I smile, and she shoots me a teasin’ glare.
“I would also like it noted that it’s completely unfair that you get a cool, user-friendly scythe that has an Annulus business end and a party cutting end,” she goes on. “I feel for the sake of camaraderie and just because I don’t want to suffer alone that you should also have to call on your inner medieval times and learn how to use a sword. Although with my luck, you’d kick may ass at that too! How are you so good at this?” she says with exasperation.
I shrug, and Delta looks over at Crux, whose gaze is very intent on her.
“I didn’t injure my boobs, so you can stop inspecting them,” she announces with a look. The shit-eatin’ grin that crosses his face is too funny.
“I’m just being thorough, Jeter. One can never be too careful with things that are so precious.”
Delta slaps his hand away with a laugh, and seein’ that she’s fine, Rafferty, Crux, and Echo disperse, goin’ back to what they were doin’. Jerif hands her a water bottle, and she shoots him a witherin’ glare. “You’re all complimentary of my sister, but where’s the love for me?” she challenges.
“I’ll shower you with just as much praise when you get out of your head and embrace your instincts like Medley does,” he counters gruffly.
“Well, excuse me if the sudden plummet to the ground scrambled my brain,” she snarks.
“Next time, trust that your body will be just fine and go for the kill,” he tells her, kissin’ the tip of her nose. His fiery gaze is heated as he fixes it on her; it’s as though her irritation is a potent aphrodisiac to him.
She stares at him for a beat and then sighs. “Fine. We’ll work on that again tomorrow, but you have to promise to massage my wings today and every day until I get it,” she tells him.
He rolls his eyes at her. “When do I not take care of you after training?” he asks evenly, but there’s a hint of heat in his tone that tells me they’re not talkin’ about simply rubbin’ out sore muscles here. Maybe Delta gets the itch too?
“Now get back to it.” He turns and slaps her ass hard, which elicits a squeal from her, and then walks off to join her other mates.
Alder chuckles next to me, and I whirl, immediately coverin’ my ass with my hands. You’d think my wings would be enough protection, but Jerif just proved they’re not. That butt slap was so loud I know Delta will have his hand print on her cheek for a while. That’s probably what the gruff demon wanted, but I’d like to sit down on my ass with zero discomfort, especially after the hours and hours of trainin’ we’ve been doin’ today.
Flint cracks up at my alarm too, and I back away slowly, not fallin’ for their charmin’ smiles and too innocent eyes.
There will be no monkey see, monkey do. With crooked grins, they both saunter off to join the others. Delta rubs her ass and laughs at me as she hands me a water before gingerly sittin’ on the ground, her wings and back against the gym wall. I slide down next to her and chug the deliciously cold and refreshin’ bottle in a few gulps. Delta hands me another one, and I drink about half of that one too before my body decides it’s not gonna die of dehydration and it can chill.
“So...you didn’t run when they announced that you were a demon, you didn’t freak out when Flint and Alder claimed you as their mate, and you also seem to take to this whole training for battle thing like a total badass,” she muses. “I’d be jealous that you’re beautiful, but luckily, we look alike, so at least I have that going for me too,” she announces on a sigh.
I chuckle. “Oh, please, you kept me on my toes the whole time, and I saw that smirk that snuck over your face several times today. You’re better at this than you think, and you like it a heck of a lot more than you thought you would too,” I tell her.
“It is easier sparring with you, I’ll admit that much,” she says. “For some reason, watching you work through the moves helps me do the same.”
“Maybe your grumpy mate is right, and it’s simply about gettin’ out of your head more,” I offer. “It’s about not thinkin’ like a human or givin’ human limitations to our angel and demon abilities.”
She nods in thought. “Yeah, the guys have been on me about the same thing, but I told them it was easier said than done. But then I saw you doing it, and I don’t know...it’s starting to click. I just want to know how you got so good at this so fast and how the whole you’re a demon bomb didn’t freak you the fuck out?” she asks, bumpin’ my shoulder with her own playfully.
I shrug. “I honestly don’t know why I’ve been so acceptin’ of everythin’. I think I have my parents to blame—or thank, dependin’ on how you look at it,” I tell her with a smile.
She chuckles and sips her water, waitin’ for me to elaborate.
“Ever since I was little, my mama has always talked about angels and God and Heaven as if they were real parts of our lives. She constantly told me the story of the angel who dropped me on their porch, and I just grew up understandin’ that there was more out there than most people knew. Heaven and the angel-stork story were just part of the fabric of who I
