As we ran around a bend, a woman’s familiar scratchy voice carried on the wind and said, “Go, best friend!”
Sadie was nearby. I hated that bitch.
From the way John swore, he agreed.
I’d been sick with rage when I’d listened to Aran and her have sex in the shower. It didn’t matter that Arabella was a girl; I knew what I’d heard. Every slap. Every moan.
At the time I’d convinced myself that it had sounded off. That they were faking it.
Afterwards, Orion described they were looking into each other’s eyes tenderly and I realized I’d been deluding myself.
They’d fucked. Hard.
I dug my nails deeper into my palms and let the pain calm me.
Arabella hadn’t cared that Sadie had mates. She also hadn’t missed the opportunity to make out with Orion a few days later, then had been all pressed against a nymph at the party.
Based on how Orion described Arabella’s looks, it made sense.
Orion said she looked stunningly innocent with wide blue eyes, plush lips, and messy blue hair, but also that she seemed sad. She was taller and stronger than most women, but her muscles were lean, and her bones were long and willowy. There was a delicateness about her, like she was so angry she was fragile.
He said the combination made him want to protect her. Shelter her from the world.
I’d scoffed at his artful description.
It sounded simple to me.
She was pretty, and she knew it, just another woman using her looks to get what she wanted.
As we finished rounding the bend, Sadie cheered, “Wow, you are really moving. Do you need water? Are you sure you shouldn’t take a break? This can’t be good for you.”
“I hate you,” Arabella laughed back with a yell, then lowered her voice and asked Corvus, “Why can’t we just go for a long walk like the shifter legion?”
I scoffed and answered, “Because we’re not weak, pathetic little bitches.”
She huffed. “It seems a lot smarter to focus on our mental health during a psychological competition. Just saying.”
Corvus’s voice cracked like a whip. “You’re training with real men. Stop whining, or is that all you women know how to do?”
There was a snarl and a loud splashing noise as Arabella stumbled. Her voice dripped with venom as she panted and said, “Thanks for the reminder. I forgot I’m just a hole to you, Malum.”
“Oof,” Zenith said under his breath.
Orion winced, and a strange sensation tied up my stomach.
Corvus didn’t share any misgivings. His voice was hard as he said, “Damn right. That’s what you are. And you’re not even a good one at that.”
“Sun god,” Vegar groaned.
My Revered preferred a more manipulative approach than my Ignis when dealing with people. This time, I had to agree with him.
Corvus’s anger was too uncontrolled around the girl.
He was uncomfortably abrasive.
Instead of falling apart like I expected, Arabella asked loudly, “How does it feel?”
“How does what feel?” Corvus’s voice was harsh.
“I’m not talking to you. I’m asking the others,” Arabella said haughtily. “How does it feel to have chosen a misogynistic, ugly fucktard without a single functioning brain cell to be your captain?”
Silence.
I almost grinned at her creativity. Almost. But she’d insulted my Ignis with her words.
No one breathed.
Corvus’s voice vibrated with violence as he said, “I was going to have us stop after this lap, but it looks like we’ve got another nine miles to go thanks to Arabella’s whining.”
He started to sprint.
Chapter 12
Scorpius
COMPULSIVE
The Legionnaire Games: Day 13, hour 5
No one complained when Corvus ordered us to run more.
The pace picked up.
“Good. I actually wanted to run more,” Arabella said like she was unconcerned.
Corvus snapped back, “Perfect. Now shut the fuck up.”
She gasped with outrage and mumbled about someone named Mitch.
Heat burned my left arm where my Ignis had reached out and gripped me for support. Flames licked against my skin.
I welcomed the burn.
Nine miles later, which made thirty-nine miles total, Corvus ended the run.
All of us were panting, and not a single word had been spoken for the last nine miles. The energy between Corvus and Arabella was volatile.
“We’ll do another thirty miles tomorrow, just for Arabella,” Corvus said darkly. “It’s time for dinner. We can shower afterward.”
His fingertips gently pressed against my back as he guided me forward across the uneven rocks of the island, and I slung my arm around Orion’s shoulder. My Revered melted against me.
I should have been relaxed with my mates surrounding me.
I should have been enjoying the runner’s high, which was my favorite part.
My head swiveled to the side as I listened intently to what was happening behind us.
“Ew, you’re sweaty. Don’t touch me,” Arabella groaned as her sweatshirt rustled.
John’s deeper voice taunted back, “Don’t be such a sissy.”
Grunts and slaps. Arabella laughed loudly as she and John wrestled with each other.
“Stop acting like fools. The angels are watching,” Corvus shouted over his shoulder.
Orion and I weren’t the only ones distracted by our slave.
The angel’s wings flapped distantly, and they were on the other side of the island, too far to be paying attention to us. Corvus was just pissed that John had his grubby hands all over her. I agreed with the sentiment.
“Relax, fire ass,” Arabella muttered, and John choked.
Corvus shouted, “What was that?”
No one spoke for the rest of the walk, not even when we entered the academy.
But from the sweatshirts rustling behind me, the closeness of their steps, and the random bouts of laughter, John still had his arm thrown over Arabella’s shoulder.
It was unacceptable.
My skin itched with the urge to hurt John. I wanted him to bleed. Scream. He’d be an appetizer, then I’d turn my attention to the main course: Arabella. She’d beg me so sweetly. I couldn’t wait to taste her tears.
“Careful,” Corvus said as he pulled me to the side and lightning struck down the walls right where I’d been standing.
I raked my hands through my short hair, agitated by how distracted I was lately. My sadomasochism was flaring up with more frequency.
I was satisfied with hurting anyone: the ungodly, random women at the academy, or new recruits. I wasn’t picky. Usually.
Lately, I’d been fixated on hurting a single person. I thought about her as I trained, ate, showered, jacked off, and slept.
Arabella.
My thoughts always spiraled in the same pattern. I’d give her a reason to forget how to breathe. I’d replace her precious little pipe and give her something thicker to choke on.
I shuddered with anticipation as we went to dinner.
The dining hall buzzed with more energy and commotion than usual because of the five tables that had been set up on the dais for the other legions. Students called our names as we walked past. Men and women alike.
I settled into my usual chair, and a woman touched my arm. “Hey Scorpius, want me to come to your room later?”