The door slammed open. “Today isn’t your lucky day, Flower.”
Shit. He was furious about something. Did he see me go into the warden’s office? Nah, he would have stormed in if he had. The sexy demon just had a stick up his ass like usual.
“Every day I’m stuck in this prison with you isn’t my lucky day, so what’s new?” I responded casually.
“Everyone ready?” Jaxon glanced at his brothers.
Blake eyed him. “You okay, Hawk?”
“Peachy-fucking-keen. Now, let’s go.” Jaxon spun around and was out the door before anyone could object.
Mason glanced at me. “What did you do?”
My hands went up innocently. “I didn’t do a damn thing. I’ve been my same innocent self. He’s just a psycho.”
“It’s very possible she’s right.” Spencer nodded as we all got up to follow the crazy demon to the gym.
It was my least favorite time of the day. The two or three hours we spent beating the shit out of each other, all in the name of making me stronger, was more work than I ever agreed on. It was either them attacking me or attacking each other, so I could see moves to attempt to duplicate.
My defensive abilities had gotten better, but lately, I’d just wanted a damn vacation. I was sure my beaten body couldn’t take much more. I’d have to count the couple of days Nixie and me would be gone as my holiday from ass-kicking.
“Once they’re done with the physical stuff, we should stay longer and work on magical strength. If we’re ever in a situation without the Fabled Four, you need to figure out a way to tap into all of your abilities,” Nixie said, and I knew what she meant.
If we were going to ditch them to go see Greggor, I need to be prepared for anything.
“Sure, I’m happy to be broken physically and mentally today. Let the torture begin,” I droned.
The other prisoners were already off doing other duties like cleaning bathrooms, cooking, or laundry. It was always weird to see the common area so quiet, but less noise was good as I focused on preparing my mind for the beatings I was about to receive.
Even though I’d become stronger, it had taken every ounce of determination to push through the agony my body still felt after all these weeks. The guys didn’t take it easy on me, and I equal parts hated and loved them for it.
Entering the gym, Jaxon was already changed out of his jumpsuit and decided on wearing only sweatpants for the session. He was pounding his fists into a punching bag as we walked in, and I couldn’t stop watching the way his muscles rippled with every move he made.
Mason’s finger ran across my chin. “You got a little drool there, Siren.”
“Screw you, Gunner.”
“Ah, I value my life too much for that offer, but I will kick your ass first today if you’d like.”
Glaring, I nodded, then removed my sweatshirt as Nixie took up her usual spot beyond the mats, just close enough that she could yell at me whenever I was screwing up.
Blake and Spencer took the mat next to us. “Ace is going to give me his back. You need to watch how I approach him, then do the same to Gunner,” Blake said to me.
Observing, I took in the light steps of Blake’s feet, the outward position of his hands, and the exact moment he reached for Spencer. The empath’s arm wrapped around the dryad’s neck, while his leg moved between Spencer’s, taking them both to the ground.
Within a second, Spencer was trapped in a headlock, and his legs were locked between Blake’s. Spencer could have easily gotten out of it by using his abilities, but the guys were insistent that I first learn how to take one of them down without magic, considering mine seemed to be sporadic.
Once I could do that, I could do anything. Or so they said.
I’d only come close a few times with Mason and Blake, but never with Jaxon or Spencer, which frustrated the hell out of me.
When Blake and Spencer got up, it was time for me to do the same to Mason, except he wasn’t going to stand there and let me take him down. He was going to fight back.
He winked at me before giving me his back, and I replayed the steps Blake had taken in my head. Deciding we were two different types of fighters, I changed things up a bit. Creeping up to Mason, I kicked in his left leg that he liked to favor and, when his body buckled enough, I wrapped my arm around his neck.
Then, instead of bringing him down with me on the bottom, I put more pressure on the back of his legs, catching him off guard and sending him face-first into the mats. Mason started to twist, so I jerked his left arm back with my free hand and locked it behind his head.
“What the hell, Siren? You’re going to break my arm,” he complained.
“Are you giving up?” I whispered in his ear before tugging tighter on the awkward hold I had on him.
He bucked a few more times, but there was no way he was getting out of my tight grasp without using magic or breaking a bone. All of that muscle building I’d done was finally proving to be useful.
“Fine, you got me, but only because you didn’t do what Blake did,” he whined, but I laughed until a shadow fell over me.
“Do it again, but this time on me,” Jaxon growled.
That sex-on-a-stick couldn’t even let me celebrate for five damn seconds. Screw him. I was going to kick his ass, too.
Chapter 3
Backing up, I purposely bumped my ass into Jaxon’s junk and enjoyed the shudder that rolled off his body. If he wanted to cut my victory down, then I’d play dirty as payback.
“Shall we do the same thing, or would you like to try a different position?” I offered seductively to Jaxon, and the others backed away slowly.
“Same,” he grunted.
He turned around, and I no longer cared that he wanted me to try the same move again. Training was all about learning, and I’d realized that in order to beat these assholes, I needed to keep them on their toes.
Striding up to Jaxon, I ran a hand down his back, feeling the tremor of effects my touch had. Just as he turned his head to likely reprimand me, I kicked in the back of his leg like I’d done with Mason, but this time, I twisted around to the front and pushed his unsteady body to the ground, so he landed on his back instead of his chest.
Wasting no time, I pounced on top of him, brought his arms down to his sides, and locked my legs around his waist. Then I leaned forward, putting more pressure than necessary on his hips, and dug my forearm into his throat, hopefully cutting off his air supply.
“How’s that for the same, Hawk?” I murmured, using his nickname, because it seemed to infuriate him when I did.
His stormy eyes bled crimson, and I tsked at him. “No magic or you lose anyway.”
Pushing down harder, I made sure he knew I was well aware of what our current position was doing to him. Even though it tortured me, I needed him to know that even though he could be a dick, I knew he still wanted me.
“You’re fighting dirty, Flower.”
“No, I’m fighting to win.” Pulling my arm back, I slammed my elbow into his jaw and enjoyed the thud it made as I put all of my weight into it, but I’d made a mistake. I’d leaned too far forward and, before I knew it, I was on my back.
“Better try harder next time, because you failed.” Jaxon pressed his body on top of mine, sending my hormones through the roof at the close contact, and then offered me the same treatment with his elbow, but to my ribs instead.