He loved that it was easy to overpower me.
Sun god, he was such a bully.
I kicked him in the shin with all my force, and he squinted with pain. When he released me, I brushed my shoulders off with as much decorum as I could muster.
Which unfortunately, was none.
Malum winked at me. “If you wanted to put your mark on me, all you had to do was say so. I’d get a tattoo for you any day, ice princess.” His voice was gravelly as he stared down at the blue streaks of ice I’d left across his sweatshirt where I’d touched him.
I pretended not to notice that he adjusted his belt.
Instead, I pressed my legs together and rubbed at my temples as I took a deep, calming breath. “First, I’m a queen, not a princess. Second, my life’s purpose is not to put out your messes.” Ice crackled as it spread up my forearms.
He mumbled something under his breath that sounded a lot like, “You can be my princess.”
I choked on spit.
He slapped his hand on my back and said, “Careful. Go slow. Take your time swallowing.” His expression was wicked.
Pain exploded down my spine as I realized his double entendre.
Malum trying to be seductive was a dangerous thing.
My face flamed with heat.
“She’s right,” Jinx said, and both of us snapped our attention toward her. “If you use your powers, you could wipe out our soldiers.”
We sighed with relief.
She continued, “We can’t afford to lose people because of your carelessness. Also, all four of you passed out after she stopped you from attacking me. You can’t risk unconsciousness in the middle of a battle.”
Malum raked his hands down his face.
Flames danced across his fingers.
“Exactly.” I nodded and crossed my arms over my chest protectively.
His plan was stupid, and I was smarter; it was confirmed.
Jinx continued, “Aran, you’ll have to find time to practice so you can eventually unleash your abilities in battle.” She tapped distractedly at her tablet. “We’ll need your skills as the war continues.”
“Excuse me?” I whirled around to glare at her, but she refused to look up from her tablet.
I huffed and said sarcastically, “I’ll just pencil in stopping psychotic devils in between flying lessons and fighting the ungodly.”
“Good.” Jinx kept tapping.
Malum looked smug as he grabbed a piece of chalk and walked back to his list of strategies. “Don’t worry, we’ll practice.”
“I’m not practicing anything with you,” I snarled back.
He smirked but didn’t elaborate.
My lips tingled.
We both knew what would happen if we were stuck spending more time together. There was no avoiding it.
I hadn’t felt this sick since I’d learned fifty-one was divisible by seventeen.
Jinx rotated the structure on the tablet, and it spun on the board. “If we don’t contain the perimeter, potentially hundreds or thousands could flee to the portals. One hundred to one million people could be living in the valley.”
My jaw dropped. “One fucking million? Are you serious?”
Jinx pushed her sunglasses up. “The structure could continue underground for miles for all we know. I’m being realistic.”
She wanted us to die.
There was no other explanation.
“No,” Malum countered. “We know this planet’s core has a unique high temperature. It is unlikely life could be sustained underground.”
“He’s right.” I stood up straight.
Jinx mumbled under her breath, “The civilization could have adapted to higher temperatures. But fine, probably four thousand people.” The edge of her mouth curled up in a smirk.
I gaped.
Had she been making a joke?
We’d been working for so many hours that delirium was setting in, and I honestly couldn’t tell.
Movement in the back of the room caught my eye, and suddenly I wasn’t tired. My jaw clicked shut, and I said, “I know what we need to do.”
A good strategist always had multiple iterations of a plan. They also used their best assets strategically to accomplish the hardest tasks the most efficiently.
“We’re going to enslave the ungodly,” I whispered, and Jinx sat up straighter.
“Fuck. You’re right,” Malum said softly, and the air beside me warmed as he walked over beside me.
The potent scent of tobacco and whiskey flooded my senses, and I swayed closer to the intoxicating aroma.
Bronze cheeks blushed scarlet.
A dagger glinted as he swallowed, Adam’s apple bobbing.