Chapter Thirty-Six

"You're supposed to stab him."

"Inanis shut up."

"I will if you'd just stab him."

"I don't want to fucking stab him."

"Then he will stab you and it'd be your fault."

"Oh my god."

Inanis had woken me up at five in the morning and forced me to tag along with him to his training session. Though he was pretty good with a knife, that didn't stop him from practicing any chance he got.

I was stupid enough to let him bring me here, and now I'm the one with the knife in my hand, and a trainer who keeps attacking me until I'm winded on the ground.

"I don't want to do this anymore." I say, wiping the sweat off my forehead.

Inanis was sitting on a pile of folded gym mats, his legs crossed as he watched in amusement. I'm sure this was making his day, and I wanted to stab him for it. "Maybe if you'd use the weapon I gave you, you wouldn't fail so awkwardly."

"Maybe you should get your ass over here and let me try it out on you." I didn't mean it, because the last thing I wanted was to lose to him, yet he took my false bait as though it were a delicious treat.

He hopped off the mats and glided over to the ring where he dismissed the trainer with a clasp on his shoulder.

My chest filled with dread as Inanis twirled a polished knife in his hand. "Alright." He said, "Let all that wicked desire you have for me out."

"You're as stupid as you look if you mistake my hatred for desire." I was stalling, I did not want to attack him. He would win, of course he would win, he's trained like this all his life.

He held his arms out, "Come on then, show me your hatred."

I was still, "I don't see the point in this."

"Try it."

"I'd rather be weak and awkward."

"Just. Try."

My shoulders slumped, "This is so fucking-"

"Mirea, Jesus, just run at me." And so I did. I ran to him and attempted to stab him in the neck, but he grabbed both my arms almost instantly, and spun me around until my back faced him. He used his foot to kick my legs out resulting in both my knees hitting the ground. He held my arms behind me, making me drop the knife I was holding to the floor.

"That was brilliantly pathetic," He said over my shoulder, "I'm almost humiliated I'm married to you."

"Let go of me." I try to wriggle out of his grasp, but the harder I try, the tighter his grip becomes.

"You should try again except this time, actually try."

He releases me and I quickly stand back up to recover the slightest bit of my pride. "I'm not doing that again."

"Oh come on," He taunted, "Don't ruin the fun."

"This isn't fun."

"It is for me."

I picked up the knife I had dropped and gripped the handle until my knuckles bled white. "I'm done."

He frowns, "Once more."

"No." I begin to walk back to the pile of mats where I sat comfortably most of the morning.

"Once more and I'll take you home." That stops me. I turn to him.

"You'll take me home?"

He nods, and suddenly my pride means nothing to me. I take the knife in my hand and run to him. I waste no energy hoping I could even touch the blade to his skin, let alone cut him, as he grabs my arms, twists me around, and holds my back against him. One of his arms is around my throat, the other one around my waist.

"That, I believe, was even worse than the first time."

"I'm sure you're thoroughly amused." I say through clenched teeth, as he loosens his arm around my neck, but not my waist. So much of our bodies are touching, and it is intoxicating.

I'm reminded about what happened yesterday, how he almost kissed me, and pushed me away at the last moment. I spent the entire day grueling myself for not being the one to push him away first.

And then, he has the audacity to wake me up this morning as if nothing happened at all.

Thinking about yesterday's events spark a fire of annoyance in my chest as I twist myself out of his grasp and lunge my knife to his shoulder.

He was caught off guard for only a second before barely dodging my attempt to stab him. He steps backwards as I swing the knife again, but this time he manages to grab my hand with the knife, stopping me from hitting his arm.

I pull back with as much force as I could muster, but he doesn't let go, and so we both go dropping to the floor, making me lose the knife in the process. I hit my head hard against the floor which knocks all air out of my lungs. I feel the defeat blanketing my body in a coat of shame, but I don't give in to it.

We are on our backs, lying beside each other as I spot the knife sitting mere inches away from him. I don't think as I roll over and reach my arm out for the weapon, but to no avail; he's quicker.

He's so much quicker.

His hand darts out like a bullet, taking the knife, he then grips my shoulders, spinning me onto my back once more, as he crawls on top of me, pushing the metal blade against my throat.

He wins.

I'm out of breath, but I notice he isn't even winded as he says, "This is very romantic."

"You're holding a knife against my throat; sorry I don't see the romance."

"Well I could always take my clothes off, perhaps you'd see it better then."

"If you take your clothes off, I won't be seeing anything for weeks."

"Very funny, wife of mine." He rolls off me, and I wish he didn't. I was covered in sweat and yet, his body heat was what I craved.

Reluctantly, I pull myself up, and braced myself as the room spun from hitting my head when I fell to the floor. Inanis pulled his coat on, despite it being nearly July. I used to think he wears coats wherever he goes as a way to flaunt his wealth and status, but as I get to know him, I consider the possibility that he's hiding himself. As arrogant as he is, I know there has to be an end to it somewhere.

"Let's go somewhere." He suggests, as though we didn't just attack each other, and have a terribly intimate moment on the mat floor. He begins to leave the room, expecting me to follow him. I do.

"I thought you were going to take me home."

"I will, after we go somewhere."

"That was not-"

"Where do you suppose we should go? Prison? We could watch a man get killed on an electric chair, I have yet to see that."

I give in, because I'm exhausted, and don't feel like arguing anymore. "Pretty sure electric chairs have been banned in most states."

"That is the worst thing you have ever told me."

I run a hand through my tangled hair, "You'll get over it."

We exit the building and get into the car that was waiting for us. Inanis does not bother to let the conversation die, "It is nearly July 4th, let us go acquire some fireworks and place them near running cars. Nothing screams America more than explosions and the tears of the poor."

"Shut up."

He huffed, "This is the only free day I've had in weeks, and you expect me to sit at home."

"Yes," I say not bothering to look at him as I turn my head towards the window, "I do."

He doesn't respond, and instead leans his head on my shoulder. I'm caught off guard by the gesture and stop myself from recoiling away.

Every single time he touches me seems to burden my emotions, making them more and more intense. It takes all I have not to pull him on top of me.

He is making me lose myself.

"Inanis." I breathe, and his hand slowly moves to the top of my leg.

"Yes?" His voice is sly, he knows precisely what he is doing, and any normal woman would smack him for it.

"Get off of me."

"Push me off." I don't, just as he knew I wouldn't. His hand trails to the hem of my pants and I swallow hard. His breath on my neck is erratic, and I want him to stop and go on all at once.

It isn't until he slips two fingers into my jeans that I snap out of it and realize this is not the appropriate time for this. I push him away immediately, my heartbeat pounding against my ribs.

He has a wicked grin but retreats respectfully as he takes his seat against the opposite window from mine, leaving a rather large gap between us.

I curl myself against the door, mortified that I almost let him go forward with his actions.

I would have, if we were home.

I dwelled on it the entire ride back to the mansion. I wanted to yell at him for daring to touch me when he gladly pushed me away yesterday.

The moment the car stopped, I jump out and head inside. My punctured ego won't let me look at Inanis, though I knew he is trailing right behind me.

My mind is caught up on how to avoid him for the rest of my life, when I stop, my eyes locked on the unwelcome guest sitting on our couch.

"Mother." Inanis says with a heaved sigh, "Who let you in?"

"I let myself in." She says, completely ignoring my presence. I hate her, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thankful for her abrupt visit. She had the power to cut any awkwardness between me and Inanis the moment she sets her eyes on us.

"In that case I need a better security system." Inanis walks over to the opposite couch and plops down.

I stand in the doorway of the living room, not wanting to get any more involved in the conversation. So, I stay silent, and listen.

"Where have you been Vita?" His mother ignores his sarcasm, "I have been waiting for you all morning."

"I have a busy schedule."

"Not today you don't."

"I'm not your pet, mother, I do not just come when you call."

She waves her hand dismissively, "Have you heard the news?"

"What news?"

"The White House has come out with some devastating news." Her voice was mocking, sympathy whatsoever, "It seems the President prefers filling his desires with graphic videos of youth."

I feel the bile rise in my throat, and I don't care that I'm known, "The President was caught with child pornography?"

Inanis has a wild look in his eyes, "Oh this is delicious."

"There's no way that's possible." I think about how we had shared dinner with him, how he had such an evident fear of The Bone Cutter, and the vibrant looks of sympathy he'd give me.

His mother glares at me, "Are you doubting me?"

"It'd be all over the news. Millions of people would be talking about this." I argue, "Yes, I'm doubting you."

"The reason we haven't heard of this is because it is information naturally withheld from the public." Inanis counters, "They are waiting."

"Waiting for what?"

"Me." He said looking more excited than I've ever seen him.

"Presidential sacrifices are different." His mother informs me, "It is like no other killing."

There has only been one other presidential killing in all of Bone Cutter history, and that was by Virtus Lux's hands, which was decades before I was born. I never thought I'd live to see the next, and now, I will not only be witnessing it, I will be part of the execution.

"What is so different about this killing?" There were many recordings of the first presidential sacrifice online. I've heard details of Virtus Lux slaughtering him while millions of people stood around the White House singing the national anthem. I have always refused to see the recording, I never liked watching people die.

"It is different," she explains, "because not only will the President be sacrificed, but the First Lady as well."

"A double-killing."

"A mercy-killing." Inanis corrects me, "Because if we do not do it, someone else eventually will."

I narrow at him, "We?"

I wished I hadn't seen the sharp, eager edge in his eyes as he said, "You will be killing her, Mirea. This is the only exception where the Harvester gets to kill."