Chapter 17 #2
The yearning to reunite with my friend and reveal everything I’d learned so far to her burned in my chest with the fire of a thousand suns. She would be delighted to no end to get confirmation—and then she would mock me eternally for not believing her.
Dion was right; I needed some time to digest everything, and so I changed the subject despite having a million more questions.
They had to wait, or my brain would implode.
“You’ve also promised to teach me some self-defense.
After what had happened, I’d better start training sooner rather than later. ”
“I will.” Dion nodded, then shifted his weight from one side to the other, and his hands tightened around mine. “How was it for you?”
From the way his jaw clenched and his muscles locked, I could tell what he meant by it. I glanced at my feet as Dion clutched my hand with ever increasing intensity.
“It felt weird. As if something was pulling at me from the inside. From one second to the next, I got dizzy and felt so tired that I thought I’d faint. It was as if my energy was drained completely from the inside and out simultaneously.” I glanced at Dion, who was grinding his teeth.
“Tell him he’ll have to be more careful if he wants to continue taking from your Potential, as hard as it is for him to do anything in moderation.
Although, it’s up to you whether you’ll allow him access or not, Jama.
You can just tell him to fuck off. If he doesn’t respect that, he’ll be in a whole lot of trouble with me. ”
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” I chuckled lightly to combat the darkness that had crept into Dion’s expression, and when he nodded, his face serious, I just grinned. “Of course you would. Sometimes, you’re just so predictable.”
Dion ignored my teasing. “So, will you tell Thain no? If he tries to disregard your wishes, I will teach him why that’s the worst decision he could ever make.”
He was deadly serious, even though you’d think no one could mean something like that, and it baffled me.
“I can fight my own battles with all of you, Dion,” I said, although I had to admit that it felt weirdly good to have him in my corner, always ready to step in for me.
“But no, I need to at least see if I can be of any use. I don’t want to stay the weak link forever.
It feels wrong to turn something down that could potentially help. ” The unintended pun had me chuckle.
Dion’s lips curled harshly as if he’d recently bitten into something sour.
“Yes, you hate being dependent on anyone or being limited by constrictions,” he said and gently dabbed his finger against the silver matrimony choker I was wearing against my will.
“So, think about it. As an Amplifier, you’ll still only play a passive role.
Of course, I’ll teach you self-defense, and I sure as fuck won’t stop protecting you, but in a way, you’ll always need someone else.
To be of magical use or for your safety. Just consider that.”
“So, basically just like now, only that I have a way of supporting the team instead of being dead weight?” It was obvious what Dion was trying to do.
He wanted me to deny Thain my magical support, and he was trying to use my convictions to manipulate me into doing so.
But I wouldn’t allow that. “I want to try, at least. And saying yes in the present doesn’t mean it won’t turn into a no in the future. ”
Finally, Dion let go of my hand and got up.
He towered over me, staring down, and I was able to see how hard he was fighting against himself.
He was shaking with suppressed emotions—I couldn’t discern what it was that he held back, he was just all over the place, and it was clear that it pained him.
“I’ll supervise your training with him.” The finality of this decree left me with a knot in my stomach.
I could imagine at least a thousand ways how it could go sideways if he’d monitor Thain’s and my training.
“Only if you’re able to be in Thain’s vicinity without escalating.
You’ll have to be calm and collected—and polite.
And you better make up with him, you know?
Try to find some common ground. He may be careless sometimes, and oh my, he can talk, but he isn’t malicious.
” I rose to my feet and crossed my arms over my middle, as I gave Dion a strict stare.
Sadly, my attempt at intimidation would have made more of an impact if I still hadn’t been over a head shorter than him.
And Dion wasn’t impressed at all. His face closed off, lips thinning, eyebrows drawing together—his trademark scowl returned.
“Stop sticking your nose into my business, Jama. I promised you no murder, that should be enough for you. So, if that’s all, go to sleep.
We’ll start training with weapons tomorrow before we’ll continue riding.
” All of his walls were up once more. One day, I would tear them all down, I swore to myself.
“Stop bossing me around. That’s not how friends treat each other.” Grumbling only earned me one of his narrow-eyed stares.
“Did you just call me your friend? Jama, you don’t want to be friends with me.” Dion’s retort, which was accompanied by a scandalized scoff, caught me off guard, and stunned, I watched him saunter away.
“Infuriating asshole.” Making a frustrated sound, I followed him and tried to ignore the painful sting of rejection. That he’d acted as if the idea of a friendship with me was a far-fetched disillusion of a lunatic—me—hurt more than I wanted to admit.