.”
Sudden dread filled me as I saw the intent in his eyes, followed by his hands grabbing my face roughly, making me grit my teeth. “I need to give back as good as you gave me over three years ago,” he said, and before I could get over the shock, his lips crashed against mine.
Motherfucker,I thought in panic as he bit my lip to force my mouth open and let his tongue in. My dread transformed into pure hysteria as I grabbed his shoulders and tried to get him off me, shaking with anger and fear.
But Logan was strong and shoved my hands away, wrapping his arms around both my body and arms. I tried to press my lips together and refuse him entry a second time, but then I saw him unsheathing his fangs and lowering his head to my neck, his fangs grazing against my skin.
“Stop!” I screamed, trying to shake him off, thrashing against his almost unbreakable hold as tears welled in my eyes. “Logan, stop!”
His fangs tore my skin, and I screamed in rage as I felt him take a sip of my blood.
And so the only thing I could do was scream in my mind,Stop him!
A soft pounding in my head, followed by Logan’s sudden immobility, made me suck in a breath.
Did it work? Did I manage to stop time, along with Logan, who knew about my time-stopping ability?
Seeing as Logan wasn’t moving, I decided to ask questions later. Wriggling out of his hold, I shoved him away and released myself from his fangs and clutches. My hand went to my neck, feeling the blood still trickling, while I looked at Logan. I was both terrified and furious.
