Chapter 23
Killian
With the blindfold on, Killian could only see a slit of the hard-packed dirt beneath his boots.
He knew he was in the training ring at the obstacle course by Elyse’s old shoppe.
He also knew there were a dozen hay-stuffed target dummies surrounding the ring.
He assumed that Manny was still standing beside him, also hindered by a blindfold, but he wasn’t entirely sure.
“Okay, I’m going to activate the dummies now,” Elyse called. She sounded like she was standing outside the ring.
“This feels ridiculous,” Killian groused. “There’s no way we’ll be able to protect ourselves.”
“I kind of like it,” Manny said. Based on his voice, he was indeed standing beside Killian. “This blindfold is giving me some ideas.”
Killian scoffed. “You’re disgusting sometimes.”
“Sometimes?” Elyse grumbled.
Killian smiled for a moment, happy to be among his friends. He wished Sera had joined them, but she hadn’t come out of her shared room with Manny all morning. Killian had cornered Manny the first chance he’d gotten and asked him the question that had been on his mind all night.
“Is she pregnant?”
Manny had gaped back at him, horror on his face. “What? No! At least…” He furrowed his brows as he pondered. “I don’t think so. I meant it when I said I’m very good at—”
“Please,” Killian interrupted him. “I don’t need to hear it again.”
But the question remained. If Sera hadn’t run off the night before because she was secretly pregnant, then what exactly about Killian’s comment had set her off? Or had it been something else altogether?
“Okay, the dummies are set!” Elyse announced.
Killian grimaced at his impossible task. “Seriously, how are we supposed to know where the attack is coming from?”
“It’s hardly an attack,” Elyse countered. “The dummies will shoot simple spells. It’ll feel like someone’s poking you. Now get ready.”
Killian bent his knees and spread his hands in a ready stance. “Okay, how are we supposed to shield—Ow! Manny!” He shoved Manny, who had bumped into him.
Elyse laughed, a feminine yet menacing sound. Killian both loved and hated how cruel she could be during training. It always paid off, pushing him to new skill levels, but he was failing to see how the blindfold would help.
“Let your magic guide you,” she called, no empathy in her voice.
“That’s it?” Killian shouted back. The question was cut off by a shriek from Manny.
“That hurt way more than a poke!” he cried.
“Well then, you’d better learn how to shield,” Elyse taunted.
Killian pivoted, trying to listen for any noises that might clue him into incoming spells.
In the span of a few moments, his heartbeat had doubled its pace, and sweat was already seeping into the blindfold, but he tried to ignore all of that.
He heard a bird cawing behind him and whirled toward it, right as something jabbed him in the shoulder.
“Dammit!” he seethed. His shoulder throbbed, like the spell had embedded itself in his muscles.
“Don’t be so dramatic,” Elyse drawled. “Calm your breathing and listen.”
“I am listening!” he hollered.
“Me, too!” Manny added, quickly followed by, “Fuck, that hurt!”
“There’s nothing to hear!”
Even though he couldn’t see her, Killian was certain Elyse was rolling her eyes. “Listen with your magic, not your ears.”
“Listen with my magic,” Killian grumbled under his breath. “Fucking load of shit.” He fumbled around and stumbled into Manny again. Manny blasted his shield into place, sending Killian onto his ass.
“Get it together, gentlemen,” Elyse commanded.
His backside still planted firmly on the dirt, Killian sighed. Devil’s horns, this was idiotic. But if Elyse believed it would help them, then Killian would give it his best shot.
He took a few deep breaths before slowly raising himself onto his feet.
He remained crouched in a fighting stance, his hands at the ready to shield.
This time, as he tried to clear his mind, he focused on the sensations around him.
The dirt was firm beneath his boots, and an occasional breeze rippled through the ring.
Heat seared down on him from the sun overhead, but it waned each time a cloud granted temporary shade.
He could feel each bead of sweat on his uncovered arms, and the tightness in his knees as each of his battered joints rubbed together.
And beneath all that, he could sense the tiny breath of magic that coursed through his body.
“Guide me,” he demanded of his magic.
Perhaps he imagined it, but it seemed to thrum in response, like it had been eagerly waiting for instruction.
Something prickled at the back of his neck, and Killian twisted to shield his back. He was too late, and the spell socked him in the arm.
Killian hissed, but he knew what to expect now. He waited and breathed deep into his chest. His magic hummed inside him, anticipating the next threat.
He couldn’t explain it, but instinct told him to shield his legs. He did so, flicking his wrists to produce a wall of hard air. The spell must have come from an odd angle, though, because it still zapped him in the thigh.
“That was close!” Elyse shouted to him.
“Me?” Manny asked.
“No,” she called back, voice thick with amusement. “No, Manny, you’re just shielding at random. You have to actually try to sense the spells. But Killian, you almost had it!”
His magic sang at her encouragement, coupled with his fierce pride and warrior’s determination. He edged onto the balls of his feet as he waited for the next attack.
Even with the blindfold on, it was like he could see it. The spell came from the northeast, zooming straight at his chest. He flung the shield in place. The quiet hiss as the spell dissolved was the most satisfying sound he’d ever heard.
“That’s it!” Elyse cried. “Now, do it ten more times, and I’ll buy you a whole box of cream puffs.”
In the end, Killian earned his cream puffs. He blocked twelve spells in total, though he let more through than he was proud to admit. Still, he’d done better than Manny’s four.
By the time they took off the blindfolds, Killian was horrifically sweaty. He lifted his shirt to wipe his face, and didn’t miss the way Elyse’s gaze lingered on his abdomen. He gave her a wicked smile and a wink. “I’ll be taking those pastries now.”
Elyse sauntered toward him from across the training ring. “Let’s get you home first so you can clean up.” She turned to Manny and clapped him on the shoulder. “You too, kid. Good work today.”
Manny’s hair was a tangled mess of sweat. “I’m a year older than you,” he said, but extended his hand to her anyway.
In the blink of an eye, they were back in the alleyway behind Mrs. Southwick’s house. Killian walked through the back door, followed by Elyse and Manny. He’d barely made it past the table when a small human came barreling toward him.
“Killian!” a voice squeaked as lanky arms wrapped around his waist.
Startled, Killian looked down to find a mop of brown hair and a wide grin with too-big teeth.
“Hey, Georgie,” he said, patting his semi-adoptive brother on the back.
In the spring, Killian had found Georgie working among rather dicey individuals.
He’d asked his mother to take the boy in, and Georgie had stayed with her for about two months while they searched for a more permanent place for him.
They’d found a family in their neighborhood, a nice couple with three daughters who’d always wanted a son as well.
Mrs. Southwick still kept tabs on the boy, but he seemed to be thriving in his new home.
“What brings you here?” Killian asked.
“I came by to see Mum, but she wasn’t here, and Ms. Sera said I could wait until you lot were back.” The words tumbled from Georgie’s mouth with a child’s excitement. “She’s really nice by the way, but she said she had some work to do and went upstairs to read.”
Killian tried not to frown. He wondered if Sera had at least eaten today. He’d have to share his cream puffs with her—maybe that would perk her up.
“Hi, Georgie,” Elyse called sweetly. Georgie released Killian and headed straight for Elyse. He was nearly as tall as her now, the top of his head reaching her chin.
“Hi, Ms. Elyse. It’s good to see you again,” he said as he squeezed her. Then, quiet enough that he probably thought the others couldn’t hear, he whispered, “I knew you were innocent.”
Elyse gave an awkward smile. “Would you like a cream puff?” she deflected. “I’m off to get a box.”
“Yes, please!” Georgie answered, bobbing his head up and down.
“Coming right up,” she said as she tousled his hair. As she took a step back, she gave Killian a warm look. “Be back soon,” she said, and she disappeared.
“How did she do that?” Georgie cried. He stared at the spot where Elyse had been standing, his eyes wide and jaw wider.
“Magic,” Killian chortled. He ambled to the sink and ran his filthy hands under the water.
“Can you do that?” Georgie asked with wonder.
“Not without a potion,” Killian answered as he shut off the water.
“How are you liking your new family?” Manny asked as he sank into a chair at the table.
Georgie dropped into his own chair. “They’re great,” he said, his eyes bright. Then the corners of his mouth turned downward. “Except for when my sisters make me pretty.”
“They make you pretty?” Killian asked, chuckling. He leaned his back against the counter and watched Georgie with curiosity.
“They put me in a dress and paint my face,” the boy explained. His mouth had crumpled into a tight scowl. “It’s awful.”
Manny chortled. “Well, why don’t you stop them?”
“Mum said you can’t hurt a girl,” Georgie said, referring to Mrs. Southwick. He’d continued to call her “Mum” as Killian did, while his new mother was deemed “Mom.”
“She’s right,” Killian agreed. “You shouldn’t hurt anyone. But that doesn’t mean you can’t stand up for yourself.”
“It’s three against one!” Georgie cried.
Killian couldn’t contain his smirk. “I’m sorry, pal. I think that’s just what having a sister—or three—is like.”