Page 66 of Rebellion of a Kingdom

“I don’t ask permission for anything. I was just trying to be polite.” Ash tosses back, and I smirk, loving when he takes my bait.

I rise to my feet and move towards him as he grabs a towel from the rack, “Oh my little psycho, I love it when you talk dirty to me.” My words land me with that signature eye roll of his, that I love so much.

I didn’t really see much of Ash when Elle first came to live with us. Lily and I attended a private boarding school and were away from home during term time. After graduation, I spent the summer before college at home, and that is when the quiet and menacing Donovan caught my eye. Since then, he has become a fucking thorn in my side. A sexy, infuriating, fucking thorn.

“Want to spar so I have an excuse to hit you?” He taunts back, and I can’t hide my smile, he wants to fight me, then let’s fucking go.

“You never need an excuse baby, just a time and place.” I wink at him again, as I reach for the wrapping and start to tape up my fists. He grabs it from me and does the same.

I turn to Jace, “Want to spot us?”

He shrugs, “not like I’m doing anything else.”

We go a few rounds, both of us pinning the other multiple times until we are panting and sweating. The anxiety from before is long forgotten, as I watch Asher move. I can think of a variety of ways I’d like to see him breathless and hot but considering this is the only one he would allow, I take it.

When I pin him for the third time, his irritation flares. “Get the fuck off me.” He grunts.

“Get off you, or get you off?” I bite my lip suggestively, and instead of an immediate rebuttal, I watch his eyes drop to my mouth. What the fuck? Two years of over-the-top flirting and suggestive taunts, and not once has he ever hesitated to tell me to fuck off in one way or another.

I don’t get a chance to linger on that thought when the gym door opens again, and Zack looks down at us. “Do I even want to know?”

I get up off of Asher, holding my hand out to help him up, as I respond to Zack, “just sparring big bro, no big deal.” It’s only when I refer to him, using that name, that I remember again that Zack and Asher are also brothers. Looking at the two of them side by side, you can see it, see where the resemblances are.

“Looks like we all had the same idea.” Zack grunts, as he moves across to the treadmill and gets on, setting it to a slow walk. He is still trying to exercise his leg while recovering from the stab wound.

I crick my neck as I watch him, stamping down on the anger that flares up in me, every time I see him struggle. I note Asher is watching him too, and I wonder if he feels the same. I hate it. I’m just so sick of the morbid feeling that lingers in the air all the time lately.

My go to defense mechanism, slams back into place. “Guess we can’t fuck now you’re my brother’s brother hey, psycho.” I joke, and the tight clench of Asher’s jaw, has me preening in delight.

“You and Zack aren’t blood.” He grits out, and my smile widens.

“I know that, just wanted to see if you did too. Sounds like you are trying to find ways to fuck me, I always knew you wanted me.”

Asher picks up his towel and wipes the sweat from his neck and chest, “if I wanted to fuck you, Logan, I would. Go wake the help and have him see to your needs instead.” He doesn’t allow me to respond, before he stalks from the room.

Zack grunts through his pained breaths, “you never give up do you?”

“Quitting is for losers,” I say, looking at him, “isn’t that what you always taught me?”

He just shakes his head in exasperation, and Jace comes and stands beside me, as my eyes return to the spot Asher just vacated. “You have the worst taste in men, Royton.”

“Nah,” I shrug, “I have the best taste, they just haven’t realized it yet.”

Chapter 40

ELLE

The next week at school is quiet. Too quiet. Everyone outside of our group gives us a wide berth, since what happened with Cherry. We are still yet to face any backlash from the Donovan’s. You think I would be relieved, but I’m the opposite. The longer they don’t retaliate, the longer they have to make plans. Whatever they do next, is going to be something big. We need to be ready.

My hand runs along the knife that rests in its usual place, on my thigh. The steel of the gun tucked in my waistband, a constant reminder that I’ve got my back. It’s the period before lunch and Marcus, Lincoln and I are heading towards Biology. Jace stopped to talk to Jack, but now, as the second bell goes, I can’t see him anywhere. The hallways begin to empty and as the boys enter the classroom, I linger at the door. When I still don’t spot Jace, I start to worry.

“I’ll be right back.” I tell the guys, but Marcus grips my arm.

“Elle, nowhere alone remember.” He moves to follow me, and I halt him.

“Mase is just down the hall.” I nod towards where Mason lingers, and Marcus nods in acknowledgement. “He’ll come with me,” I assure him.

“Five minutes,” he warns, and I smile, leaning up to give him a quick kiss.

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