A smug smile played at the corner of War’s mouth. “And there it is.”
“And there what is?” I demanded through clenched teeth.
“The reason you’ve been so different lately.”
I refused to reveal any reaction to his statement. I didn’t think I was acting differently at all, but War must have sensed something, which meant the others had too. I thought I hadn’t let Bale affect me, but I’d been different somehow, and this asshole picked up on it.
“Did you bring her here to keep her?” War inquired as he stepped closer. “Because we both know we cannot allow the enemy to survive in our midst.”
I didn’t respond while I studied his deliberate, stalking movements. Our abilities didn’t work against each other, but his might work on Bale. Because she was my Chosen, she might be able to withstand his influence and keep from attacking me. However, if he turned her against me, I’d have a difficult time fighting them both, especially since I wouldn’t hurt her.
So far, he was keeping his ability leashed. Probably because, like me, he wasn’t in a rush to kill one of his own. If this started, it would end in the death of one of us, and it would behisdeath.
“If she’s your Chosen, then claim the bitch,” War said.
My fingers twitched over his continued use of the word bitch when it came to Bale.
“If she’s unwilling to be claimed, then do it by force,” War continued.
He was only a few feet away when he stopped.
“Or are you too much of a coward for that?” War demanded. “You never did have the stomach to do what was necessary.”
“What happens to her ismydecision to make,” I replied.
“Not when you’ve brought her into our home.”
“And what are you going to do about it?”
“You can’t protect her all the time.”
He was baiting me and trying to elicit an uncontrolled reaction from me. I was still maintaining some control, but it was also working. I was on the verge of unleashing everything and beating him into a bloody pulp while I relished the feel of his skin and bones breaking beneath my blows.
When we fought behind the seals, we were evenly matched, but then we were fighting because of boredom, hatred, and for fun. Now, he was a danger to my Chosen, and though the bond wasn’t complete, I would protect her.
“Don’t threaten her,” I warned. “You will regret it.”
“If I get my hands on her, I’ll rape her until she can’t walk, and that’s when I’ll start cutting off tiny pieces of her. And when she heals, I’ll start all over again.”
My nostrils flared as my flames rose to my elbows. He’d done it numerous times before, and he’d reveled in it every time. I had to be smart about this.
I grabbed Bale’s sword before leaving my chamber; I wouldn’t allow her to get it back that easily. War had two small swords strapped to his hips and his ability to sway Bale to violence.
But I had to make my move soon. The longer we remained in this standoff, the more chance Death and Pride would return too. If they joined the fight, I wouldn’t be able to keep Bale safe.
When War settled back on his heels, I sprang into motion. Rushing at him, I lifted my elbow and drove it up and under his chin. His head shot back, and his teeth clicked together so loudly the sound vibrated throughout the tunnel.
Thrown off by my sudden attack, War hadn’t anticipated his baiting to unleash such savagery from me. He’d expected a fight, yes, but I didn’t think he anticipated a battle to the death, and that was what I planned for him.
He’d threatened my Chosen; he would torture her, and he would get the others to help him do it. He could not be allowed to live.
His head was still back from my blow when I grasped one of his swords and pulled it free. The blade was only a foot long, but when I buried it in his belly and twisted, it easily tore through flesh. Black blood spilled over my hand.
As I twisted the sword, I continued to bash my elbow up and under his chin… one, two, three more times. His head flew back with every blow, and his teeth shattered on the third strike.
Pulling the sword out, I didn’t give him a chance to unleash his power and try to turn Bale against me before plunging the weapon through his neck.
“Regret threatening her yet?” I snarled.
