Today wasn’t the best day to examine that question, and I’d take any excuse to avoid examining my insecurities. After giving me several days to try to adjust to the change of my entirebeing, it was time to finally address the war to come.
Cyrus wasn’t going to wait around, so we had to get moving and get our plans in place. I could worry about the state of my relationship with Calix later. My magic, on the other hand, didn’t have that kind of time. I stood in front of my mirror once Delia finished getting me ready for the day, clad in my dragon-scale armored corset, cloud leather pants, tall boots, and my armbands. I felt ready for war physically, if perhaps not mentally.
The thought of Cyrus and what he may be doing even now caused the stars in my eyes to churn violently. The fire in my blood lit like a fuse, and I rocked back as starlight exploded out of me. The loud crash had me ducking and protecting my head on instinct.
I looked up to find my mirror had cracked in two. I raised my hand, trailing my fingertips along the crack, before letting my head fall onto it, my forehead clanging off the mirror. I could feel my forehead scrape along the ragged crack in the glass and the resulting blood that dripped from the wound. But by the time I lifted my head, it had healed completely.
Only a red drop of blood showed any proof the cut had even happened.
I raised my hand to wipe it away, looking at the blood on my finger. I wasn’t sure I’d ever adjust to being Fae.
Maybe Calix was right, and that was why my magic didn’t answer my call. It still responded to my emotions, at least intense ones, but it was like a dog that didn’t listen to commands. It showed up, yet refused to do what I wanted.
I sighed miserably. How exactly did one accept their entire world shifting?
I supposed I’d have to figure that out.
Quickly.
* * *
I mademy way down to the training yard, determined to at least improve my fighting skills if my magic ones were going to keep failing me.
Titan was already there, watching me with a raised brow as I made my way out.
“You’re overdue for training.” He smirked, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
I scoffed, making my way to the array of weapons. “Excuse me for getting kidnapped.”
“You’re not excused,” he replied as I grabbed my sword. My head whipped over to him incredulously. “Our job is to make sure you won’t be overpowered and kidnapped.” His brow rose, and I ground my teeth, taking a deep breath so I didn’t lash out.
“Well, I’m sure we don’t have to worry about that anymore, right?” I swung my sword out dramatically, indicating my new Fae body.
But Titan shook his head, tutting. “That kind of thinking will see you back in chains.”
My head reared back in surprise. “What?”
He advanced on me, and an uncomfortable shiver went down my spine. “You think because you’re immortal, you cannot die?”
“Isn’t that what immortal means?” I snapped back, raising my sword to block his sudden strike. I flinched as the clang of blades clashing rang out. His got much too close to my face for comfort.
“It means you won’t age. Not that you can’t be killed.” He grunted, glaring at me. “It doesn’t mean that something worse than death can’t befall you. Do you want to end up back in Cyrus’s clutches?”
I snarled, fangs appearing where before only sharper than usual canines had been. I stepped forward, thrusting my blade. Titan blocked it, and I swung the sword harder and harder. Titan blocked every swing, which only made me more furious.
“I willneverbe caged again,” I growled, spinning around quickly and coming up behind Titan, his own fast turn to meet my blade, taking me back for a moment.
“Good,” he growled back, blue eyes flashing. “Now, we need to ensure that. You need to work harder, train harder, than all of them. We won’t stop until you can bestme. And then, we’ll keep going.”
My jaw dropped. “You’re ancient! How am I supposed to beat you?!”
That seemed entirely unfair. Titan smirked in response, “Until you can, there will always be someone out there who can beat you, Asteria. My goal is to see youlive. A long, long life, if I have any say in the matter.”
I paused, looking up at the man my mate considered a second father. I wondered if this was some strange version of bonding with a pseudo-in-law like the new wives in my village had done with their husband’s parents.
Titan’s hand landed on my shoulder. “You have many fights in front of you, Asteria. Gaining control of your magic will help, but I want you prepared for everything. You won’t ever again be weak under my watch, do you understand?”
I nodded, silenced. He was right. Just because I was Fae now, didn’t mean I suddenly knew what I was doing. I desperately needed more training. I didn’t know what the war ahead looked like, but I knew I would face Cyrus before the end. I refused to accept any different. And I needed to ensure I could best him when that time came.
