“Couldn’t keep you mouth shut, could you?” Felix slapped the back of Cassius’s head and laughed when he jumped in surprise.

He licked the blood from his busted lip from when Iza had back-handed him to show good measure. The old shit knew a slap would make him feel like a little bitch than a manly punch would. There was probably a bruise on his cheek now for everyone to see. He couldn’t do anything unless he wanted to test Iza’s threats, which he really didn’t. Out of everything, he wouldn’t let that happen to him. He could deal with the hits and the humiliation, but he wouldn’t go through that kind of pain. He shivered with disgust, hoping the men carrying out those kinds of acts would die the most painful deaths imaginable.

The chains clanked as he touched the back of his head. He bit his tongue when he saw Felix’s big ass grin. He thought he was smooth and everything because he was Exteru and an Exterminator. If it wasn’t for that, he wouldn’t be here and he would be back home living a dishonorable life. After he saw Iza fall to his knees, he would destroy Felix and bring down the punishment he hopelessly needed.

***

The training yard was part inside and part outside. It was a flexible space for the team members to train whenever they wanted and that included Cassius, though he had to be supervised by Felix when he did. Felix was chosen as his guard because he was the only Exterminator on the base and if Cassius so much as charged at him, he could have Cassius near death in a second.

The blood on his lower lip had stopped and the pain was just a dull ache. It was hard to forget he’d gone through worse in those moments where he was knocked down in shame. He wanted so badly to give everyone a piece of him mind and when he couldn’t, it made him feel like he was the most helpless animal in the world. Of course he wasn’t. He was a Mekiah with magic and he could connect with the Third Eye. He’d survived a fucking demon attack when he knew that he shouldn’t. There should have been pride in saying that. It was too bad that he couldn’t show it off like he wanted.

His anger boiled to the surface and when he saw the red targets lined up outside against the wall, he was ready to let everything out on them. Frustration drove him to the edge of his rope. With as much unused magic flowing through his veins, it was no wonder he hadn’t exploded already.

Without thinking, he went running for the training area. He only got so far before the leash tightened and he was thrown back. He landed on his back, sprawled in the freshly cut grass, coughing and gasping for air. Felix laughed and jerked the leash one more time.

“Come on, dog,” he said. “I’ll give you a treat if you show me a trick.”

Cassius growled. He realized his mistake and almost hit himself for it.

It was Felix’s deep laugh that pulled him from his thoughts. His cheeks and ears were flaming red, burning so hot that he imagined there was steam coming off his head. He shuddered out a breath, willing the angry tears to not spill. His emotions ran from him sometimes and that’s what Felix wanted from him right now.

Don’t play his game. He’s just looking for a fight.

“Are you going to take them off?” He stood up, his eyes staring at Felix and not at the ground. Their eyes were locked, Felix’s smirk playing on his lips while Cassius only stared. He wanted to run free with what little magic he had and not worry about Felix messing with him. The only time he ever got time to exercise his power was when he was training and to have Felix waste his time with unfunny pranks made his blood boil.

Felix grabbed his wrists. He pulled Cassius towards him, his body heat radiated off him like a blazing storm. Cassius’s breath got stuck in his throat. He broke eye contact.

Felix leaned into him as his fingers brushed along his hands. His breath tickled Cassius’s ear as he spoke.

“Go along. Play.”

His hot touch faded to an icy grip. Cassius ripped his hands from his hold, leaving the chains and leash empty.

The taunts he could take. The abuse and the work he could power through. What he couldn’t do was let Felix get to him. His burning touch was like acid melting away his hardened skin, piercing through him like some virus. The Exteru knew how to use their bodies to their advantage and with that power, they could bring anyone to their knees. There was never a good reason behind their actions and when they used that playing card, it was the moment they revealed just how corrupt they’d become. He wasn’t there when the war broke out or when the Exteru had built Xtavia from the ashes. But he knew they weren’t the saviors they were painted to be. He didn’t need proof because he’d dealt with them for twelve years, always pretending to be weaker than them just to be left alone. Even then, he couldn’t always escape them.

He marched towards the targets. The anger was fire burning inside him and he pushed that anger out of him. The Veil was revealed to him and he searched through the darkness for his magic. It channeled through him and then it was there a second later. He put everything into the magic curling up into a ball inside of him, building speed and strength. It was a flaming ball of fire born from rage and hate, magic that was strong but fragile. Without control, he could send the training yard up in flames. He reigned it in, coaxing it to come forth.

“Come on, dog…show me a trick.”

Cassius’s hold broke. He thrust the energy out from his body. It hurled through the air, a zap of color amidst the grey of the world.

It struck the bullseye. The target caught fire and collapsed in on itself.

He was calm. Silent.

But anger was an addiction. Once it destroyed one thing, it wanted to destroy more.