She stepped inside to find him leaning against the counter with a beer in hand and a rare, easy smile tugging at his lips. He was still dressed in his usual uniform of dark jeans and a fitted shirt that clung to his broad shoulders, but something about his posture was looser, more at ease than she was used to seeing.
“What’s got you in such a good mood?” she asked, kicking off her shoes and dropping her bag by the door.
“Zane,” he replied, lifting the bottle in a half-toast. “He’s always good for a laugh. Reminded me of a few things I’d forgotten about.”
“Like what?” she asked, leaning against the arm of the couch.
“Like how to relax. Been a while since I’ve had the chance.”
Cora studied him for a moment, and her unease battled with a flicker of something lighter. She didn’t know this side of Grayson well, the version of him that wasn’t all moody and alpha. It was…disarming.
“Well, don’t get too comfortable,” she said, forcing her tone to stay light. “Relaxation doesn’t suit you.”
He raised an eyebrow. “No?”
“Not at all,” she teased. “You’re much more convincing as the big bad wolf.”
Grayson chuckled, and the sound was low and warm, settling somewhere in the pit of her stomach. “Careful, Cora. You’re starting to sound like you might actually like me.”
“Let’s not get carried away,” she shot back, though a small smile tugged at her lips despite herself.
He straightened, setting the beer on the counter, and crossed the room to stand in front of her. “Speaking of things that don’t suit me, when’s the last time you practiced your magic?”
Her stomach clenched. “Why?”
“Because if you’re going to be walking home alone or pulling stunts like the other night, you need to be able to defendyourself,” he said matter-of-factly. “You said it yourself—your magic’s been unreliable. Let’s fix that.”
She hesitated as the memory of her failed attempt to summon magic earlier was still fresh in her mind. “I don’t think I’m in the right headspace for that.”
“Perfect. That’s the best time to train. Real life doesn’t wait for you to feel ready.”
She glared up at him, but there was no malice in it. “You’re impossible.”
“So I’ve been told,” he replied with a smirk. “Come on. I’ll make it easy on you.”
Against her better judgment, she followed him to the small living space they’d turned into a makeshift training area. He moved the coffee table aside and gestured for her to stand in the center of the room.
“Defensive magic,” he began, rolling his shoulders back. “The goal isn’t to attack. It’s to redirect and protect.”
“I know that,” she said, bristling. “I’m not a total novice.”
“Then prove it,” he challenged, stepping closer. “Block me.”
“Block you?” she repeated, eyeing him warily. “You’re twice my size.”
“Exactly,” he said with a grin that made her want to smack him. “If you can block me, you can block anyone.”
Before she could argue, he lunged—not with his full strength, but enough to make her stumble back with a yelp. Her hands shot up instinctively, and a weak shimmer of magic sparked between them, just enough to slow his advance.
“Better than last time,” he noted, stopping just short of colliding with her. “But you’re hesitating.”
“I’m not hesitating,” she protested.
“Yes, you are,” he countered. “You’re second-guessing yourself. Trust your instincts.”
“Easy for you to say,” she complained, but she squared her shoulders and raised her hands again. “Fine. Try it again.”
This time, she was ready. When he moved toward her, she focused on the energy buzzing just beneath her skin, pulling it forward and shaping it into a barrier. The magic held, and Grayson stopped short with a satisfiedthud.
