Page 149 of Glutton for Punishment

Chapter 45

Arwen

The familiar private training room instills a sense of dread and humiliation when I walk in. This has been my least favorite place in the academy. But that’s all going to change now. It’s late enough that the halls outside have quieted, though now and then laughter echoes faintly through the corridor from students heading back to the dorms.

My morning started off in a sour mood. Another note from Vex arrived, asking if I needed a second set of hands at the academy now that Maddox was back.

Disturbingly, it came attached to a package with an actual set of hands.

I know removing limbs is usually your territory, love. But I can get my hands dirty too.

-Your Vex

Maddox was furious when I told him and immediately delayed our training to make some calls. That, combined with the constant deranged messages from Maylo, is giving me the heebie-jeebies.

Seriously, where can I find an industrial lock?

Now, Maddox stands across from me with his arms folded over his chest while I glare at a row of practice dummies.

“This feels personal,” I inform him. “Why do we have to use things that resemble people?”

“Your power tore the last dummy’s head off. It’s best to practice around bodies first until you feel comfortable. Then we’ll move onto objects.”

“In my defense,” I say, rolling my shoulder, “you put an apple on its head for me to aim at. Normal people don’t walk around with apples on their heads.”

One corner of his mouth twitches. I’m making progress breaking that icy interior down. One day, I will see a fully unfiltered laugh from this man.

Three days ago he was furious with me. Now he hovers somewhere between annoyed, protective, and distractingly attractive. Tabby said we should have had hot, angry make up sex by now, and I flipped her off.

Now I can’t help wondering if that’s on the table…

“Again,” he says.

I exhale and close my eyes. This time, when I reach for the power, it comes instantly. It’s ravenous. Alive beneath my skin. The difference still startles me every single time.

Near Maddox, the power doesn’t evade me at all. It rises eagerly, curling through my chest like a flame looking for more oxygen to feed on.

I open my eyes and strike. The apple flies backward and slams into the padded wall, bursting as Maddox watches.

“Better,” he says. “You’re getting close. You got close enough to create a force that time.”

My pulse jumps with adrenaline as our bond flutters under his praise. “See? I’m becoming a top student.”

“You’re certainly my favorite student.”

I gasp at him with mock surprise. “Maddox West, did you just make a joke? You know very well I am your only student, which means this is your attempt at a joke.”

He rolls his eyes at me, and I grin despite myself. The power hums beneath my skin for a few lingering seconds before settling again. It feels steady now that he’s here. I can still reach for it, just having him back at the academy is apparently close enough proximity most of the time. But when he’s here next to me, it’s natural. As easy as breathing.

As much as I adore his company, I hate that I’m vulnerable when he’s not around. I was alone and powerless for most of my life. I guess I should be used to it.

But seriously, universe… what sort of misogynist plot twist is this?

Maddox walks toward the dummy to inspect for any damage. His tattoos flex across his forearms as he swivels the head.

“You’re over correcting with force,” he says. “You’re trying to dominate the power instead of directing it. The energy you're putting into it is causing more of a push, then controlling your aim.”

He straightens, balances another apple, and gestures me closer. “Again. Less energy push this time. Focus on your control.”