They want to hold mine so fiercely that I have to look away.
Hiro takes another step forward and raises his hands again as my gaze falls back on the black bands circling his wrist. I feel his power move around me as his hands aim higher, enclosing the park completely in his heavy air. I shiver at the power of him, feeling it in my bones, and watch as he steps towards me in pure confidence.
“Don’t,Hiro,” I frown, not appreciating that he’s hidden the two of us from Keane.
Hirovale grins back at me, eyes dancing across my face, “but I thought you wanted to have a few words with me first, Alex?”
I glare at his laughing eyes.
We can have words, but why do you have to do this?I flip my hand to the white surrounding us.
Hirovale grins, “because I also need to have a few words with you before we are graced by your King.”
I sigh at the Ancient and nod, unsure where to start. He keeps his strong gaze on me, those golden eyes turning curious as he takes a casual step forward.
“Were you surprised when Elena told you?”
“Immensely,” I nod again,that’s why I’m here.
“Why?” he inquires, eyes darting across my face in curiosity.
Why was I surprised?
The Ancient nods.
“Because I don’t much care for you,” I reply, “you know this.”
“You will,” he laughs quietly.
“You keep saying that,” I huff and pin him with a glare, “what do you know?”
Hirovale stops in his walk, his features softening and reminding me of the first night I met him in Fumagalli. He holds a look of friendly resignation, watching me as a young man would when looking at a long lost friend.
“Softening and young?” Hiro shakes his head, flicking his hand again as the air below my boots moves swiftly up my calves, “you always forget who I am, Alex.”
I gasp and look down at the swirls wrapping up my legs, feeling the power of his summoning pushing into me as it holds my lower body captive harder than it ever has before. Hirovale takes another step forward and stares at my immobile legs, a small grin spreading across his lips.
“Stop this, Hirovale,” I scowl.
Hirovale brings his golden gaze back to mine and tightens the air around my thighs, making me gasp again. I push against his mist with my full being, expelling my anger and the claim he thinks he always has over me. My thighs move just slightly in response before they’re pulled and constrained again.
“You have to want it, Alexis,” he holds my gaze steadily, “trulywantto expel the hold I have over you.”
“I do want it,” I glare back at the Ancient, watching as he stops to stand within an arm’s reach of me.
“Not right now,” he grins.
My eyes widen in realization. “You’re testing me.”
“Preparingyou,” he corrects, “now expel me, Alex. Take all of your hatred for me and push it back against the summoning.”
I wish I could, but all I find under my anger is that deep part of me that still yearns for clarity. I calm almost instantly and sigh back at the Ancient with a little sadness in my eyes, letting my tense body relax to him and his power.
“I don’t hate you, Hirovale,” I tell him quietly, watching as his golden eyes hold mine in surprise, “I do hate that you think you can casually claim me, as your champion and as your Human Reborn. I also hate that you think you can just stroll into my life and make demands of me. You barely know me enough to demand that. But I do not hateyou.”
“I’ve known you longer than you’ve known yourself, Alexis,” the Ancient replies softly.
He holds my gaze for a long moment and then releases me from his summoning without any movement of his hands. I take a sharp inhale of breath and feel his power run down my legs before it settles back on the path around our feet.
