Page 39 of He Who Ignites The Flame
It huffed in response.The steel-eyed warrior has bite.
I rolled my eyes, and it seemed to tug at my attention, wanting me to watch them, when it spoke again.Perhaps you should take some of that bite out on him.
I glanced sidelong at Micah and Barrett as they paused for a break, ladling water from buckets to take a drink and splash over their heads. The water soaked into Micah’s shaggy brown hair, dripping down his neck and rolling down the tightly wound cords of muscle in his back, his arms.
Gods…
I could almost feel the humor in the beast’s thoughts.I think you’re drooling.
I stiffened, running a hand across my lips to find it had lied.Annoying creature.
Irritation swelled in my chest as it seemed to curl up, content to leave me flustered. Despite the urge to turn and ignore them, I couldn’t deny the way they looked together, how they somehow complimented one another.
I let out a sigh and stalked toward them.
Micah’s brows rose when he caught sight of me, and he turned in time to press a kiss to my cheek.
“Come to watch me get my ass handed to me?” he teased, his hands grasping my hips as he brushed his nose against mine, dragging a smile out of me.
“I thought I’d step in and see what the newest recruit has to dish out,” I said, glancing at Barrett.
Barrett peered over his shoulder before taking one last drink and facing me fully. His blond brows furrowed for a moment as he seemed to really look at me, steel eyes flitting between mine, as if searching for something.
“Does he know how to talk?” I asked, arching a brow.
Micah huffed a laugh, and Barrett seemed to blink out of whatever trance he had fallen into. “Barrett doesn’t usually have any issue speaking. More often than not he only manages to shove his foot in his mouth when he does.”
“This your bonded?” Barrett asked, gesturing to me.
He nodded. “This is Thalia. Thalia, this is Barrett.”
“Pleasure,” I said, giving him a smile that was all teeth.
Barrett huffed a laugh and pointed to himself. “You’re wanting to spar with me?”
“Too afraid to accept?” I asked, tilting my head as I crossed my arms over my chest.
Micah bit back his grin.
“Never backed down from a challenge,” he said, arching a brow. “I hope you offer more of a fight than your bonded.”
Micah stuttered, gaping as he held his hands out in clear offense. “Low blow! You got a lucky shot at me.”
“Keep telling yourself that, pretty boy,” Barrett said with a cocky grin as he turned his back on him to get one more drink and—Fates spare me—pour some over his hair. He shook it out, the water droplets rolling down his sweat-slicked skin.
I held my hand out to the ring, trying to regain any sort of control over myself as the beast seemed to chuckle in the depths of my soul. “After you.”
Barrett tossed the ladle back into the bucket of water and stalked past me.
As I turned to follow him, Micah’s arm snaked around my waist, pulling me back against him, his lips brushing against my ear as he whispered, “Show him who’s in charge around here.”
The corner of my lips twitched. “Enjoy the show.”
Barrett came to a stop in the center of the ring, rolling his neck as he stretched his arms out and cracked his wrists. “I’ve been watching you with these recruits.”
“Really now?” I asked as I stopped before him. “Didn’t realize I’d attracted the attention of our newest. I hope you’ve enjoyed the view.”
That cocky grin curved his lips again, and irritation swelled in my chest at the way it left my heart fluttering, at the way the beast preened within me that he had been watching us.
