12. Steele

12

STEELE

Rage blistered through my veins as Kieran stared at me expectantly with her arms crossed beneath her breasts. "So, are you going to tell me what the hell we're doing at any point, or is our training today simply a glaring contest?"

Fuck, that little mouth had my cock hardening, furthering my anger with her. I'd heard the moans she made with her throat full of another man's cock this morning—and the way she made him break apart for her…She was quite the vixen, this golden-haired angel, bringing each of her conquests to their knees.

Everyone except me.

She uncrossed her arms long enough to flip her hair over her shoulder and look around the room. "Honestly, I think I'd prefer the glaring contest to whatever you're planning on using this room for, so by all means, let's continue."

My jaw clenched so tightly I felt the strain through each tooth and down the thick cords of muscle in my neck. It was like she didn't realize what she was doing to me, wreaking havoc on my mental state every damn day since she'd tumbled into our camp. One moment I wanted her gone from my sight and the next I wanted to see her squirming beneath me as she took my cock.

I tracked the rise and fall of her breasts as she took a deep breath, still scanning the area.

Here I was, falling under her spell ever since she'd stepped in to take care of Amelia on the battlefield, when I'd been too shocked to react. I cleared my throat roughly as I closed my eyes for a second, trying to get images of this siren out of my mind. I was a moron, bending so easily under her charms. So were the rest of the guys staying under my roof—including Gabe.

I'd tried to soften toward the guys, to give them a chance, and I realized I didn't truly despise them. In fact, with their dead affinities now presenting themselves, I was able to clearly see just how valuable they were to the Rebellion.

I just hated the way I had to watch Kieran with them.

My fists curled into balls at my side. The way I had to hear it, in my own house.

She was supposed to be on her knees begging me for everything her body needed. That wicked tongue was made for me, not them . I'd thought maybe if she saw a gentler side of me, she'd come to realize how our jagged edges fit together and change the focus of her attention. Somehow, I'd even come to the conclusion that I could share her with Gabe, if that's what they both wanted.

The other three could go kick rocks with no shoes on. I wanted them around to use their dead affinities and to have a wyvern in our ranks, but that was the sole purpose they served in my mind.

Her voice startled my eyes back open. "Are we back to being the broody little commander? The reprieve from his arrogance and wrath was nice while it lasted, but I knew it couldn't be forever."

The faux sweetness in her tone made my lips thin as I pictured wrapping my hand around her throat until she couldn't sass me anymore. But then I remembered her throat was quite occupied nowadays.

There was nothing little about me, and she knew it. What she didn't know was that this could have been forever, if she would just open her eyes and see how I was trying to bridge the chasm we'd created between us in the first few weeks of her being here.

"Do you have any openings in your schedule to gag on anyone else's cock today, or are you full up?"

I didn't think before my mouth opened and spewed the first thought I had. My words came out sharp and biting, causing her to visibly flinch. I watched the openness I'd recently come to enjoy seeing on her face melt away, replaced with the snarky, pissed off princess I'd known her as.

A stab of regret speared my chest.

Fuck, maybe I needed to just actually talk to her about how I felt. But what if she rejected me? That was the question that had been holding me back for days. I'd rather live in uncertainties than know with finality she didn't want me.

"Depends on who is asking," she retorted, lifting her nails to examine them. "If it's for you, then I'm full. If it's for literally anyone else with a dick in the Rebellion…" Her eyes flicked back up to mine, "Then I can squeeze them in."

And there went the regret.

I was a fucking fool to think she'd see what I saw between us. But maybe that was where I went wrong to begin with—thinking there was a future in which we could put aside our differences and revel in the inferno we created between us.

Why the fuck couldn't I feel this draw toward any other angel in the Rebellion? Literally anyone. Standing here arguing with her would only rile me up in every way possible. I needed a cold shower and space from her as soon as possible. I resigned myself to do my job this morning and nothing more.

It was likely we were going to have to work together with our affinities as a Rune Maker and Star Keeper, and I'd taken on the responsibility of training her from the beginning. I had to find a way to turn this switch in my brain off and fall in line with my duties once more, though. My toxic infatuation with Kieran wouldn't be the reason the world perished.

"Start running," I instructed in a cold voice, pointing at the starting point of the course I'd carefully constructed within this warehouse.

I ran my eyes over the course with appreciation thrumming through my chest. It'd been a labor of love, creating this death trap with my runes. Only the highest level combat angels were allowed in here to train, considering the amount of injuries it resulted in. To test her abilities, I'd already planned on having Kieran come here the next time she was with me for more training, but now I'd probably enjoy watching her get her ass knocked around a little bit.

She jogged over to the start, propelling herself up with her wings to the high platform. "I don't understand what I'm looking at here, Steele." Her voice easily carried through the large room, echoing slightly.

"That's the point, Princess," I called back, smirking at her. "There are runes all over it, hiding exactly what you're facing until the moment it happens. We use it to help train reflexes, instead of simply memorizing a typical course ahead of time. You've seen how quickly we need to react in a real battle."

I also changed out the runes often to keep my people on their toes. The current model was truly spectacular, though.

"Great," she muttered softly. "I thought I was fucking done with obstacle courses when I left Alfemir. Am I able to use my wings?"

My face screwed up at the question. Did they not let her in Alfemir? That was an odd thought. "Yes, any tool you have at your disposal in a regular battle is fine."

She jumped up and down a couple times while shaking her hands out, warming her body up as I'd taught her. After a few quick stretches that I had to force myself to stop watching in appreciation, her muscles bunched in preparation to fly. She took off, launching into the open space above three large wooden spikes protruding from the wall that were presently visible. Just as everyone did.

The first rune glowed above them as her energy set them off, launching out a multitude of long, rectangular blocks of wood at alternating lengths and speeds. She managed to dodge the first two on instinct, but the third caught her in the shoulder, making her let out a string of curses.

"Motherfucking shit."

The corners of my lips turned up and I let my wings unfurl, carrying me toward the course so I could follow her progression up close as she went.

Falling back into the zone, she quickly righted herself and managed to fly through the rest of the blocks to the next platform. I had to hold back my chuckle for what was coming when she landed. I couldn't spoil the fun with my anticipation out loud.

The second her feet touched down, I felt the rune drawing on my energy. Distracted by trying to scope out the wall for any hidden traps in the next part, the bottom of the platform fell out beneath her and a yelp escaped her as she plummeted. As she popped back up, flying above where she stood seconds prior, her height triggered the next rune.

A blast of air knocked her forward in the course, setting off a chain reaction of different gusts knocking her around like a newborn angel with no control of their wings. She tumbled, desperately trying to right herself with her arms and wings, but every time she gained traction, the next gust sent her spiraling the opposite way.

I couldn't hold back my laugh anymore as she shouted, "Steele, what the fuck!"

My intentions in bringing her here were pure to begin with, truly wanting her to get more training in trusting her instincts and reflexes. I hadn't been looking forward to her struggling on this course. She'd demanded to come to the battle with us before, despite my insistence she stayed home, and I had no doubt she'd be at the front of every single one moving forward. We needed to ensure she survived for the sake of all our lives.

However, I couldn't deny the spark of glee within me at her frustrations now. It was slowly allowing me to release some of the pent up fury within me that wanted to scream at her and demand to know what she saw in those guys that she didn't see in me. Not once had she tried to touch me, or even be near me. The closest she got was in passing at the house.

Finally, she reached the end of the wind tunnel, sans a few of her feathers that floated in the air behind her. Her gaze was furious as she turned to glare at me, nostrils flared as she panted heavily.

I cupped my hands around my mouth and yelled, "Keep it moving, Princess. This is probably the slowest and least graceful first attempt I've ever seen."

Her lips pursed as she let out a growl. My cock twitched in my pants at her response. She was the most headstrong and stubborn woman I'd ever met, and that was really saying something, considering who my grandmother was.

I fucking hated how much I admired the trait.

"Is that what all the girls say that you beg to grace your bed?"

An image flashed through my mind of dragging her ass off the course to make her body shake as she took every inch of my cock. I'd have her apologizing and begging me to let her come within minutes. Even then I wouldn't relent. Bad behavior wouldn't be met with good rewards, after all.

I let out a tsk. "You were even a bit slow with that snarky response. Do you need to take a break already? It seems that the course is a lot for you to handle. There's no shame in admitting you can't take it."

It was like something shifted within her at my words and she took off, seemingly fearless of whatever came her way next. I hated the part of me that took so much pride in that, as if she was actually mine to feel that way about.

Her wings tucked in tightly as she spiraled through the next section like a bullet locked onto its target, sweeping over the metal spikes sending off sparks of lightning beneath her. Curving her path up toward the tunnel running straight up and down, she pulled her shoulders back as her chin tilted up, narrowed eyes focused on her goal.

"I won't fail this course too."

I could barely hear her words this time but instantly knew they weren't for me. Whatever was driving her right now was an old wound. Some of my anger resurfaced at the thought of what she faced in Alfemir. While I'd likely never know the details, the emotional scars she carried were so easy to see in these moments.

She shot up the tunnel, grunting as heat followed her ascent, with flames licking up at her feet. I watched in quiet awe as she maneuvered through the rest of the course with a determined glint to her eyes. I didn't bother making any comments, knowing she was in her own world right now. Small grunts of pain slipped from her as she made a few small errors in judgment, but before I could even think to worry, she found a new path and moved on.

I flew alongside her until the end came into sight. As she prepared herself for the final stretch, I settled in at the end of it, waiting for her to emerge through the small funnel. Typically, with their larger frames and the layered barbed wire within, this was the area that my guys dreaded most.

Her eyes met mine for the first time in nearly ten minutes, and it was like everything malicious swirling within me had fallen away while watching her prove to herself that she could do this. I wanted to hold her and tell her how great she did when she finished. I wanted to clean her off in the showers and tell her how proud of her I was.

I swore she could sense the change within me as we stood in the silence. Her lips parted as I watched her throat move with a harsh swallow. The pink of her tongue swept along her lips as a blush crawled up her cheeks.

Heat and desire pooled within me as I recalled her soft breathy moans as my fingers plunged into her pussy. The way she tried so hard to lie to herself in that moment, to convince herself that her body didn't want me. The way she was already slick as I'd pressed my fingers to her clit for the first time, swirling them around. Her body betrayed her words, and here I was, wondering if I could fuck her into seeing how badly I still wanted her.

To see how badly we needed each other.

"Crawl to me, Princess," I growled, narrowing my eyes on her in challenge. I dragged my bottom lip between my teeth, biting the soft flesh to keep myself from telling her exactly what I had waiting for her on the other side.

Her eyes sparked with a golden light as her chest rose and fell with quick breaths before sinking to her knees slowly and disappearing into the entrance of the small crawl space. I ran my hands over my face roughly, knowing she couldn't see me now.

What the fuck was I going to do? A war waged within me—was I going to fight for what I knew we could have, or was it pointless? Would this end with me falling for her even more if she didn't want to commit to me and I couldn't cut it off now?

A sharp cry sounded from within the metal chamber, and I couldn't stop myself from darting over to the section I thought she'd be in.

"Talk to me, Princess," I demanded, hoping she could hear me through the thick material surrounding her.

Another cry came, this one filled with agony.

Something broke within me, and in a second, I was drawing a rune on the metal. Energy funneled through me and into it, lighting it up until a ring of hot fire circled around the tunnel, searing it open slowly.

"Don't move, Kieran!"

It felt like agony to stand here, waiting for the tunnel to crack open enough, but when it finally did and strands of her golden hair came into view, I lept into action. Jumping onto the side breaking off just ahead of her, I stomped it off and kicked it to roll away, leaving me room to get on my belly and help her out.

I lowered myself down just as her head lifted. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she breathed out, "I didn't finish. I failed."

A lump formed in my throat, and in that exact moment, I knew I couldn't walk away from her, ever.

"Baby, I need you to tell me where you're hurt, so I can help you out," I breathed out, trying to stay calm and collected for both our sakes. Her body began to tremble as full sobs came over her. It was like a dagger to the chest. I couldn't tell whether the tears were from her physical wound or emotion, but every fiber of my being was screaming to fix them both.

"Focus on me," I demanded as my heart raced within my chest. "Where are you hurt?"

"My wing," she managed to answer between deep sobs. "It's caught."

I should have told her to put them away. I was too busy being caught up in my lust and confusion and wanting her to go at this course alone like the rest of my cadets would. How was I supposed to find the line between training her to the extent she needed—while not coddling her like everyone else would—and feeling like I was simultaneously falling apart on the inside seeing her like this?

"Just hold still for me, Baby," I breathed out, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Hold very still. I'm going to get you out."

She nodded and I jumped to my feet, setting to work with drawing another rune to split the tunnel down the top. As it glowed and began to work, I jumped to the top of it, watching it slowly crack open. My eyes quickly assessed where the barbed wire was coming from as the tunnel moved and revealed her wings. I had to act quickly or the barbed wire being dragged open would hurt her more, taking her wing with it.

I didn't hesitate, shoving my hand into the mangled black feathers, ignoring the spears of pain as the sharp barbs tore into my skin in the process. Wet crimson flowed from my hands as I carefully peeled back each piece of metal. I tried to be as gentle as possible, but the blood was making the barbed wire slippery to handle. As the metal tunnel popped open entirely, I eased my feet down to get into a better position behind her.

Her soft cries continued, and I found myself saying whatever came to mind to try and soothe her as I worked on the worst part of the barbs stuck into the bone running into her shoulder blade.

"You did great, Kieran."

She slapped her hand over her mouth as a small scream bubbled up. My mouth pinched tightly as I pulled out the worst of it in one swoop.

"You never gave up. I'm so proud of you."

Her head lowered to the flat metal beneath her, shaking at my words.

"Don't shake your head at me, Princess. You don't get to tell me when I am and am not allowed to be proud of you."

Finally, I got all the barbs out of her and quickly tossed it away from her. Her body went limp, and I knew I needed to get her to the healers to alleviate the agony she was in as quickly as possible. Gingerly scooping her into my arms, I murmured, "I know this might hurt, but I'm going to get us to the healers now. Leave your wings out, so the bones don't shift any more."

Her head rolled against my chest as I situated her. She didn't bother responding to me, and there was something subtly meaningful in her trust in me at that moment. I jogged us to the exit doors as quickly and carefully as I could, trying to not jostle her, but it was impossible.

She burrowed her face against my chest as she tried to muffle her sounds of pain. Finally, the sky came into view and I snapped my wings out, launching us softly into the air and toward the medical center.

"I've got you," I whispered over and over again until my feet touched down outside the building.

Eyes were trained on us, and I bore my teeth at the onlookers as I growled, "Look away if you know what's good for you!"

It wasn't fair to yell at our people like that, but all logic and rationale had gone out the window recently. I didn't want anyone to see her in any sort of helpless state.

Someone ran to hold the doors open for me so I could quickly move us into the lobby. Healers jumped onto their feet the second we walked through the doors, but as their hands reached for her, I took a step back and screamed, "No! Do not touch her."

My chest heaved with my labored breathing and overwhelming desire to keep her in my arms.

"Hold the doors for me!" I snapped, walking down the familiar hallway. "I'm taking her to the healing pool. The doctor can see her afterwards."

"Sir, we really—" a woman began to say as she took another step toward me.

A growl ripped out of my throat. "I don't care what you have to say. Get out of my way."

I wasn't handing her over.

Another nurse took over, stepping up and gesturing me forward. "This way. Let's go, quickly."

Soon enough, I felt the warmth of the pool saturating the hallway as we approached the west wing of the facility.

"No one else is in there," she informed me as she held the door open. "I will ensure it stays that way unless there's an emergency."

With a nod of my appreciation, I stepped into the room and kicked off my shoes as the door fell shut behind us. Kieran had fallen silent. I dropped my eyes to her, finding her staring up at me, blinking as tears streamed silently down her cheeks.

My heart squeezed, wondering if this is what it felt like to feel her trust in full. If so, I never wanted to give up the warmth flooding me from it.

Carefully walking toward the closest pool, I lowered us step by step until my eyes settled on a seat in the bubbling water. Blood immediately began to fill the pool as we submerged ourselves in it. The gently sloshing water flowed around us as I loosened my grip on her to allow her wings more room to float behind her.

She winced as the heat and magic within the water began to do their job. Holding her gingerly as I fully sat in the water, half holding her to me and half helping her body stay supported so her face didn't sink beneath the water, I let out a heavy sigh.

She was here now. She would heal.

Her eyes closed and I kept my eyes trained on the pulse at her neck as the time dragged on. I wasn't sure how long we stayed like that, but when her tears had long since faded and her body no longer shook, those beautiful, golden eyes opened to stare at me once more.

I felt her muscles tense as she prepared to move, and panic set in.

"No," I demanded, pulling her in closer to my chest once more, loving the feel of the way her body cradled against mine without hesitation. "I…just give me a few more minutes."

My own adrenaline was slowly coming down, but it left me with thoughts and questions I wasn't ready to face.

"Okay," she breathed out before setting her head into the crook of my neck.

Her breathing fanned across my skin as I leaned my head back against the edge of the pool and closed my eyes.

Where did we go from here?