CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
ELYSIA
Instructor Seraphine stands at the centre of the combat hall, hands clasped behind her back, silver eyes cutting through the gathered pairs like knives.
It’s been two months since Cole returned to Celestrian Academy, and in that time, Instructor Seraphine has been relentlessly drilling us through combat lessons. And not to sound like I'm up my own ass, but I’ve actually gotten really good.
Kaden has also been annoyingly persistent about training me in hand-to-hand combat.
Never let your guard down.
Never assume you have the upper hand.
Your speed is your best advantage; use it.
Gods, he’s truly been exhausting.
“You’ll thank me for that one day,” he murmurs through the link, voice smooth as sin.
I scoff beneath my breath. “Doubtful. And stop listening to my thoughts.”
His dark chuckle echoes in my mind, but before he can respond, Instructor Seraphine’s voice cuts through the combat hall.
“Today’s focus will be on bonded combat. Strengthening your magical shields, testing your coordination and hopefully, learning not to accidentally maim your partner in the process.”
A ripple of laughter rolls through the hall, quickly swallowed when her gaze snaps toward Enzo.
He grins, unbothered. “I make no promises.”
“First pair up…” Instructor Seraphine says, already unimpressed. “Enzo and Odette versus Ronan and Brynn.”
A low whistle echoes through the group. Everyone knows Brynn and Ronan are a nightmare to face; they are perfectly fluid and have been since day one.
“Try not to drown me,” Enzo mutters to Odette as they step into the centre.
She smirks. “Only if you behave.”
Instructor Seraphine raises her hand, and silence weighs in the air as everyone waits for her signal. Then her hand drops, and chaos follows.
Odette moves first, water surging from her palms in a silver-blue wave. It crashes toward Brynn, only to get pushed back onto her from Ronan’s blast of air. Brynn uses the opening to strike, her shadows cutting through the haze and wrapping around Enzo’s legs before he can counter.
“Not again.” He growls, heat rolling off him in waves as Brynn tugs him to the floor.
A sickening crunch echoes across the hall as his back makes contact with the ground.
Enzo lights up like a bonfire, flamebirds crashing towards Brynn and Ronan, only to get snuffed out by gusts of wind at the flick of Ronan’s wrist.
Odette sends ribbons of water hurdling towards them both, droplets glimmering in the air, but Brynn’s darkness swallows them whole, snuffing out the last traces of light.
Within moments, Enzo and Odette are both flat on the floor, panting and singed, the air humming with spent power.
Instructor Seraphine nods once. “Winners… Ronan and Brynn.”
Enzo runs a hand through his hair, half-grinning despite himself. “Yeah, yeah. We get it, you’re better.”
Odette squeezes her top out, water spilling onto the floor “Enjoy the victory while it lasts,” she taunts, a wicked smile on her face.
Instructor Seraphine doesn’t wait much longer before announcing the next match, “Thane and Sirena versus Ronan and Brynn.”
The mood shifts instantly, Thane and Sirena step forward, and the air itself seems to sharpen around them. They move like they’ve done this their whole lives… which honestly, they have, since they were kids.
Sirena flashes Brynn a teasing smile. “Ready to get your ass kicked again?”
“Confident today, aren’t we?” Brynn drawls.
“Always,” Thane says, his breath misting with frost as the temperature in the hall drops.
Instructor Seraphine raises her hand once more, and the tension in the hall feels like static nipping at my skin. Seconds pass, Instructor Seraphine’s hand drops, and the match begins.
Sirena moves first, lightning crackling across her skin like liquid light as she strikes mere inches from Ronan and Brynn’s feet. Thane’s magic collides with hers as the strike hits, lightning freezing mid-strike before shattering into glittering shards.
Brynn’s shadows lash forward, but Thane sweeps a wall of frost to meet them, freezing the darkness solid before shattering it with a kick. Ronan sends a whirlwind at Sirena, but she just grins as electricity strikes towards his chest through the gust.
“Try harder!” she laughs, ducking under a swipe of shadow.
Thane pretends to stumble, clutching his chest dramatically. “Ah, Angel…” he falls to his knees, “I’m mortally wounded! You’ll have to kiss it better.”
Sirena snorts, sending a bolt of lightning so close to Ronan it singes the edge of his hair. “You’ll live, drama queen.”
They’re unstoppable, frost and electricity dancing in a rhythm all its own as they block and dodge every advance made by Ronan and Brynn. Eventually, Ronan appears to get bored with the back and forth and makes for it, charging at Thane and tackling him to the ground.