by Olivia Ash
We take turns nodding and mumbling our responses. That really did knock the life out of me. I’m exhausted. I could sleep the whole night away, even though I should be well rested from sleeping all day.
“Milo,” Gideon says, “let me know if you think you’ve nailed a pattern.”
“I will.” He adjusts his glasses and sniffs.
I smile. Even exhausted and irritated, he knows how to bring a smile to my face with something so simple as adjusting his glasses.
Gideon excuses us and I wave goodbye to Lady Alene. By the time I make it to my room, I’m dragging my feet. I crash onto my bed and don’t care that I’m fully dressed.
Chapter Thirty-One
I square my shoulders and stretch my neck, waiting for the next attack to be thrown at me.
My men and I are training with the practice dummies and shadow wolves. This time, the dummies wear stronger armor and number a small army. There are easily a dozen, if not more, shadow wolves.
The room is set up to look like the desert mountains of Arizona, with stiff terrain and large cypress trees. The insane slopes keep making my feet slip as I dodge and move through attack after attack. And the heat of the room feels like a dry sauna. I’m coated in sweat. My shirt sticks to my skin, and my yoga pants are starting to rub the inside of my thighs raw.
My men stand behind me as I lead the attack.
“Dodge to the left,” Soren instructs to avoid the launching shadow wolf aimed at sinking its teeth into some vital part of my body. I swiftly execute the move.
“Roll to the right.” Milo’s voice reaches me just before the downward strike of a metal practice sword hits the top of my head. I perform the move, and once I’m back on my feet I shoot him a glare.
“A little faster than that next time.”
He shrugs apologetically.
“I thought you guys were joining me?”
Gideon points behind me. “Look out!”
I turn in time to see another wolf charging along with a dummy. I side kick the wolf square in the center of his forehead and spin to elbow the dummy in the throat while I simultaneously grip the dummy’s arm with the sword and ram my knee into the torso.
I face my men again, panting and wiping at a strand of hair that’s stuck to my face. “Well?”
“Can’t let her have all the fun, can we?” Jesse smirks, stepping forward to join me.
Midnight blue magic courses over his hands, traveling up his arms like flickering flames. It’s mesmerizing.
I smile. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet.” His focus sits directly in front of us where a group of dummies stand behind a row of salivating shadow wolves waiting for the silent command to attack.
The command is given, and the wolves snap at the air and charge.
Jesse and I sink into our battle stances, ready to take on our foes. White light covers my hands as I call on my magic. Within seconds, the wolves cross a massive space of land that lies between us, moving at incredible speeds. Faster than the ones we fought back at the facility.
Jesse releases his magic and it blasts the creatures closest to us. They stumble and fall, whimpering. One by one, they sink to the ground and dissolve into dust. I conjure a large ball of light, closing my eyes against the brightness and pushing it out in front of me. It soars through the air and explodes above the rest of the wolves, dissolving them into nothing.
“That’s my girl.” The adoration in Jesse’s voice is clear, and I can’t help but smile.
“You haven’t seen anything yet.” I make the unexpected move of charging forward. My fire magic burns along my arms, coating my skin in warmth. Sizzling past the trees as I aim for the first few dummies in my path. Once I’m within range, I slide to a stop on the side of my thigh. I hold my arms out in front of me and release a torrent of flames, cooking my foes from the inside out.
The metal of the dummies’ armor glow orange, dinting and melting as they fall to the ground.
“Wren, come back.” Soren’s voice echoes to me.
I furrow my eyebrows as I look over my shoulder. He’s shaking his head and pacing before he heads over to join Jesse. With a slap of Soren’s hand on Jesse’s shoulder, together they make a beeline for me. A snap of wood catches my attention. I look into the shadows of forest in the direction the sound came from.
I suck in a deep breath and hold it.
Dozens of glowing red eyes appear in the moving shadows of the trees around me. Deadly growls rumble toward me, and I realize the fatal mistake I just made. I had literally run into a den of wolves. And they aren’t looking too kindly on my trespassing, as a matter of fact, they’re looking pretty pissed off at my invasion.
Oops.
I slowly and quietly suck in a stabilizing breath and climb to my feet. Knowing full and well if I make sudden movements, it will only aggravate them further and send them howling and gnashing at me. Casting a quick glance over my shoulder, Jesse and Soren are waiting about twenty feet away. I back up slowly, never turning my back to the horde of creatures made of inky shadows and razor-sharp teeth and claws.
Movement within the trees in my periphery catches my attention, pulling my gaze to Gideon moving slowly through the trees, pausing behind them long enough to plan his next move.
I look to the other side and find Milo doing the same.
I smile, picking up on what they are doing.
I continue backing up until I’m standing with Soren and Jesse. “Flanking?”
“Yes.” Soren’s voice is serious and focused. “Move slowly forward.”
Together we take steps forward.
“This is exciting,” Jesse says.
I shake my head and stifle the giggle that wants to bubble out of me.
“Stop here,” Soren commands. We slow our steps and halt.
“What is it?” I cast a sideways glance toward him.
“Wait for the signal.” He nods once, slowly, toward the area of where the majority of the shadow wolves remain hidden, blinking at us with their red glowing eyes.
A blast of light flashes from the right as Gideon launches his attack.
“Now!” Soren charges forward.
Jesse and I run after him as wolves charge from the trees. Magic explodes from the left, on Milo’s side, as Soren’s arms light up with fire, mine with light, and the midnight smoky blue on Jesse’s.
Magic explodes all around us in an array of color and light. Each blow is coupled with whines and high-pitched barks from the shadow wolves falling to the ground. Metallic clinking echoes to me every now and then, letting me know the remaining armored dummies hiding in the trees are also falling to their demise.
Training with my men like this is fun.
I love how we work together, all of us as a team, for one solid purpose. It fills me with joy, and I wish we could do this more often. It’s thrilling, powerful, and energizing. The dangerous scenarios that Gideon creates gives us a realistic and practical run-through of what we could face in the outside world.
Soon, the eruptions of magic slows. Soren, Jesse, and I move forward, keeping our eyes peeled for any straggling foes. We pass through the border of trees, crushing fallen leaves and twigs beneath our feet. Milo and Gideon join us. We still look around, keeping our ears trained for the slightest sound.
“Good work,” Gideon says.
“It was fun.” I smile at him.
He shakes his head as though he isn’t sure what to do with me. “It was, yes. But the real thing won’t be. You have to take these trainings as serious as the real thing. And for the love of all things in the universe, never run into battle like that again.”
His blue-green eyes ensnare me with an intensity that makes a lump form in my throat and my heart feel like it sinks into my stomach.
“Sure,” I mumble.
“It was very careless to underestimate the enemy like that.” Soren’s words add a little salt to the wound. And does it ever sting.
Anger starts to burn wi
thin me, mixed with the icky feeling of guilt. “I had it. I thought so, at least.”
“You thought?” Soren turns toward me, leveling his furious eyes on mine.
Gideon steps forward and places a calming hand on Soren’s shoulder. He faces me as Soren stalks off. “Ignore him.”
“Gladly.” I huff and cross my arms over my chest.
“What I meant to say is disregard his tone. His question is valid.”
I turn my glare to Gideon. “What?”
He sighs, holding up his hands and reaching for me, but I step back with a raised eyebrow. He shrugs and drops his hands to his side. “Think about it, Wren.”
Dammit, I hate how soft his voice is right now. I feel sick that I reacted so coldly to him. My heart wrenches, and I reluctantly settle a softer gaze on him. Afterall, I’m still angry.
“What if we hadn’t been so close by? Or here at all for that matter?”
“I would handle it the same way I handled the lamia.”
It’s true. Probably.
“That’s not what he means—” Jesse inserts.
I snap my eyes to him. “I know what he means. I get it. I got bold and made a dangerous mistake, but you men never seem to get it through your thick skulls I’m not a porcelain doll. I can and have, handled myself. You all disregard the fact that I lived with trolls for six years of my life. Most of these pampered students at this school wouldn’t even survive half of that. At some point you’re going to have to give me some credit and faith.”
“No one doubts your abilities, Wren.”
Oh, Milo. Not you too.
I spin to face him. His arms are crossed over his chest. He lifts a hand to shove his glasses farther up his nose. He shrugs.
Huh. He’s standing his ground.
Good for him.
But horrible timing.
I huff a rage-filled breath. “You all want me to what? Sit back and let you protect me, keep me safe and pretty and locked away?”
“No.” Soren’s voice comes from behind me, startling me nearly out of my skin.
He spins me to face him. The world fills my vision in strips of blurred colors until I’m still, and even then it takes me a moment to refocus. His amber eyes stare deeply into mine. His grip remains on my arms so that I can’t stomp away. He’s forcing me to hear him out. And I think that irritates me more.
“Only that you need to think of others when you rush into danger like that, especially knowing that you have four men who are completely crazy about you and would sooner die for you than blink an eye. It’s not just you out there, and the sooner you realize and understand that we’re a team, the more we can face our enemies together.”
I… I’m at a loss for words as the truth sinks into me, and I realize that I’m being a touch fool-hardy and unreasonable. I dare not look away from him. And as a million words rush through my mind, of things I want to say, I can’t choose the right ones to speak aloud.
For an immeasurable number of heartbeats, I stand there as he waits for me to respond. I can’t just say nothing. What good would that do?
“I’m sorry.” My apology comes out barely louder than a whisper.
Soren’s shoulders slump as he pulls me into his chest, pinning me tightly with his arms. I feel the weight of his worry, but also the strength of his affection. His body trembles slightly, and the strength in his muscles are rock-hard. I feel his heart pounding in his chest.
All of this adds further insult to injury. Way to go Wren. You literally made Soren, of all people, distraught.
Yay, me.
Girlfriend of the year, right here.
I clutch the back of his shirt in my fists and embrace him back. For a long moment I just stand there, feeling like an ass. As I breathe in his scent, I promise myself to be better than this. Promising my men to think before I act.
Because, that’s what a team does.
When Soren pulls away, he levels his cooling gaze on me once more then turns and walks out of the training room. Milo steps up, taking my hand into his, rubbing his thumb over my fingers. “He’s right, you know. We care for you deeply.”
I nod and wrap my arms around him in a brief hug. He pulls away and follows Soren out.
Jesse steps forward, looking for all the world like everything was okay with his hands in his pockets. He pulls out a hand and uses it to tuck my wild, sweat-covered hair behind my ear. He smiles once then plants a kiss on my forehead. Though he seems calm, I catch the look of concern in his eyes just before he turns to leave the room as well.
I turn to face Gideon. “I’m sorry.”
He nods. “You are forgiven. But please, don’t do that again. Work with us, not against us.”
“Okay.”
He approaches me, stopping as our toes meet. He cups my face in his hands and brings his mouth to mine in a gentle, yet swift kiss. It’s over before it goes any further. He smiles softly at me once as he walks toward the door.
I join him. “Can we work on that more next time?”
“Of course. It can’t be easy relying on yourself and then suddenly being thrown in with a devoted team. I understand that. Soren? Not so much. But give him a chance to see. He’s just as stubborn as you are.”
“That’s the truth.” If it’s anything I’ve seen, it’s Soren’s penchant for being stuck in his ways.
He chuckles. The sound bursts through the murky cloud hanging over me. I smile in response.
That small gesture lets me know things are going to be okay between all of us. I allowed my ego to get the better of me. But next time we train, I’ll be better at working with my men.
Chapter Thirty-Two
A yule log pops and cracks in the fireplace as I stare at the deep green garland draped over the edge of the mantel. Bright red poinsettia flower ornaments dangle from the garland. Gold lights weave around it, creating a peaceful ambience.
I’m not looking forward to this time away from my men. We’ve gotten so much better at training since that little spat between us. And I feel like I’ve grown closer to each of them. I’m going to miss them terribly.
Despite how noticeable their absences will be, I’m looking forward to having a break. I’ve been wanting to look into doing something for myself, so I may even enjoy my time alone. I can explore the island and the castle. Maybe even play with the gnomes. Besides, my aunt will be here for a few days. I wanted to go home with her, but she’s going on a business trip. And after that, I’ll practically have the entire island to myself.
“Ready?”
Jesse’s voice jars me from my thoughts. I turn and face him with a flirty smile. “I was beginning to think you forgot.”
“Oh, well,” he holds out his arm for me to take, “allow me to start making up for that now.”
I giggle while I take his arm and walk with him as he leads me toward his door. “Are you looking forward to going home and seeing your brothers?”
“Going home, I’m looking forward to. Getting off this island for a while, I’m looking forward to. Getting mauled by hormonal boys, not so much.”
“Is it really that bad?” I look at Jesse’s features that are a mask of calm and peace.
“They’re akin to trolls.” He settles his serious gaze on me. “I’m going to be refereeing most of the time and hoping they don’t destroy the house while I’m home.”
“Wow. That’s terrible.” I shake my head, playing up the hyperbole that Jesse’s painting.
He shrugs. “It’ll be nice to see the little assholes. I’ve missed them.” He turns his gaze back to me. “Don’t tell them I said that.”
“Can’t have that.” I laugh.
“No. They will never let me live it down.”
“Well, at least tell them I say hi.”
He tugs me around a corner and I’m curious what he has planned. “Where are you taking me?”
“To my dungeon.” His voice is dark and cartoonish.
I burst out laughing. “Oh no! Not the dungeon. Whatever will I
do?”
He pulls me to the side, pressing my back against the wall, sandwiching me with his hard body. He nibbles on my ear and whispers, “Make you scream my name.”
He pulls back with a devilish grin and winks.
I’m completely and utterly breathless as he pulls me along by my hand. Once I recover, I take notice of our surroundings. We’re nearing the front of the castle.
“Seriously, where are you taking me?”
“If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise.” He’s smug. And I absolutely love it.
“Are we going outside?” I didn’t bring a coat with me. If that’s where we are heading, we’re gonna have to backtrack so I can slip on something warm.
“Nope.”
Oh.
Sure enough, we pass by the front doors. My mind goes full tilt into what he has in store for us, and I just can’t stop wanting to know more.
“Are we taking a leisurely tour of the castle?” I take in the hall that abruptly ends and turns to the left.
This one is lined by arch-framed windows on one side, giving an enchanting view of the island’s western coast. The steep hills beneath the windows are covered with tall trees until the rock becomes too jagged to support them, and the tannish stone glows silver in the moonlight that also reflects off the midnight blue waters. The sky is full of starlight, and the scene almost looks too beautiful to be real.
I pinch myself. Just in case.
“You’re getting warmer.” He’s teasing me, and he knows how bad this is driving me crazy with curiosity.
I smile in spite of myself, because, damn it all if I don’t love it.
He gets to me in so many ways.
I playfully groan. “You’re killing me!”
“Torturing is the word I think you’re looking for.” He smiles now, and I love the way his face lights up. “This is more fun than I gave it credit for.”
I quirk an eyebrow. “You’re purposefully leading me in circles?”
He shrugs. “Maybe I am. Maybe I’m not. I guess you’ll just have to keep following me to find out.”