“I think that’s a good idea.”
“You do?”
She smiled and nodded. “Yes. It may help balance you as well. Especially since you seem quite worried.”
“I am. I guess with the exception of Thayden, any of those other situations could have killed me. It grieves me that it could have been so easy to end me. When those guys got to me I was able to use time magic on one of them, but I hardly did anything. I was too burnt out. Then in the demon’s cave, I barely managed to pick up my sword when I got knocked on my ass by some acid, mist monster.”
“I hear you. We’ll organize training. Maybe with Alaric.”
“Alaric?”
“He’s a great teacher. He taught me. Neither myself nor Bastian can teach you. We care about you too much. Garrick is also out of the question. Wolfe too.”
I raised my brows. “Why? And doesn’t Alaric care about me?”
She giggled. “No, that’s not what I mean. It’s not wise for someone who’s close to another to train them to use a sword. So that takes me and Wolfe out. We’d be too worried about hurting you. You wouldn’t learn anything. Bastian can’t teachyou because hewouldhurt you. He’s trained to kill. They all are, but he’s different—which was why he couldn’t train me either. Wolfe went crazy last time Garrick got too close to you.”
“Really?”
“He gets testy that way with Garrick. But I think he was a little jealous because Garrick is so easy going and Wolfe is not. So that just leaves Alaric.”
Her explanation made me dizzy but I understood it. “I’ll be happy with whoever can help me.”
“Good, we’ll figure out a time that works. I think we should focus on your magical training though for now. Especially with the reset upon us.”
I nodded agreeing. “Yes that would be best. One thing at a time.”
“Yes, one thing at a time. Now that’s settled um…” A look of mischief flashed across her face. “There is one other thing you should be aware of that might impact your magical training.”
“What? What else is there?”
Her cheeks turned a soft shade of pink. “The mating bond.”
Now it was my turn to blush. “Oh… that.”Five days to consummate the marriage.
“I’m told the magic that creates the bond can consume you for the entire five days if you don’t…consummate.”
I couldn’t hide my surprise. “Consume?”
“As in you literally can’t stop thinking about each other and if you’re apart for too long it could make you crazy. Well… maybe notcompletely crazybut enough to make a person do things they wouldn’t normally do.”
“How is that possible? Does the magic know or something?” I dreaded the thought of anyone watching us like that. Like… Gods,the Judges.
“In a sense it knows. So you stop feeling like you can’t be without each other after youconsummate.”
“I feel fine now. I mean I’d like to see Wolfe but other than that I don’t feel crazy.”
Light laughter fell from her lips. “You’re fine now because he’s not here. Wait until you see him later.”
My pulse spiked and warmth bloomed in my chest. “You’re kidding right?”
She shook her head and tried to bite back a smile. “Nope. I am not.”
“What, so, I’m just going to look like I’m in heat or something?”
She laughed out loud. “I guess we’ll see, won’t we.”
“It’s not funny.”
