Destiny's Fire (18 page)

Ms. Ceylon blew her whistle. “Nice try, Harkly. But no one’s beat Patcher yet. Keep practicing.”

I glared at Reese, and he craned an eyebrow, a smug expression plastered on his face. So what if he showed me up here? What did that prove? I doubted he could beat me if no one else was around. No, that wasn’t true. I’d never gotten to spar with him. But he knew I couldn’t take him on in front of everyone.
Punk
.

He sauntered his cocky self off the mat over to the Shythe girl, and my insides flamed. I blew out a deep, cleansing breath and took a seat on the bench for the rest of the block.

After power training let out, Lana and I hurried to our room to get changed. She wanted desperately for me to dress up with her and wear one of her corsets, and I finally conceded—picking out a light pink one with lace trim. It was way too perky for my sulk, but maybe it would make me seem less downhearted.

We met Jace and Nick in the back of the Academy, where we were allowed to store our vehicles, and I rode with Jace to the club.

Once we were in Cogs, Lana ran up to Devon and jumped into his arms. Yeah, she was definitely getting serious about him. They fit together so well it made my heart ache, missing that feeling for myself, although I was truly happy for her.

Glancing away from them, I studied the lighting system above my head, looking at it differently now that I understood—somewhat—how it worked. Jace came up beside me.

“Come on,” he said, taking my hand. “Let’s dance.”

I looked around, expecting to see Reese, but he was MIA. I laced my fingers through Jace’s, trying not to feel guilty. It was apparently—at least for Reese—over between us. I needed to move on. I wasn’t using Jace as the rebound guy, he deserved better, but I was confused about how to behave around him. I hoped he’d discover he’d been wrong about his feelings for me and that soon things would go back to normal between us.

I finally nodded. “All right.” Then I allowed him to lead me to the floor where Lana and Devon were dancing.

Almost a week ago, Jace had held me the same way he did now, and my world had shattered. My stomach knotted as he drew me closer. I tried to shove my unease away—telling myself I had no reason to feel ashamed—and wrapped my arms around him tighter.

We swayed to the slow music. An orchestra of violins and guitars engulfed us as steam swirled. I attempted to lose myself in the warmth of his embrace. I felt comfortable in his arms, protected. But just like the night of my birthday celebration, dancing with him felt off, strange, and like something was missing.

Jace pressed his lips to my forehead, leaving them there as he cradled me to his chest. He smelled like wind and ocean, with a hint of something sweet that was only Jace. His head pulled back, and I looked into his eyes as he moved closer. I panicked. Could I kiss him again? I wanted to. I wanted to kiss him freely this time, without Reese between us, and discover if I could feel for him what he felt for me.

But before our lips touched, someone interrupted our trance. A Narco stood beside Jace, one that I’d seen at the Academy. “Can I cut in?” he asked, lifting his brow.

Jace squinted at him, then looked to me. I shrugged. “I don’t mind,” I said, disappointed and a little relieved at the same time. I hadn’t been sure if I could actually follow through with the kiss.

“Yeah, that’s fine, man,” Jace told the Narco. “But she’s mine for the rest of the night.” He made his statement clear by kissing me on the cheek before walking away.

I smiled to myself, thinking Jace had come a long way if he was levelheaded enough to allow a Narco to dance with me rather than picking a fight in the middle of Cogs. Maybe he was accepting that we could live in peace, after all. Or maybe he was trying to prove something to me. Either way, I was relieved.

The Narco nodded his head once to me, and I moved closer, allowing him to take me in his arms. He was taller than Jace and even Reese, so I felt awkward with my head pressed against his chest. But he was being gentlemanly, keeping his hands along my back
. I guess he just wants to dance.

Before we could become comfortable with one another, someone else near us asked to cut in.
Are you joking?
Lana’s pink corset must have made me look like a hot commodity. I backed away, but then froze as Reese took the Narco’s place.

The club suddenly felt ice cold as the blood drained from the top half of my body. His hands hesitantly clasped my waist, but he kept a small distance between us. There was no warmth—no Narco power emanating from him. I urged my heart to calm as I closed the gap, molding my body into his embrace. He took a sharp breath.

Reese kept his head forward, eyes trained on something…other than me.
Fine
. I swallowed my pride and rested my head against his shoulder. His body stiffened.

My mind reeled, but I had to think of something to say. “How’re you liking the Academy?”
Lame
. But I was only trying to break the ice shield around him.

He huffed. “It’s all right.” He swayed us back and forth, but didn’t say anything else.

I timidly ran my hands along his back, reveling in the feel of his muscles beneath his leather jacket. I squeezed my eyes shut. “Reese…”

“Don’t.” He drew away from me a little.

“Then why are you dancing with me?” I looked into his eyes. They were still focused away from me.

He gritted his teeth, a muscle feathered his jaw. “You’re a good dancer.”

“Bull.” I shook my head. “At least give me the chance to expl—”

“Explain?” Reese finally looked at me, his eyes fire red. “I know what your explanation is, Dez. Jace kissed you, you didn’t see it coming, you panicked.”

“Yes. I panicked.” I sucked in a deep breath. “I didn’t know what to do.”

“So you kissed him back?” he said, his eyes glowing fiercely. “I saw the way you kissed him. No matter what, I knew Jace was my competition. I just thought we had something.” He turned his head away from me, his lips pressed in a hard line.

I opened and closed my mouth, my words dying on my tongue. I had kissed Jace back. I still didn’t understand why, other than I’d been caught off guard and I
had
panicked. But I couldn’t repeat Reese’s excuse back to him.

He stopped dancing and took a step away from me. “This was a bad idea.” He turned to go, but before he left, he added, “You and Jace make a cute couple.” Then he stormed off the dance floor, leaving me speechless and shaken.

So that was it. One mess up from me and everything between us was over. I hugged my waist as I inched through the horde of dancers. I pressed my back to the mirrored wall, hiding behind the filter of steam. Being raised by the Narcos, Reese’s pride had won out. He really was one of them, after all.

I slipped off the dance floor and out of the club. I wanted to run back to the Academy, but I knew Jace would freak if I disappeared.
God
, I hated that I could never do what I wanted, when I wanted.

Anger burned in my chest, replacing my guilt. I hadn’t meant to hurt Reese, but he wouldn’t give me the chance to redeem myself. His stubbornness infuriated me, boiling deep in the pit of my stomach. I marched back into the club and searched for him.

Reese was talking with his Narco buddies along the far wall. He wanted to play cruel and callous guy…fine. He had that Narco act down. But I was part Narco, too.

I took off toward him, ready to tell him off right in the middle of Cogs. He’d hear my side whether he wanted to or not. I was halfway across the club when a hand clasped my arm and halted my determined march.

“Hey,” Jace said, stepping in front of me. “What’s wrong?”

I closed my eyes, urging the anger burning in my chest to calm. My body shook, and I knew I had to get a grip. “Nothing,” I said and opened my eyes.

Jace’s forehead furrowed, and his eyes searched mine. “Bullshit. I know when you’re upset. What happened?”

I huffed out a long breath. He knew me too well and wouldn’t believe I wasn’t mad. “I’ll take care of it, Jace.” I glanced around his shoulder. Reese’s eyes caught mine, and flames ignited my blood.

Calm down
. I was scared my eyes would shift red.

Whipping around, Jace followed my gaze. He turned back toward me. “Did he do something to you?” His nostrils flared, and his eyes lit with blue fury. “I’ll kill him.”

He released me and started in Reese’s direction.

Shit!

Panicking, I latched onto his arm. “Jace, no.” I pulled against him as he forged forward. “It’s not what you think.” I couldn’t get him to stop. I’d messed up. I shouldn’t have looked at Reese.
Crap
. I shouldn’t have come back in the club at all with my emotions running high.

Jace was almost to the other side of the room, and I had to do something before he attacked Reese. My mind reeled. I jumped in front of his path, and he stopped. Then I grabbed his face and planted my lips on his. His lips were firm, unyielding to mine at first, as if I’d shocked him. Then I felt him give in. He cradled my face between his palms, and his lips parted against mine.

As we kissed, I maneuvered his back toward Reese, hoping he’d forget about him if he didn’t see him. After a several seconds, I pulled away. Jace’s eyes shone bright blue, and he smiled. I smiled back and quickly slid my eyes in Reese’s direction.

Reese leaned against the wall, his eyes and hands blazing red. The beer bottle he held heated, taking on the red glow…then shattered.

Chapter Sixteen

R
EESE
P
USHED
O
FF
T
HE
W
ALL
, fuming. He took one step toward me, then halted. He stared at me, and his eyes flashed violet. He quickly shut them, blinking the purple away, and headed out the exit.

I sunk against Jace. Reese had let his control to slip. It had only been a split second, but I’d seen it. My chest felt hollow, numb. I’d allowed my emotions to control me, acted on my anger. And Reese had almost given himself away. I buried my head in Jace’s shoulder.

This is wrong
.

“Hey,” Jace said into my ear. “You all right?”

I nodded against his shoulder. “Yeah.” I drew back and looked into his eyes. “Want to get out of here? I think I’m ready to go back to the Academy.”

His eyebrows furrowed. “Are you going to tell me what happened?”

I wracked my brain for something that wouldn’t make him flip out. At least the kiss had calmed him down. “He just said something about the Shythe, Jace.” I held his eyes. “It was stupid. I don’t even know what he said now that made me so mad.”

His eyes studied me a moment before he nodded. “I get that.” He feathered a loose strand behind my ear. “You really want to go? Are you tired?”

“I’ve been working a lot of late nights on my project. I think my brain is fried.” I tilted my head. “Not to mention the late night get-togethers.”

“True.” He smiled easily. “I’ll tell Lana and Nick we’re heading back early.”

I watched him walk off, my heart slamming into my feet. What had I done? I’d just confirmed that we were together. A couple. I’d watched Reese’s reaction. I didn’t know if he was jealous, or pissed because I’d thrown kissing Jace back in his face. Whatever his feelings were toward me, he was furious now. There was no hope. I’d killed us for good.

Jace walked me to the girls’ wing of the Academy, and we stopped before the spiraling staircase. I still couldn’t ride the lift alone. He leaned forward, his fingers lifting my face to his.

“I know things are weird,” he said. “I think after a while it’ll fall into place. I still look at you most days and imagine the best way to take you down.” He laughed. “But now, I don’t feel as bad fantasizing about kissing you, either.”

My face burned. “Well, yeah, but I think we know who has the upper hand. You’re not letting me win at practice, are you?”

“No,” he said, placing a kiss on my forehead. “You do have mad skills. Trust me, I struggle to keep up with you.”