Chapter 33
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Iam greeted with flashes of last night as I awake and wish I could do it all over again. I thought I was going to freeze, unsure what to do with my lips and tongue. But I wasn’t as inexperienced as I thought I would be. Or at least, I think so.
Aramis is obviously much more skilled than I am, but I could keep up with ease. It didn’t feel awkward to me, but I do hope he enjoyed it as much as I did.
Would this be a one-time thing, a fling? I certainly hope not, I don’t think I’m that kind of person. I want, no, need more than this, more of him.
I throw the covers away and walk towards the bathroom. A small piece of paper in front of my door catches my eye. I fold it open, not recognising the handwriting.
Meet me in the dojo ASAP.
- C
Not having to think hard about who this note belongs to, I grab my sport gear and disappear into the bathroom. I was going to the dojo either way, I find it important to keep up my routine.
I quickly wash up, brush my teeth and put on my leggings, sports bra and T-shirt. This one is deep green, it reminds me of Aramis’ eyes.
I grab something light for breakfast and eat whilst walking to the dojo. Conláed isn’t a patient male and who knows how long the note has been lying on the floor.
I pick up my pace and reach the dojo in no time. Soft warm light greets me as I push open the door. Even though it is still early — like six o’clock in the morning early — the sound of males grunting echoes through the hall and I catch the scent of something smokey and spiced.
I silently close the door, listening to the voice inside my head that tells me to remain hidden for now.
A sharp smack reverberated through the room as a punch found its mark, followed by the softer rustle of someone twisting out of reach. The grunt and low laugh that follows temper my rising panic. “Stop fucking around, Con.”
Aramis is here? I look down from the balcony and nearly topple over. He is definitely here. He and Conláed are the only ones on the mat, locked in combat, which is fine, really. But the fact that they are both bare-chested and covered in sweat? So fucking hot.
Aramis moves with a dancer’s grace, his blond waves wild and damp against his forehead, while Conláed is all measured punches, raw power and technique.
And that body of his? I knew he was hiding something underneath those clothes, but now that I see so much muscle on display, I understand why he’s the best in training and my teacher. His movements are precise and lethal.
I squat down behind the balustrade. I should announce my presence, but there is something very exciting about watching without them knowing. I peek over the edge and see Conláed’s diversion from miles ahead. “Come on, Aramis,” I whisper.
He doesn’t see it and is about to get a full on hit from the dark force Conláed is. But when I brace for impact, Aramis somehow catches Conláed’s hand and throws a firm punch in himself.
Conláed laughs. “Huh, you’ve learned since the last time we fought.”
“Nah, you’re just getting slower,” Aramis teases, but Conláed’s smile disappears and before my eyes can pick up the movement, Aramis is on the ground, the air punched out of his lungs.
I grasp for air, but hide away immediately, covering my mouth with my hands. Hopefully they didn’t hear me, but now might be a good time to come out of my hiding spot.
I stand up and walk around to the stairs that lead down to the mat. They see me at exactly the same moment, Aramis pushing himself up on one arm and Conláed crosses his, a disgruntled expression on his face. Right, gone is the kind male that came to visit last night.
I take off my shoes and notice their gazes on me as I bend over. It’s not like I’m trying to seduce them, yet their eyes are drawn to me like an animal seeing their first meal in a long while. Suppressing the heat that is making its way towards my cheeks, I walk towards the duo and wait.
“Glad you finally decided to show up,” Conláed mocks.
I frown. “I can’t be that late, no one’s here yet.”
He walks around me in a circle. “That is, dear feather, because you’re getting one more private lesson. To see how ready you are.”
I stand perfectly still, my eyes land on Aramis, still on the ground.
My gaze drifts to his full lips, and before I can stop myself, I catch my bottom lip between my teeth.
His smile reflects my train of thought and I almost forget the challenge I’m about to face. “But I’ve trained with you already?”
Conláed is back in front of me and all the heated feelings that rushed through me go dormant. He stops right next to a now standing Aramis. He still looks fae, and as I really focus on Aramis, his image flickers as well, but it causes a throbbing pain in my head, so I release it.
“I taught you the basics, feather. You know how to punch, the technique behind it. I want to see how you do in combat. With me.”
Has he lost his mind? I can’t compete with him, he could break every bone inside of me if he’d wanted to, without lifting a finger.
“Or are you scared? I could always ask someone else.”
“I am not scared.”
He nods towards Aramis who winks at me before he leaves the mat and stands to the side. “Why don’t you try to hit me first.”
Ignoring his shirtless chest is a challenge on its own, but I try to focus on finding my balance instead. He waits, arms crossed, not at all intimidated by me. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t be either, but he at least should give me a fair chance.
I strike, quick as a viper. Or at least, I thought I did, but he easily steps away, arms still crossed.
The moment I get too close, he blocks my strike.
I try to come up with a new way to attack, to surprise him, but it seems futile.
We go on like that for a couple of minutes, the outcome remains the same every single time.
I’m sweating and my breathing is a little more laboured than I like. Yet, Conláed seems as relaxed as he did before we started this little session, not a hair out of place. “Come on, feather, stop toying with me. I’m getting bored over here.”
Bored? Did he just say bored? I take my words back. He’s an asshole and by the smirk on his face, he knows it too. I relax my stance and close my eyes. I know how to hit and the technique behind it, but I’m overthinking it. Maybe I should just…move?
I open my eyes and see the colours vividly, notice the pulsing aura around Conláed, the fire burning in his eyes. “There she is.”
And without hesitating, I strike, my mind completely blank for once. It seems to work, because Conláed starts to defend himself. I manage to push him back, but I’m too focused to be impressed by that. Surprise flickers across Conláed’s features, but it’s gone with my next hit.
A tingling sensation in the back of my neck warns me, before I block the hand that was coming at me and I kick at Conláed’s chest, making him fall to his knees.
I turn to my new opponent, surprised to see Aramis, the challenge clear in his eyes and something like pride maybe. “Come on, gorgeous, show me what you got.”
He doesn’t have to repeat himself. Our movements lock together until the world fades away and the fight no longer feels like two opponents clashing, but two instincts colliding in the same deadly rhythm. It feels as natural as breathing.
Conláed joins the battle once more, but even with both of them coming at me, I handle them with unsettling ease. Every dodge, strike and turn of my body flows instinctively into the next. Their attacks feel predictable somehow, and I slip between them effortlessly.
But in a blink of an eye, something shifts and the heat in my veins becomes unbearable. My breath catches as flames erupt from within me. Fire races up my arms in bright, violent ribbons, shattering the trance I was in instantly.
“Stop.”
My hands shake and I try to pull the flames towards me, but no matter how hard I try, they only grow bigger. “No, please…”
Panic is like a fist around my throat and I back up until I bump into something. The scent of smoke and fire fills my nostrils. Hands land on my arms and I startle, but watch as the flames stop spreading and eventually grow smaller.
Aramis walks towards me and cups my cheek, his cool touch sizzling against my burning skin. “Are you alright?”
Only when the flames have completely disappeared, I can speak again. “I’m so sorry…”
Only then I realise that the hands on my arms weren't Aramis’ and I didn’t bump into a wall, but into Conláed.
“No need to apologise, Mai. Your powers are new, it will take some time to control them. They might appear more often now that you realise what you are and that magic exists around you.”
Conláed gives me a glass of water that I empty in a couple of seconds. “You did good back there.”
“Good? She was incredible, Con, even you can’t deny that.”
I was?
“Fine, you did more than average.”
We both look at Conláed, surprise clearly visible on both our faces. Huh. So he can be kind today.
“I managed, barely.”
“You realise you fought both of us at the same time, right? And you stood your ground. You’re very skilled for someone who received the amount of training you have here.
” Aramis’ eyes twinkle with admiration, yet his words tug on something inside of me.
It did feel like muscle memory, but where did I learn and from whom? “Did you receive any training before?”
“No. Or…I don’t think so? I can’t…remember. Maybe when I was younger?” I try to think about my past, maybe my mom taught me? I sigh. “I… I don’t know, I’m sorry.”
“It’s of no importance, you are ready to train with the others.”
And with that, Conláed walks away.
A rush of excitement flows through me. Finally, I’ll be able to defend myself. The skill might’ve been useful all those years at Anima, but there is nothing to be done about that now. I can only look forward.
At the very muscled chest of Aramis, for example. The sweat that still covers his pecs and abdomen give his skin a luminous glow. The urge to glide my tongue along those divine abs is nearly driving me wild.
“Mai?”
Shit. I was staring like a full-on creep. Damn it. But flashes of last night pass my mind, which isn’t helping at all. “I’m sorry, what were you saying?”
He tries to contain his smile, but fails, and quickly repeats what he was saying. “I asked if you’d want to come to the lake this evening? There is a small party, nothing special really.”
“Sure, I’d love to.”
His smile is brighter than any sun could ever shine. “Great! Ami’s going too, I’m sure she’ll find you before.”
He stretches his shoulder, placing one arm over his head, pushing his elbow down behind his back. I’m about to turn around and try not to drool all over him, an angry red mark on his ribs catches my eye. A mark the size of my fist. “Did I…hurt you?”
He gives me a confused expression and without giving it a second thought, I gently touch the edges of the burn.
“I am so, so sorry, Aramis. I didn’t mean to hurt you…” I look over my shoulder, not seeing Conláed anywhere. “Did I burn him too?” I ask, my voice so little now.
Aramis grabs my chin and turns my head so I face him. “It didn’t hurt, Mai, I promise. I’m fine and it will be gone within hours. And Con, well, I don’t think you can really burn him since he is fire as well. So no, his ego might be a little bruised, but other than that he is fine.”
Right, he said we are the same, or something like that. But I hurt Aramis. My hand still rests on his ribcage, and the familiar burning sensation travels through my fingertips.
“I’ve been thinking about last night,” he admits quietly.
My pulse stumbles. “That makes one of us.”
He glances at me, clearly unconvinced, and the corner of his mouth lifts slightly. “Liar.”
I have to look away to keep from smiling as I drop my hand, but that only makes the warmth spreading across my face worse. His proximity makes me nervous, but not in a bad way. At all.
His expression softens as he watches me, amusement fading into something gentler.
“Do you regret it?” He asks carefully.
“No,” I respond a little too quickly.
His expression softens almost instantly, tension leaving his shoulders so subtly I almost miss it.
“Good,” he murmurs.
Impossible to contain my smile any longer, I step back and walk to where I left my shoes. The longing in his eyes is impossible to ignore and I am seconds away from giving in to my own desires.
“I’ll see you tonight?” He asks, breaking my line of thought.
“Tonight?”
“The lake?”
“Yes! Sorry! Of course, I’ll be there.”
I quickly wave him goodbye and head back to my room before I make an even bigger fool of myself.