Redemption of Fate (Fate Series Book 2) by S. Simone Chavous Page B

annoying at best, especially considering the way that women rotated through his life. Not that she would have been interested otherwise; her focus having been entirely on her duty as a member of the Elite; but if she was ever going to get involved with a man, it certainly wouldn’t be a womanizer like him.  

    If I was going to be with a man, it would be someone like Jared, she thought, immediately dismissing the idea, telling herself it could never happen. She would never let it happen.  

    She slid the sword into its sheath across her back and faced Dante, as he leaned in the doorway staring at her shamelessly. Cami silently cursed herself for her choice of workout attire as she stood there in skin-tight pants, a sports bra, and her weapons holster. Having planned on being back in her room before the soldiers returned, she hadn’t given the ensemble too much thought.

    “Hello, Dante. I was just finishing up if you want the space,” she said as she grabbed her bag and moved towards him, hoping to make a quick exit.

    “You know, your skills are impressive; but you might find it a bit more challenging if you faced an opponent who can actually fight back for a change,” he smirked.  

    As intended, his little taunt struck a nerve. Up until the attack in Indianapolis, it had been years since Cami had been in actual battle; The Elite commander keeping her occupied with recon and clean-up missions despite the fact that she was one of his best fighters. When she questioned him about it respectfully, of course, he simply said she was the most efficient team leader for those types of assignments. She knew it was bullshit, considering the other three women in The Elite always seemed to end up on her teams. It had been decades since a female was even inducted and, though no one ever spoke of it, Cami was pretty certain that since his own daughter’s birth, the man just couldn’t stomach the idea of putting a woman in combat.

    “Screw you, Dante,” she spat as he started strolling towards her.

    “Well, I was only talking about a little friendly sparring; but I’m down for screwing instead,” he taunted, further inciting her anger.

    “God, you’re an asshole. You want to fight, fine; let’s go. Pick the weapon,” she said, dropping her bag and strolling toward the racks lined up against the wall and ignoring the satisfied smile which spread across his annoyingly perfect face.

    “Broadswords,” he responded as he pulled his tight black shirt over his head, revealing perfectly formed six-pack abs and an intricate tattoo which covered one side of his bulging pectorals and ran down his side.  

    Seeing the dark ink of the witches’ mark in that location shifted her thoughts to Ethan. She, like everyone else, whether or not any of them were willing to admit it out loud, knew Lucias had captured her brother and Alexa. There was simply no other conclusion to be drawn. Her heart constricted as she considered the atrocities they must have endured at that monster’s hands. Lucias would undoubtedly torture them for information on the location of their daughter, but Cami knew they would rather die than see their child fall into his clutches. So, after so much time had passed, they were either dead; or worse.  

    Again seized by her own impotent anger at the situation, Cami picked up a broadsword, letting the comfort its weight gave cover her like a warm blanket, and turned to face her opponent.

    God, it’s going to feel good to kick his ass! she thought as they started circling each other cautiously.  

    Dante watched Cami carefully as she moved gracefully, and stepped sideways into a defensive stance. He prepared to strike, expecting to be the one to initiate battle, but she beat him to it; moving in and bringing her sword down expertly, catching him off guard as the blade grazed his forearm.

    He looked down at the small trickle of blood and smiled.

    “I’d forgotten how good you are,” he said with