Page 109 of Commanding Flame and Shield
True,was all he let me hear, his jaw ticking. He pushed into his run, and I felt the challenge in that long stride. Muscles singing, I leaned into my own. He pushed farther forward, and I did the same. Again, and again, and again. I knew he was baiting me, pushing me to keep me focused on the present. I didn’t care. It was working. Muscles pumping waves of fire, lungs screaming, I shot to the front again, soaring with every ounce of strength I had.
That all you got, Coach?August gained speed, fists unclenching at his sides as he poured himself into the sprint.
Our coven and friends gradually fell further behind, unmotivated by our silent competition. I dropped my shield enough to feel them out. Aren and Marcus still trailed closely. Alec was staying by Fae’s side, the rest of them in a panting huddle behind them.
Still, we pushed, farther, harder, faster, our shoes slapping against the pavement now, as mortal as could be.
First one back wins?I could feel his smile, although I didn’t dare a glance his way as I focused my burning eyes on the front awning of the Westerlunds’ building.
Wins…what exactly?
A round of truth or dare.
Child.
It’s that or strip poker.
I snorted.I wouldn’t last long.
Don’t know how to play poker?
I met his cocky stare, trying to hide as I fought to keep my breathing even.I’m just not wearing much under these clothes.
August cleared his throat, the sound tight, making it impossible to fight back my smile. “Fuuuck,” he growled.
I’d been fooling myself, thinking I stood a chance. August kicked it into gear, and I swore as I stretched to keep up. Full throttle, we both sprinted for that stretching red and green awning, for the miniature Christmas trees wrapped in colorful lights and garland, and a now wide-eyed bellman called Ray, blowing hot air into his cupped, mittened hands. He watched us now, and I swore a twinkle of amusement played in his eyes as we hurtled for him, maxing out our human speeds. There was no focus left to drop my shield to feel him out, but the twitch at the corner of his chapped lips said enough.Fun, we were bringing him some ounce of fun on this frozen tundra. A defiant shriek erupted from me as August’s long legs gobbled up that sidewalk and he got a step ahead of me. Two. Three.
Aren’s booming laugh behind us told me enough, but still, I pushed. Tried. Tried, and failed, as August blew past Ray, and stuttered to a stop a solid heartbeat before my own feet crossed the muted shadow of that awning.
“Not...fair.” I panted, lacing my hands together to rest on the back of my head as we walked our heart rates back down. He huffed a great laugh.
“How?!” He demanded.
“Your legs are longer, dammit.” I heaved in air.
August’s laugh was breathless and ragged, but sincere, and he winked at me. Color swelled in his cheeks as his rare cocky grin plastered itself across them.
“Sore loser, Coach?”
“Maybe a little.”
That smile, God, that smile. August beamed at me, his radiance nearly buckling my knees. Although I told him internally that was the shaky recoil from our frozen sprint down the sidewalk.
“Truth,” I panted, still walking in a circle as our companions slowed their pace to a trot to bring their heart rates down.
“I didn’t say when I’d cash in my prize, did I?”
“Oh, jeez.”
“Yep. Gotta choose wisely.” He gulped down air, grinning like the cat that ate the canary.
Aren, still thoroughly amused with my losing a race, loped up the sidewalk next to Marcus. Aren and Ray opened the door for us, and August motioned for me to go inside. The warm air hit like a battering ram, thick and stifling, but a shiver walked down my spine, joints seeming to sigh in relief as we stepped into the lobby. Marcus was on my six, as August had insisted, but that gentle tap, tap, tap brought my mental shield down again.
You know we’ll figure it out, Ally. All of it. If anyone can solve this, it’s you, and Alec, and Aren.
And you?
That internal satisfaction.And me. Anything, Ally, I’ll pay anything to make sure we both get out of that field alive.
