Chapter 6

JACE.

“Too slow, you go again, four extra laps for slacking off.” Cassian ordered, his lips pressed grimly tight, arms crossed over his chest. Fine, now he was pissing me off. I kicked off on the ice, running on my skates, running laps—the first, second, third and fourth—before stopping to a halt, panting heavily.

“The last drill was out of rhythm, go again!” he ordered, but I’d reached my limit.

“Oh, fuck you! I’m not doing this shit no more, Cassian. So if you’ve got issues with it, come at me directly,” I retorted. I’d shortened to the thin end, I’d lost it. Angrily, I tossed away the stick before walking over to the bench. I’d been stuck training with him, running laps for over two hours and now it’s getting me twitchy. I’d rather spend this precious time preying on my little obsession. His sister.

“I’m captain, yeah? So if I ask you to keep up the drills, you do just that.” Cassian ordered again. He didn’t look as though he had the slightest intention to change his mind, and that alone was beginning to work me up.

“Oh, that’s what this is about?” I asked, almost laughing at his protectiveness and his pathetic attitude.

“Today? With Averie and I? She did tell you she called me into that room to ask about Julian, didn’t she?” I asked. I watched as Cassian grinded his teeth together in anger, his fists clenched even tighter. And I knew immediately that I had just hit a nerve.

“Your drills were sloppy at best and useless at worst. I asked you to rerun the drill because you need to. You’ve been long gone and now you are joining the team—it has to be the best of the best. I won’t have anyone slacking off!”

I scoffed angrily, cutting into his words. Oh my fucking goodness, big brothers were the bloody worst.

“You praised me, said I was the best yesterday, and today you switched up. See man, you are my best buddy. And I’m not like Julian...”

“The fuck you are!” he finally yelled, losing that pretty mask of the perfect boy he’d always put on.

“Your brother—I knew he wasn’t good enough but fine, I let her do what she wanted, and then what? He humiliates her? And chose the red-haired freak Mira? Really? And next thing you both are in a fucking closet! Doing what?” he asked, glaring wide-eyed at me, anger doused in his eyes and his tone holding annoyance to them.

“Come on, you know me better than that, don’t you? I have manners, I won’t drag your sister in a closet.”

He swung forward, his fist connecting with my jaw. I tilted, raising my head slightly.

“You won’t speak of her like that. You’ll keep yourself away from her. You won’t speak to her unless necessary. I’d given those same ground rules to every bloody boy on the team and you would be no different, understood?” he asked. Damn, I’d never seen Cassian this edgy before. I gave him a curt nod, and a smile. I didn’t need him on my heels and watching every move I made.

“No shit, I was just joking. But seriously, I won’t do that to you, buddy. Best friends, remember?” I asked, and instantly every resolve of Cassian’s seemed to have loosened. His jaw gone, his muscles relaxed, his posture better.

“I’m sorry, man, I just... Fuck, I shouldn’t have hit you. Just—I warned her. And now she’s a mess.” He spoke. I bent, picking up my headgear and hockey stick from the sideway.

“It’s fine, I get it. She’s my sister, too, you know. How about we hit off the club? Ease some stress? Get a good fuck. I mean, how long has it been since you last got laid?”

A dark bark of laughter burst free from his lips, earning a smile from me. That was it, all I needed him to do was relax, see me—that I wasn’t a threat. A friend? Yes. He needed to understand that I was better than Julian.

Of course, I’d keep my eye on her. And when I said I wouldn’t do that to him, it simply meant I wouldn’t hurt Averie. Cassian was being protective now, but he’ll see later that I was best for her.

When did my little crush on her start? I had no idea. But while I was away, it turned to a dull-blown obsession, and now I’m back? It was way better. She and Julian were over with. It hadn’t taken much for me to convince Mira to flirt with him, it hadn’t taken much time for the fool to stick his cock in her.

Now I’ll have her all to myself. Averie was mine. She might put up an argument. Fight, act cold. But that’s what makes it all better.

“Jace?!” Cassian yelled, smacking me behind my head. Causing me to stop immediately to an abrupt stop, slowly I turned to face him realizing I must have spaced out for too long thinking of his sister, seriously what sort of creep was that making me out to be?.

“I said what club are we going to tonight? Where’s your head at?” he asked as I pushed open my locker, dumping my stuff inside.

“You choose.” I muttered, pulling out my phone, lines of frowns etched on my face immediately as soon as I’d seen the notifications on my phone.

“Fine, I’ll text you tonight. Bye buddy.” He muttered, fist-bumping me before turning to walk towards the floor. My eyes had not for once left the screen. My little obsession was out. With her terrible influence on a friend, Lena. Her little Scottish boyfriend, and two of his friends. With Averie stuck between them, looking high as a kite.

If my little obsession wanted to play this game? Then I would gladly bet on it. But she needs to know, like I always told her—I always get what I want. And I, Jace, would never lose.