Page 25 of Bryce

“Have it your way,” I muttered, my forefinger hovering inches from her nose. “But don’t think about slowing me down. This is my mission now, mine and Logan’s. This is what we do. If I issue a command, you follow it. None of this standing there with hands on hips, challenging my authority. Understood?”

“Take your finger out of my face.”

I left it there. “You can tell yourself all you wish that my wanting you to stay behind had to do with your sex. To tell the truth, it had more to do with your inability to follow commands. You couldn’t even be bothered to follow my order to stay behind and keep yourself safe. You were right. You might as well have stayed behind.”

Her face fell. Her eyes widened.

That got her.

Unfortunately, it got me as well.

I’d hurt her. The last thing I wanted to do.

My lion hardened me, reminding me she’d hurt herself by refusing to listen to orders. Better she be hurt now, by my words, than later by an actual physical threat. If shocking her into a little common sense and respect was what it took, I could accept that.

We continued, then, with Gate retrieving his makeshift javelin and using it as a walking staff. Each deliberate thump of wood against ground marked another step closer to… what?

We’d soon find out.

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