Page 77 of A Storm of Fire and Ash
What. The. Fuck.The nerve of this dick!
“Are you kidding me right now?! I talk too much?!”
He stayed quiet, and my anger boiled.
“What, you can’t talk back now?! You’re such a dick!”
He watched me with a smirk on his face.
“You know what? I’m glad you’ll be training me now. Because now you can see how good I am with my magic!” I held out my hand and let my fire dance along my fingertips.
“I could always shut you up,” he interrupted, voice low and rough.
I blinked. “Yeah? And how would you do that?”
Zayn crossed the space between us in two steps. One hand came up fast, fingers gripping my chin, tilting my face toward his.
He leaned in, green eyes burning into mine.
“How about you get on your knees,” he murmured, “and I’ll show you, Peach?”
My breath hitched. Heat rushed straight through me—anger, want, everything tangled into one unbearable knot.
Electricity coursed through me.
“No way…” I paused, holding his gaze. “I’m afraid you’d like the view too much.”
His jaw ticked, and nostrils flared.
He let go of my face and opened the door.
By midday, we were deep in the Highgroove Woods—the trees thick enough to block out the sky, the wind hushed beneath the dense canopy. This place was farenough from the castle, far from eyes and ears. Only the forest would witness whatever Zayn had planned.
I gripped the training sword tighter, breath already shallow. I hated how nervous I felt under his gaze.
“Let’s see what Gavrin taught you,” Zayn said, circling me like a wolf stalking its prey. “Unless you’d rather lecture me again.”
I exhaled slowly, planted my feet, and moved into the stance Gavrin had drilled into me. Centered. Shoulders square. Blade up.
Zayn watched with that infuriating calm, as if he already knew how this would end.
I lunged.
He parried it easily.
I struck again, and again—frustration building with each swing. He didn’t even move his feet. Just twisted his wrist, knocking my blade aside like it was child’s play. His eyes never left mine.
Then he stepped forward, fast.
Before I could blink, my sword was out of my hand and clattered to the forest floor.
He caught me by the waist, spun me around, and pinned me tight against his chest—one arm wrapped around me like steel, his other hand gripped my wrist. My heart pounded, my breath ragged, pressed against muscle and warmth and power I didn’t want to notice.
But my body betrayed me.
I felt it. Every inch of him.
My skin buzzed where he touched me. My pulse roared in my ears. He leaned in, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. “You keep moving like that, Peach, and I’ll start thinking youwantme to pin you down.”
