I shrugged, my heart beating so damn hard that Hunter, who was well on his way to the council meeting, could probably hear it. “You’ve already given me everything I ever wanted. All I need now is Fletcher and his witches wiped off the fucking planet.”
Slade’s expression softened, and again it was such a rare occurrence that my parched emotions were desperate for another sip. “You’re helping to heal all of us through your own innate magic, Emme. We can never repay that.”
I wanted to tell him that it was the same for me, but I knew if I spoke, my voice would crack, and I didn’t need this to get all weird and angsty.
Slade gathered up my bags, managing them easily in one hand, and I followed as he took the stairs three at a time to the second floor. In my room, he placed my new purchases in the wardrobe, and I decided I’d put them away later. Uninterrupted time with my most reticent alpha was too good to turn down.
“We have a couple of hours until the game,” Slade said, as if he’d had the same thought. “What would you like to do?”
Usually, he was more of thegive an order and expect it to be obeyedalpha,but apparently he continued to channel his softer side. “What if I said face masks and a pedicure?”
His jaw twitched and he sighed. “If that’s what you want. I know you’ve been having a rough time lately. Or… we could practice reading?” He tagged on the last part with a semi-hopeful tone, and I managed not to laugh.
“I’ve been practicing my reading,” I told him, “And I’m happy with my progress. Could we maybe try knife training instead?”
During my early morning sessions, I’d grown more confident with weapons, and Horton had suggested we move on to real—still blunted—blades soon.
Slade’s relief was palpable, and I wasalmosttempted to go back to face masks just to stir him up. “Get dressed and I’ll meet you in the gym,” he said, leaving before I could respond.
After quickly using the bathroom, I threw my hair into a ponytail and dressed in black Lycra pants, a matching sports bra, and sneakers.
Slade was already in the gym, and I followed the sounds of thuds to find him in the back corner whaling on a boxing bag.
Oh. Fuck. Me.
He was shirtless, with just his gym shorts and sneakers on. He wasn’t sweating, but I sure as hell was as I watched the play of muscles in his broad shoulders every time he slammed his fist into the bag. It swung hard into the wall, and when it returned, he smashed it again.
“These bags are made by a shifter company,” Slade said, and even though I shouldn’t have been, I was surprised that he’d already sensed me standing there. “They make it from a synthetic material which can withstand our strength.” He wasspeaking words, that was for sure, but all I heard was static in my head as I drooled.
When he hit the bag one last time, catching it on the backswing, he caught me mid obsessive stare. “Uh, right? Very strong,” I managed to say, as I sucked in a ragged breath.
Slade relaxed back into his stance, arms crossed over his chest to highlight both dragon heads. His gaze was heated as he ran it down my body, taking in my workout gear too.
“You ready to practice?” he asked, and I nodded roughly.
I already knew I was going to be utterly useless today, but we were here now, and I was still determined to learn how to fight… or at least hold my own for a few seconds.
“Can we use actual weapons?”
Slade’s smile kicked up a notch. “You can, and I'll keep the wooden practice ones.”
“What? Why?” I shot back, my annoyance cutting through the lust. “I’m never going to get better if you keep babying me. I’m a shifter. I’ll heal!”
His smile disappeared faster than a drop of moisture in the desert. “I can’t cut you, Snow. I won’t fucking do it. If that blade slices your perfect skin, I’ll probably plunge it into my own damn chest. So, just work with me here so I don’t lose my shit and destroy the world. Please.”
My fire died off, and since he so rarely said please, I knew I’d give him whatever he wanted. “Is that why you’ve been having Horton take point on my training? So you don’t hurt me?”
Poor Horton though, taking all the risks. I needed to make sure he didn’t accidentally stab me; otherwise he’d be a dead eagle.
Slade shook his head. “I don’t trust myself to touch you more than necessary. My dragon is starting to crave the feel of your skin against mine.”
The thudding of my heartbeat was loud in my ears. “Have you ever stopped to think that might be exactly what you’re supposed to want. You said I was healing you all, in my own way, so why wouldn’t I be part of healing the rift with your beast?”
I expected his immediate rebuttal, but he was slow to respond. “It’s possible, but it’s still a risk. I’m hoping everything will make more sense once we return to the volcano.”
“You and Talon?” I asked.
“You will all have to come as well,” he said shortly, “but only we will venture into the depths.”
