Everett scowls. "Hello? I'm the one whose face you wanted to rip off."
"That hasn't changed. But I hate that I'm becoming such a liability. Had that happened during the fight earlier…"
"I still would have handed you your asses," Maven says so matter-of-factly that it makes me bark out a laugh. She regards the three of us like she analyzes chessboard pieces. "Speaking of which, you three need some serious training before they reschedule First Placement."
That wipes the smile off my face. "My mom's trained me since I was twelve."
"I had private combat tutors," Everett tacks on.
Silas stops leaning on the tree. "The Garnet Wizard handled my training. I could defeat his most seasoned acolytes by the time I turned eighteen."
"Then his acolytes must have been invertebrates because while your magic is decent, your physical combat needs help."
Shots fired. I barely smother a laugh as Silas's mouth drops open.
"Decent?Decent?I'm far more than?—"
Maven cuts him off, glancing at Everett. "You're the opposite. Your skill with a blade is passable, but there are elemental children who can control their power with ten times the accuracy you have."
His face flushes.
"And Baelfire?"
Shit. My turn to be roasted.
I duck my head. "Yeah, I know. I got hit by a motherfucking silverblend spell because I was too focused on my target. My bad."
"No. You lack strategy completely."
Ouch.
I forgot that she doesn't pull punches. I guess that's a good trait for a keeper, but it makes my inner dragon downright petulant. I huff and fold my arms like a toddler. I want to impress my mate and make her happy, not hearthis.
"My point is, you're all sloppy. I'll have to fix that, so we need to find somewhere to train for additional hours, away from other legacies."
Silas looks as disgruntled as I feel, but he looks away and sighs. "There are large rooms in the lowest level of Everbound Castle that can be reserved. They used to be dungeons, but they've been refurbished for exercise and training. If you really think it's so necessary," he tacks on.
"Verynecessary. We'll start tomorrow."
"Because you're worried about me and want me to have time to heal?" I guess. I'm shamelessly milking this injury to get more of Maven's sweet attention.
"And because I'm leaving Everbound's wards to get Kenzie back after midnight."
She says it so nonchalantly, like she's announcing she's going to take a nap.
Everett immediately scowls. "No. Even if you can somehow get through the wards, anyone meddling with them will be sensed by the casters who the Immortal Quintet hired to put them up. They'll go looking for you. What if they figure out where you came from? It's way too dangerous, Oakley. You're staying."
I don't envy him the ball-shriveling look Maven sends his way.
"Oh, really? Make me."
He looks exasperated, turning to us for backup. I can't stand the idea of Maven putting herself in danger or getting anywhere close to the Immortal Quintet's radar. But I'm starting to understand my mate better, and it's pretty damn obvious that whatever she sets her mind to, she accomplishes.
Silas, on the other hand, starts to back up the ice elemental. But he's interrupted by the whistle blowing outside of Everbound Forest, signaling the end of combat training. That means we only have a small window for dinner before we're cooped up in our apartment until morning while the stupid-ass henchmen of the Immortal Quintet patrol the castle to look for anyone breaking curfew.
Maven makes her way toward the forest exit. We follow, with Everett right behind her and Silas and I bringing up the back. I grit my teeth when I notice that Snowflake can't keep his eyes off Maven when she can't see him.
It's not that I'm jealous. I totally get wanting to stare at her deliciously round ass.
