Page 60 of Prisoner of Steel and Shadow

And he would continue to do so because Ronan would not be stopped. He wasn’t going anywhere until he had Reyna back where she belonged.

With him.

In his arms.

In his bed.

Whether she knew it or not, this woman was his future.

Comforted by his little pep talk, Ronan stood and purposefully strode over to her. Shadow stiffened without turning around, sensing his presence. He was inordinately pleased to learn she was still so attuned to him. That she knew he was near without looking.

“Have you come to gloat?” she asked, sounding resigned.

“No, I've come to tell you a story.”

That got her attention.

She slowly lifted her head, tilting her chin to the side so she could look up at him over her shoulder. “A story? What kind of story?”

He claimed the empty seat across from her with an unapologetic smirk. “I figured it's past time I tell you how we met.”

CHAPTER18

SHADOW

Ronan’s sunshine and ember scent washed over her. It was so uniquelyhimshe knew he was near without having to check. In fact, the second he’d entered the tavern, she’d known exactly where he was, as if her body now existed in orbit to his. She wondered if it was the same for him.

Despite her harsh words in the alley, the man intrigued her. For the first time she could recall, she felt trulyseenby someone else. Not just seen—valued. And not as a shiny toy to be paraded around or as a monster used to frighten others into submission. Valued for the simple fact she existed at all.

It was a novel experience. One she hadn’t quite wrapped her head around. One that left her filled with questions whose answers she could never pursue.

It’s why she pushed him away—or rather ran away—after blowing up at him in the alley. At the time, she’d meant each and every word. But left with nothing but time on her hands after Erebos sent her away, she weighed the man’s actions against her accusations, and... they didn’t add up.

He’d been a steady presence at her side through the entire race. He’d never interfereduntilhe thought she was in danger. The relief and resulting shock on his face couldn’t be faked. Ronan truly believed she’d needed help. And instead of laying into her when she accused him of being a misogynistic prick, he’d gone on to show her how wrong she was.

If anyone was the judgmental ass, it was her. She’d thought she’d had him pegged. That he was just another overbearing, alpha male asshole who was all talk without the necessary skill to back it up. And he proved her wrong.

Not just wrong, completely fucking wrong.

Ronan didn’t just back it up; he’d downplayed his talent. He was far more skilled than he’d ever even alluded to. But the part that really rankled? She’d bought it. She never once considered him a true threat when the fact was,hewas better thanher.

He’d beat her.

No onebeat her.

Shadow hadn’t gotten her ass kicked in a skill test like that in years. There was a reason she was the best. She worked ten times harder than anyone else to ensure it. Proved it so often that she would never have to prove herself again.

Until now.

It was an exhilarating proposition, especially considering it very well meant the two of them would be facing off against each other in the end. Though the thought of besting him didn’t sit as easily as it once did. Killing was easy. She’d done it for as long as she could remember. But nothing about ending Ronan’s life would be easy.

The simple truth was, he didn’t deserve to die.

She considered herself quite the expert at reading people, and intuition told her Ronan was a good man. A little rough around the edges, perhaps, but who in her world wasn’t? It wasn’t enough to garner a death sentence. Or to even be on the receiving end of her undiluted temper.

Shadow owed him an apology, or at the very least an explanation, but he’d get neither. Because no matter how drawn to him she was, nothing had changed. They were enemies, fighting against each other for the same prize, and only one of them could win. All she could offer him was a fair fight and try to protect him from Erebos.

His shadow moved across her tabletop, and she tensed, knowing this conversation was unavoidable and dreading it anyway. But he couldn’t keep sniffing around her. He was going to get himself killed—and not by her. She’d at least guarantee him a quick and painless death. The same could not be said for the others, least of all Erebos.

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