Page 45 of Prisoner of Steel and Shadow

Better them than you, Shadow.

All around the field, those who’d been out of range stood back up on shaky legs and resumed their search.

Shadow slapped at Ronan’s shoulder. “Get off me.”

“What? Oh.” He blushed and pushed off her, holding out a hand to help her up. “Sorry.”

She begrudgingly accepted it but dropped his hand as soon as she was upright so she could resume searching. To her ever-growing annoyance, he trailed along beside her. It was impossible to focus with him standing so close to her. There was something magnetic about his presence. It tugged at her, forcing her to sneak looks out of the corner of her eye. When she found him looking back, she snapped, “What?”

“I was just thinking, we should work together on this one. You know, I watch your back... you watch mine.”

“Absolutely not.” She scowled at him. “You’re the enemy. Why would I help you?”

“I just helped you,” he pointed out.

“You did not.”

He squinted, his expression lined with genuine concern. “Did you hit your head? I literally just used my body to save your life.”

“Please, all you did was throw your body on mine. Without my consent, I might add.”

“Since when do life-saving heroics require consent? Most people would say thank you.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not most people.”

“I’m well aware of that,” he muttered.

He sounded so put out, she had to bite back a laugh. She couldn’t help but be amused by his annoyance, but she knew better than to show it. If she gave him an inch, he’d take a whole damn mile, and then she’d never get rid of him. The last thing she needed was for him to become more entrenched in her life than he already had.

With a slight shake of her head, she turned away from him. “We may not have to face each other until the final trial, but that doesn't make you any less of an enemy. Only one of us can win.”

“True, but as you’ve just seen, one false step could be your undoing.” He whispered a soft “boom” while his hands mimed an explosion.

“Luckily for you—or perhapsunluckily—I don't intend to make any ‘false steps.’ I am exceedingly good at what I do.”

“Still, it never hurts to have allies.”

“We will never be allies, Ronan.”

“We already are. As I proved just a moment ago when I saved your neck.”

She rounded on him. “Stars, you are a stubborn bastard. Don’t you know when to quit?”

He grinned at her. “Nope, don’t have it in me. I always have to see a task successfully completed.” Then he winked.

An unexpected wave of heat crept into her cheeks, followed by a flurry of frustration.Who in the darkness’s name is this guy, and why won’t he leave me alone?A little growl escaped as she stormed off. Once again Ronan dogged her steps. Determined to ignore him, she squatted down to inspect a stack of rocks. He copied her.

“What the hell do you think you're doing now?”

“Making sure you don't get killed.”

“Well, I didn't ask for your help. Nor do I want it. Go. Away.”

He shrugged, standing as she did, entirely unfazed by her scathing tone and matching glare. “Doesn't matter. It’s a service I’m providing free of charge. That’s quite a boon. You should consider yourself lucky.”

She fought the urge to knock him over. “I'm really starting to loathe you.”

“You wouldn't be the first.”

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