Page 13 of A Sky of Storms
And guess who I was up against. Kayden freaking Hale, the huge unit from the Crimson Steppes. I mean, it should have been illegal to have muscles that big. He was practically the size of a bus … not that I was complaining about the view.
The sun glimmered obnoxiously happily above as I stretched out my muscles. I groaned, wishing I could drown my bad mood in coffee. Instead, a few unfortunate souls had suffered it already this morning. I didn’t feel bad about it—this was a competition after all—and they were throwing just as many punches my way. It just sucked for them that none landed like mine did.
I stretched, ignoring the groans of students getting the shit kicked out of them. Ah, just another day in the life. Combat training class took place outdoors, but of course we didn’t get to practice on the soft, spongey grass lining the hills nearby, or on the glittering sands by the lake. No, we were in an area with red, compact earth that hurt like a bitch to land on. A fact my new opponent had indulged in after driving everyone into it with his damn rock hands.
Kayden’s bronzed skin gleamed with sweat, tracking down his pecks all the way to the vee at his navy sweatpants. He caught me staring, and I did my best to paste on a ‘fuck off’ expression which caused his brown eyes to crinkle with amusement as he smirked.
“Like what you see, angel? I can show you more in my room later—show you how men from The Crimson Steppes handle their women.”
I shrugged, smiling like a cat. “No thanks, I’m afraid your size has gone everywhere except where it really matters.”
Kayden bristled, and I bounced on my toes, anticipating the fight. Bullies with as much brawn as him didn’t have the brain power to do anything but swing their fists.
He lifted a gigantic arm inked with a scorpion lifting a pair of boxing gloves, flicking his fingers for me to advance. “Don’t feel too bad when I drop you on your ass, gorgeous. Wouldn’t want you to chip one of your pretty nails.”
I feigned indifference, studying my black nails as they sparkled in the sunlight. “Actually, I had them sharpened just before I came. Never know when a girl might need to draw blood.”
“She fights dirty,” he purred, licking his lips. “I like that.”
“Enough chatter,” the combat trainer barked from across the ring. Master Nolan, one of the Overseer’s three musketeers and a total asshole. Apparently, he enjoyed pairing fighters with impossible odds, because Kayden had already taken out half the group and left them groaning on the ground, cradling broken bones and nursing new bruises.
Nolan didn’t seem to care about the injured, ignoring them as they moaned about their wounds. I would have been concerned for them if it wasn’t for two things; the giant rock currently trying to knock me out, and the fact that we were in a competition. If those students had to go home because they couldn’t cut it, I wouldn’t be the one standing in their way. I seized my moment while Kayden was distracted, tearing across the dusty red arena and flicking dirt in his eyes to blind him. He grunted, clawing at his eyes, and I climbed his back like a ninja and wrapped my legs around his neck, squeezing my thighs tightly. The muscles in his neck corded with effort as a snarl ripped from his throat.
He reached up and grabbed my shirt to toss me forwards, then gasped for air while simultaneously stomping the ground with his crushing feet. I rolled across the dirt quickly, his foot missing me by an inch, then rose into a crouch, swiping my leg at his feet while he was unbalanced so he would fall on his ass. But he flung out an arm, grabbing my shirt again and taking me with him as we hit the red dirt.
The momentum of his fall and my countering his hold on me caused us to roll across the training grounds, his weight damn near flattening me until we came to a stop. I punched him in the jaw as soon as we stopped, hissing in pain as the skin over my knuckles split. It was like punching an actual rock. Apparently, his strength and size were accompanied by some sort of magical barrier that hardened his skin—a trait I’d heard was an uncommon gift, even for those born in the Crimson Steppes. Either way, boulder brain was gonna pay.
His laughter boomed in my ear as he rolled us once more and pinned me down, securing my wrists and sliding his leg between mine so his dick—which was either suspiciously happy to see me or was just way bigger than I’d given him credit for—pressed against me.
Hunger swirled in his gaze, and I had to admit, it was pretty freaking hot being overpowered by this guy. But I wasn’t exactly the submissive type and the look in his eyes said he knew that too. I writhed against him, and a soft groan pulled from his chest.
“Keep doing that, angel, and we’re going to give the audience a real show in a minute,” he said huskily.
I looked around to find everyone watching. Did this guy really think I’d submit to this dominant bullshit? It took a lot more than some muscles and a big dick to get me going—well, okay, sometimes that worked, but not with high stakes like these. Besides, someone had to teach this misogynistic prick a lesson sometime soon.
I snarled. “Get off me you big brute.”
He grinned, slamming my wrists into the ground so hard that pain flared up my arms, the bones in my wrists jolting. “The next time you take me on, I won’t be so kind,” he hissed in my ear before getting up and walking away.
“Jerk,” I muttered, getting to my feet and dusting off my shorts.
Kayden shouldered the guy with the bionic hand on his way past. “Woops, sorry twiggy, didn’t see you there.”
“It’s Ace.”
The guy flung his hand out, cracking his bionic fist so hard and fast into Kayden’s gut that everyone gasped as the big guy stumbled back a step. I laughed, and everyone looked at me like I was going to get my head ripped off, but fuck if I wasn’t going to enjoy the show. Where was the popcorn when I needed it? If this guy wanted to take Kayden on, I’d get my pom poms out and do a little dance.
Master Nolan appeared to be as eager as I was to see how this thing would play out, despite the constant scowl on his face. He stood with his arms folded over his wiry chest, his brown eyes fixated on the two men who clearly hated each other. For what reason, I had no clue, and I didn’t particularly care. Let them destroy each other, more’s the victory for me.
Kayden blinked, his eyes narrowing into dangerous slits at Ace’s back as the smaller Damascian strode away.
I hadn’t heard much about Damascon Hollow, but everyone knew it was rough. The city was famous for its gang rivalry and high crime. Drugs, trafficking, theft, you name it. Unlike the rest of Terrulia, however, that city didn’t bother to hide it. People born there could never really afford to get out, and those that entered into gangs … they were in them for life.
“Catch up with him,” Master Nolan barked at Kayden and pointed at Ace. The guy clearly wasn’t happy about how the tiff had de-escalated. “He’s your next sparring partner.”
Kayden grinned, hulking off to where the guy from DH stood, tapping away at his cuff. Ace’s shoulder’s slumped at Kayden’s approach and he tossed his cuff onto the dirt irritably before moving into a stance opposite Kayden.
Kayden roared, racing towards Ace, picking him up, then slamming him to the dirt. They ended up rolling in a scrabble of fisticuffs, and even Nolan’s eyes widened delightedly as they threw wild punches, blood misting everywhere as they fought. He’d gotten the raw fight he was hoping for.
