The tension in the hallway was thick enough to cut with a knife. Although I offered this "fight", now that Logan had actually agreed, I felt like I was about to back down.
Yet, his gaze looked so challenging and demanding, somehow, I knew that even if I did take my offer back, he would not let me go so easily.
"Perhaps," I started, awkwardly clearing my throat, "we should take it outside. I don't want to destroy this apartment."
Logan couldn't help but chuckle at my arrogance, nodding in agreement. "Anything you want."
Collin frowned, pushing his giant body between us. "With all due respect, Mr. Grant, I can't let this happen. Whether this woman is strong or not, under no circumstances is she to lay a single finger on you."
"Not even a finger?" Logan faced him, a playful smirk still tugging at his lips. "That would create quite a few complications in the future."
I arched my brows at him, baffled by that response. Logan chuckled again. "Let's take it outside. I promise you, Collin, even if Miss Gilmore manages to lay her finger on me, no one will ever know."
Minutes later, we stood in the small garden behind the terrace. A few neighbors peered curiously from their windows, wondering about the scene that was about to unfold. Logan rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, revealing his muscular forearms. He then rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck as if preparing for a real fight.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I didn't really need to focus to feel the power surging forward, but I still took a few moments just to make sure I knew exactly what I was doing.
All I needed was one punch. Just to prove that I kept getting stronger.
"Whenever you're ready," Logan said politely, falling into a casual stance.
And I was ready. I launched forward with surprising speed, my right fist aiming straight for his chest. I felt incredibly powerful and strong, and yet... Just as my fist was about to connect with Logan's body, he took one single step to the side and caught my wrist.
"Not bad," he smirked, "not bad at all."
But it was bad. I failed. Somehow, when it came to Logan, I always failed.
"But I blocked your punch," he added, finally releasing my wrist and pushing me away lightly. "Which means others might do the same."
"You do it," I sighed, taking a big step away from him, a deep frown between my eyes. "You hit me now."
"Are you serious?" Logan's eyes widened. "I could hurt you."
"I know," I agreed – it would be a miracle if he didn't. "But I still want you to do it."
"Alright," a daring grin played on his lips. "Get ready."
He didn't even let the last words reach my ears as he lunged at me – fast, powerful, dangerous.
But something strange happened. To my astonished eyes, his movement seemed... slow. Not exactly slow-motion, but deliberate enough that I could track every muscle twitch, every shift in his weight. The power humming in me interpreted his movements even before they fully developed.
I stepped aside casually, letting his fist whistle past my shoulder. I could tell that his punch was not a serious one, but still, just like he did with me, I could do the same thing.
Logan stumbled, losing balance from the missed chance, his brows jumping up in surprise. He recovered quickly, pivoting to throw a combination of punches. Again, I saw each one coming with unnatural clarity. Dodge left, lean back, sidestep right.
And then, I did something unexpected. Instead of dodging his punches, I tried to land one myself, but this time, I could feel something feral gather inside my chest – like a beast ready to burst free.
Without even realizing it, my fist slashed across the air between Logan and me, and the next thing I knew was the subtle pain in my knuckles and a low grunt that followed right after.
I didn't hit him – Logan caught my fist inside his palm, stopping my attack. But there was something new now. Not only did he catch my fist inches away from his face, but the impact of my punch was so great that his feet slid back from the resistance, leaving a line of pressed grass under his shoes.
"Wow..." I heard Logan mutter, his eyes widening at my serious expression. He then pulled his palm away, releasing my fist, and looked at the bruise that had already formed under the skin.
"I'm sorry!" I said frantically. "I didn't mean to use so much force!" I reached into my pocket where I'd stashed one of the medicinal pills I'd created the night before. "Here, this will help."
Logan looked at the small green pill with suspicion, still struggling to breathe properly.
"It's a Soothing Pill," I explained. "It will repair the damage."
"What? Where did you get it?" Logan asked, looking at me suspiciously.
"I made it myself," I explained. "So I can vouch that it will work."
After a moment's hesitation, Logan took the pill and swallowed it. Almost immediately, his breathing eased. The color returned to his face as the medicinal properties spread through his system. The bruise disappeared right away, and he was able to clench and unclench his fist freely again.
"Healing, fighting, alchemy..." Logan said, fixing his bright eyes on mine. "What else is there, Amelie?"
"I... I am learning all I can. Anything."
Collin watched our exchange with wide eyes. "Mr. Grant, are you truly alright?"
"Better than alright, Collin." He straightened his clothing and brushed his messy hair away from his eyes. "Looks like Miss Gilmore was right after all – she is strong enough to defend herself without other men lingering around."
***
"I am at a loss," Logan said after Collin returned to his car, and the two of us came back to the villa's living room. "All this talent, and yet... The way the Cranes were treating you that day, I just––"
"Can't understand why they all treat me like nothing?" I finished for him with a small smile. "I was nothing when I was in Riverstone. I guess I needed to get away from them to finally set myself free."
We walked out to the terrace, taking a seat on the comfy couch under the shade of the bowing trees outside. The morning sun filtered through the leaves above us, casting dappled shadows across Logan's handsome face.
"Are you saying that you were simply hiding your power from them?" He asked as his eyes sparkled with curiosity.
I touched the gold locket hidden under my cotton shirt. "Let's just say... I've discovered some family talents I didn't know I had."
"Family talents," he repeated skeptically. "Just like that?"
"It's complicated," I said, not ready to reveal everything about my mysterious inheritance. "But I'm just beginning to understand what I'm capable of."
Logan studied me intently. "When I first met you, you looked like a desperate, powerless woman who was ready to do anything to get out of her predicament. Now, I see you in an entirely different light."
I smiled, averting my eyes as embarrassment bloomed on my cheeks.
We sat in comfortable silence for a moment. Birds chirped overhead, and somewhere in the distance, a street vendor called out his wares.
"Can I ask you something personal?" Logan asked suddenly.
I nodded, though my heart suddenly began to beat faster.
"Do you still have feelings for your ex-husband?"
The question caught me off guard, but I found the answer came easily. "No," I said firmly. "I could have said yes in the past, but now... I feel nothing but disgust."
Logan's face brightened visibly at my response. "I see."
"Why do you ask?"
Instead of giving me the answer right away, Logan leaned closer, his eyes looking into mine with dangerous intensity. I could feel his strong, comforting scent envelop me like an invisible veil, pulling me in with its phantom arms.
The more he stayed silent, the louder my heartbeat became. He was so close... And yet, I wanted to get closer.
"Then how do you feel about me, Amelie?"