Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 235897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1179(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 786(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 235897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1179(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 786(@300wpm)
“Not sleeping well?” I ask him, noting the circles beneath his eyes. Abandoning our coats, my squad heads for the edge of the mat, mirrored by First Wing.
“A certain hazel-eyed rider kept me up last night talking.” He turns and says something to Garrick, who nods. “Which I didn’t mind, since my bed is too cold without you physically in it and too quiet without you screaming my name.”
Oh, he wants to play? A corner of my mouth lifts.
Game on. “I miss Aretia, miss sleeping next to you. Find a way to sneak me in and I’ll keep that bed at precisely the right temperature for you to get some…rest.” I roll my shoulders and stretch out my arms, just like my squadmates are doing.
“If I find you in my bed, there’s no resting, trust me.” Xaden turns toward the front of the mat, bracing his feet apart and folding his beautifully toned arms. “Lieutenant Tavis here is an incredibly powerful wind wielder—”
“Don’t forget that I know exactly how to knock you out for the night—” I drop my arms and Xaden shoots me a warning look, but the edges of his mouth curl up.
“—and has agreed to let you try your best to bring him—” He full-on smirks. “Knock me out? You’re usually the one begging for mercy a few orgasms in—”
“Want to see begging? All I have to do is swirl my tongue around the tip of your—”
Xaden coughs like he swallowed a nonexistent bug, and Garrick glances sideways at him. “Down,” he finally finishes. “Lieutenant Tavis is willing to be your sparring dummy.” He rolls his neck and chances a look in my direction.
I simply smile. “You started it.”
“I’d give anything to be able to finish it.” Xaden’s fingers curl. “You’re going to be the death of me.”
“So you keep saying.” I try not to think about the other ways that statement can be interpreted.
The fire wielder steps up first, and Garrick blows her own flame back at her.
“That’s…unnerving,” Ridoc mutters, and Imogen masks a smile to my right.
“We go as a team,” Rhiannon says quietly by my side. “They never said it had to be one-on-one.”
I nod. “Good idea.”
Rhiannon relays orders quietly.
The metallurgist—Loran—learned from his last attempt, and within seconds, Garrick unclips the harness across his chest and the scabbards fall from his back before he blasts Loran to his ass with air.
“You ready to join in, Second Squad?” Garrick asks, crooking his fingers directly at Imogen.
“You don’t want anything to do with these.” She lifts her hands.
“Why don’t you put them on me and we’ll see?” A corner of his mouth tilts and a dimple pops in his cheek.
“Oh gods, just stop flirting and fuck already,” Ridoc says.
Every head slowly turns in his direction.
“I said that out loud, didn’t I?” he asks me in a hushed whisper.
“Oh yeah, you did,” I reply, patting him on his back. “Garrick’s going to blow you off the mat.”
“Now that I might enjoy, depending on the method he chooses—” Ridoc winces. “I’m going to stop talking now.”
“You might want to keep the inside voices inside while we’re up there,” I agree, following Rhiannon, Cat, and Quinn onto the mat, hauling Ridoc behind me when he hesitates.
“How exactly is this fair?” Garrick asks.
“We’re never alone on the battlefield, are we?” I tilt my head to the side.
His face tightens, obviously getting my meaning.
“We fight as a squad,” Rhiannon says from the center of our group, and Ridoc moves to my left.
“Solid point.” Xaden retreats to the back of the mat. “Begin.”
Rhiannon lifts her hands beside me, and two of Garrick’s daggers appear in them.
“Nice,” Garrick admits with a slight smirk, then flicks his hands upward.
Ridoc steps forward simultaneously, throwing a wall of ice that’s instantly battered by a gust of wind that rivals the tornado Tairn and I got caught up in.
The edge of the ice chips at the assault, and chunks barrel my way.
I spin toward our squad and tackle Rhi to the ground as the ice flies overhead so near I can hear it whistle.
“Too close!” Xaden bellows, and I look up to see him taking a step in Garrick’s direction, rage etched in the hard lines of his face.
“Don’t! I’m fine!” I stagger to my feet as Quinn squeezes her eyes shut and turns her palms toward the sun.
“He nearly took off your fucking head.” Xaden looks at Garrick in a way I’ve never seen, like his best friend has suddenly morphed into prey, and there’s that cold edge in his eyes that prickles the hair at the back of my neck.
My power rises in response, and I welcome it with open arms, savoring the quick rush of heat and the hum of energy in my veins.
“My head is still firmly attached.” Through translucent ice, I see two Quinns appear on Garrick’s sides. “Give me his blade.” I pivot toward Rhi and hold out my right hand, which she promptly fills with Garrick’s dagger.