55. Raea #2
“You’ll be practicing with your new senses.
We’ll start with some warm-ups, but I want you to focus on feeling the air as it moves with you and with the blade.
Once you’ve honed that skill, we’ll work on doing it with your eyes closed.
” He winks as he takes up a defensive stance.
“Ladies…or should I say, females first.”
I shove the coldness of last night into a box and focus on the fact that I woke up to Ryker’s note instead of him.
I decide to let my anger fuel my swing. My blade reverberates off his as metal clangs against metal.
He raises a single brow, and I remember I’m supposed to be paying attention to the air.
“Again,” he commands.
An hour later, I’m sweating and even angrier at Ryker that he still hasn’t shown up. Vaeric is enjoying himself. The warrior paces the ring opposite me with a grin on his stupid, beautiful face.
I still haven’t gotten used to everyone being so beautiful.
I should, since I’m surrounded by them all the time now.
I miss home, and right now, I’m mad that the gods created me and my stupid twin, who is some evil mistress of darkness.
I’m mad about this war. I’m mad that I felt so damn helpless last night.
I had made a promise to never be weak and when it mattered, I was.
I’m mostly mad at myself. My body flushes with my starlight, reacting to my anger.
“You know,” Vaeric starts, his dark hair catching the light. “To be efficient in war, you have to have a clear mind. You’re fighting with emotions, and therefore, you’re sloppy and distracted.”
I huff, hating that he’s right. Professor Ainslyn told me the same thing. I wish he were here, too. Gods, why am I so angry? I’m used to being angry, but this is different.
I scream, charging at Vaeric, holding my blade high as I bring it down upon him. He blocks with ease, moving in a series that has me rolling my own ankle as I fall into the sand. He lifts a brow as if to say see.
“I get it!” I stand, blowing the loose strand of my hair out of my face. “I don’t even know why I’m this angry.”
He tilts his head, looking me over. It seems as if he stands there for a full minute before he asks, “Where is your mate?”
I shrug, stomping to the water table annoyed with the whole universe. “Gone! I woke up to a stupid note that said he’d be back before lunch.”
He glances at the sky, then back to me. “Cutting it close,” he taunts. I narrow my eyes. “If I had to guess, it’s not your emotions you’re feeling. They’re his. You need to block him off.”
I gulp down the cool water, soothing my dry throat. “There used to be a wall between us, and now I don’t know how.”
Vaeric chuckles before telling me to add it to my list of things to practice.
We practice for another hour before we call it quits, and he guides me into the shade of the forest, where he pulls out some jerky and cheese.
I’m still upset, but my anger is dull now.
It’s strange. I can’t feel Ryker like I can when he’s close, but I can only assume Vaeric was right.
The anger had to be his. It came on so fast. I only wish I knew where he was and why he is so angry.
I’m at least grateful for the way the chill that had settled into my bones seems to be gone. I’m sure there are plenty nights ahead it will return, but for now, I feel okay.
It’s nice to have the training field to ourselves as Vaeric tells me stories of his childhood and his first skirmish.
He doesn’t hold back when he talks about the shadow creatures, which he calls creatures of night.
“They’re created from the darkest pits of hell.
Literally born of nightmares. When I was a faeling, I was told tales of the Azeban, and—”
“The Azeban? We were told stories of them as children to scare us.”
Vaeric shakes his head. “They aren’t fairytales, Raea, they’re real. And I don’t mean to scare you, but they’re the most Fae-like creatures.”
A shiver snakes up my spine, and I fight not to curl into myself. How am I expected to face it? As a child, it haunted my nightmares for a different reason, but it was haunting all the same. Now I’m afraid they’ll return to my nightmares again.
“How do you kill it?” I ask.
Vaeric looks off into the distance as if he’s recalling a time when he killed one himself. “You have to cut off the head and then burn it. Though I suspect your starfire will burn it to ash before you ever have to get close enough.”
He leans back, closing his eyes while I lean against the sturdy tree trunk, letting my thoughts wander.
The creature that had attacked us after Mori. Had that been Azeban? Before I can ask, a gateway opens near the edge of the field, and Ryker and Riven walk through. As if sensing me, Ryker looks at me, and I can see the hard edges of his jaw soften a touch.
Riven says something to him before heading back through and closing the gateway behind him. Ryker begins heading my way, and, deciding to give Vaeric a moment to nap, I meet him halfway, shoving him when I’m close enough.
“You asshole,” I seethe.
He doesn’t even move. I shove him again with a loud groan.
“Where were you? I woke up to a note saying you’d be back mid-morning. It’s after lunch now. Do you know how it feels to wake up to a note instead of you?”
He grips my wrists, pinning my hands against the steady, thundering rhythm of his chest. He is a wall of vibrating tension.
“Soraea, stop,” he says, his voice low and dangerous, yet pleading.
“I did what I had to do so I wouldn't burn that entire palace to the ground. I am sorry I left you alone, but I cannot apologize for making sure those males will never touch another female again.”