The girl whirled to face Aya, sweat shining on her brown skin, her hazel eyes wide.
‘What’s your name?’ Aya asked.
‘Yara,’ the girl breathed, tucking one of her ebony braids behind her ear.
‘You’ve been practicing, Yara.’ Aya could see it in the way Yara’s movements were smooth where most others’ were stilted.
Yara nodded, and Aya’s affinity lashed out. ‘Drop your sword.’ Yara’s hand spasmed, her sword nearly falling out ofher grasp before she caught it. Her shield could use some work, but … not bad.
‘I thought we weren’t using our affinities yet,’ Yara said darkly, shooting Aya a glare.
‘A Dyminara is always expecting the unexpected. And theyalwaysshield.’
Yara’s eyes grew wide, a look of awe settling over her features.
‘That is what you’ve been practicing for, isn’t it?’
‘I’m going to take the oath one day.’ Pride coated her tone as she lifted her chin, as if daring Aya to deny it. She wouldn’t. She’d had that same determination, that same drive. There was no other place for Aya; no other home that made sense.
‘Work on that shield some more. Ask Galda to help you. She doesn’t bite. Often.’
Yara nodded vigorously, clenching her sword tighter as she turned back to her partner.
After a few more rounds, they moved on to affinity work. Lena and Will led the demonstration, walking the students through the complexities of the shield and different offensive and defensive maneuvers. The group broke into pairs again, and this time Aya watched from afar, marking each time Yara managed to slice through her partner’s shield and douse them in sensation.
‘She’s talented.’ Will took up a spot next to her on the wall, folding his arms across his chest as he followed her gaze. ‘Shield could use some work though. I got through too easily.’
‘With some more practice she’ll be fine. I want Galda to work with her,’ Aya muttered, tearing her eyes away from the young Visya. ‘You better have been mindful of the pain level. She’s just a kid.’
‘She’s fifteen. A year from now she’ll be training in thequalifications and will face far more than a moment of discomfort, as you and I both know.’ He frowned as he met Aya’s gaze. ‘Besides, I knowyoumay be unfamiliar with positive sensations, but my affinity does include them.’
Aya raised a brow. ‘Is that the only time people feel joy in your presence?’ she asked coolly.
Will leaned in, a response primed on his lips, but Galda interrupted from across the room.
‘The final demonstration, you two,’ she barked.
His mouth twisted into a slow, vicious grin. ‘Let’s see if you can back up all that venom you spit, Aya love.’
Aya pushed herself off the wall, her gaze pinned on the space between his shoulder blades as he sauntered to the center of the ring. A single flick of her wrist, and her knife would be embedded there before he even blinked.
‘Control,’ Galda growled from the corner of the room. She’d read the tension in Aya’s steps, the violence in her gaze.
Aya nearly rolled her eyes. She wouldn’tactuallykill him.
At least not today.
But Galda’s face was set, so Aya dipped her head in assent and unsheathed her sword. Will gave her a lazy smirk as he drew his.
And then he was in front of her, unleashing a vicious offensive. Their swords clashed with a deafening clang as she blocked his assault. She used his momentum against him, turning so she could force him off her.
She heard his deep chuckle as he turned back to face her, his eyes bright with the thrill of a fight. They circled each other like cats, marking each and every movement. Will lunged again. Again. Again.
They matched each other stroke for stroke. She knew his fighting style like the back of her hand – had spent monthsstudying it all those years ago when they’d become locked in competition for the Tría.
Will’s smile was gone, his jaw clenched in concentration as they parried. The calm, calculating cold of a fight crept through Aya’s veins, filling her head with such a blissful peace. She gave herself over to it completely, letting her instincts drive her as they fought. Aya managed to push him back, to put him on the defensive, her arms trembling at the force of his blocks. Her affinity lashed out, looking for weakness in his shield, looking for some maneuver she could persuade him into that would work to her advantage. She hissed in frustration as she found none.
Will’s blade came for her side, and Aya ducked under his arm, getting close enough to bring the butt of her sword into his wrist. Will was stronger – but she was faster. His sword flew from his hand. Her arm rose as she prepared to bare her blade at his throat, but he tackled her. They hit the ground with a thud, his hand pinning her sword arm.
