“Never get distracted in a battle,” she whispers in my ear, making my skin break out in goosebumps.
“Kiss me, damn it. Don't you dare leave me like this,” I murmur with labored breathing, creating a strange air current around us.
She seems to hesitate for the briefest instant, but soon composes herself.
“It's better that I don't,” she sighs, placing her right hand on my chest, while both the air current and the vines vanish.
Part of me almost feels relieved. Not because I don't want to kiss her. Fuck, of course I want to, I'm dying to, but I'm not sure that what I feel is... totally mine. Kaelisar's voice in my dream keeps driving me crazy: “Is this what you want, or what I want you to want?”
“How did you do that? The air thing, I mean. You can't control it... Or can you?”
“I have centuries of experience, Nell,” she responds with an almost sad smile. “I've fought against very powerful air elementals.”
She helps me to my feet, and I'd swear that her touch on my hand sends small electric shocks through my whole body, especially between my legs.
“You did very well for your first practical session,” she congratulates me. “You have a natural talent that makes me doubt you're only half Fae.”
“Thanks, I guess,” I respond, trying to ignore the tingling I feel in the lower part of my belly or the heat in my cheeks. “Though I still don't see how this will help me steal a magic arrow from a high-tech safe.”
“It's not just about stealing the arrow, Nell,” she explains calmly. “It's about keeping you alive afterward. Kaelisar isn't the only dangerous being in this city, and onceyou get involved in the magical world, there's no turning back.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that all of us will work with you to prepare you as best as possible,” she states. “Tonight you'll practice with Althea, and tomorrow with Sabina. You need to understand how the other elements work to be able to defend yourself against them.”
“It won't be necessary. As soon as we finish this job, I'll return to my normal life. That's what we agreed with that demented king.”
Again, she gives me a sad smile. So sad, it makes me wonder how long she's been forced to work for that dangerous lunatic and the things she must have had to do.
“You're naive if you think Kaelisar will let you go that easily,” she murmurs, closing her eyes and letting out a long sigh. “He won't release someone with your potential unless you're no longer useful to him.”
“I'm not going to be his slave,” I growl. “I'll find a way to get rid of him if necessary.”
“I wish you luck, then. You'll need it.”
Chapter 12
Nell
“This isn't running,” I protest between gasps, feeling my lungs burn. “This is fucking torture.”
Drops of sweat slide down my back while Althea moves several yards ahead of me without showing the slightest sign of fatigue. I don't know why she brought me here. The abandoned tunnel we're moving through is narrow, damp, and smells too much like mold. The only light comes from the small flames she's been leaving in our wake like lamps.
“Air elementals are much faster than Kobolds,” she yells without even turning around. “Use your element. Don't run with your legs, run with the air.”
We could be outdoors in any city park, but I've spent almost an hour following her through this labyrinth of underground tunnels that, according to her, are perfect for training.
Perfect for dying of exhaustion, more like.
When we finally reach what looks like an old bridge, I stop, resting my hands on my knees and trying to catch my breath. Below, the drop must be about a hundred feet deep.
“Come on, cross,” she challenges me.
I observe the terrible state of maintenance and shake my head. Some parts have come loose, leaving gaps in the path. With my bad luck, the whole bridge will collapse as soon as I set foot on it.
“No way I'm going across that. Are you sure you're not a troll?” I ask still trying to recover my breathing. “Because this is the type of bridge a troll would guard, demanding tolls from travelers and that kind of thing. Isn't that what they do in stories?”
Althea lets out a long laugh, almost childish.
