She should have brought her dagger with her, but she left it in her bag in Cole’s rooms. She hadn’t expected a threat in the palace.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Becca demanded.
Lexi didn’t answer as she casually tried to open one of the doors; it remained locked. Every part of her yearned to bolt away from this malicious woman, but she wouldn’t give Becca the satisfaction of seeing her do that. So instead, she tried to pretend the woman didn’t exist.
She was reaching for another knob when Becca seized her wrist. Lexi jerked her hand away and spun on her. “Don’ttouch me.”
When Becca smirked at her, Lexi realized she’d given the woman what she wanted by reacting in such a way. Lexi reined in her temper as she tried to assume an air of indifference once more.
It was a lot harder to do so this time as the woman was far too close for her liking. She suspected the woman was trying to get her to lash out. It would give Becca an excuse to come after Lexi with every bit of the power she possessed.
Lexi was far more confident in her ability to run, punch, and kick after her training with Brokk; she wasn’t confident in her ability to withstand a fireball to the face. Turning, she compelled herself to walk away when what she really wanted was to launch herself at Becca and claw the eyes out of her pretty little head.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Becca said as she trailed Lexi.
Lexi didn’t bother to respond, and she didn’t look back, but Becca’s steps continued to trail her down the hall.
“Listen, whore—”
This time when Becca grabbed her, Lexi’s temper unraveled, and before she could stop herself, she spun and stomped on the woman’s foot.
“Ow!” Becca blurted.
When she lifted her leg in response to the stomping, Lexi delivered a solid blow to her solar plexus. The impact caused the air to erupt out of Becca, and she staggered back.
Her hands flew to her chest as she wheezed for air. Lexi wasn’t sure who was more astounded by the punch, her or Becca, but she had to admit it feltgreat.
“I told younotto touch me,” Lexi snarled.
Becca’s breathing started to return to normal, and the flames along the walls sputtered. When Becca lowered her hands, the air crackled as her power seeped out around her.
Chapter Fifty
Lexi bracedherself as the woman advanced on her. She couldn’t fight Becca’s powers, but if she could keep the woman from unleashing her abilities, she might have a chance at fending her off.
Lexi was about to rush at her when a door swung open and crashed into Becca’s face. The flames stopped dancing, and the friction in the air released. A bubble of laughter rose in Lexi’s throat as the door slammed shut again.
Once closed, Lexi could see Becca standing there with her hands covering her face. Blood poured down and dripped onto the ground.
She couldn’t see most of Becca’s face, but the shock in her eyes was evident. Lexi gawked at the door; she was fairly certain that when she tried that door, it wouldn’t open.
“You bitch!” Becca spat in a nasally tone.
Lexi couldn’t stop herself from laughing. She probably shouldn’t find such amusement in what happened; the palace might smack her for laughing, but she couldn’t help it. Even if it delivered a door to her face next, she loved this place.
“I didn’t open the door,” Lexi said in between her laughter.
“Who’s back there?” Becca demanded.
Her blood-coated fingers slipped on the surface of the knob as she tried to yank it open, but the door didn’t budge. Itwasone of the sealed rooms.
Lexi was still marveling over that when Becca spun on her. The blood spilling from her nose dripped off her upper lip to splatter the floor.
“You bitch!” Becca spat as she advanced on Lexi.
Refusing to back away, Lexi planted her feet apart as she tried to figure out how to deflect Becca’s powers while beating her ugly. When the flames in the torches danced higher, Lexi couldn’t stop herself from glancing at them.
Keep your attention on your enemy!
