Ely charged.
Ugh. Teeth gritted, Shadow sprinted head-on toward the twin swords swinging at her, spun around at the last second, gaining momentum, and struck hard with her own dual blades, causing Ely to falter back a step. “Whoa,” she wheezed. “Well done.”
They’d been training with weapons for the last two hours. Man, the girl was too fast and darn good. Shadow just about managed to keep up with her.
“That’s it for me,” Shadow groaned, collapsing to the floor of the ginormous training arena, protected with arcane magic—just in case the warriors’ immense powers slipped—or so Ely had said. And judging by the nicks and gouges in the stone wall, yeah, it probably had many times over.
“I think you’re trying to kill me,” Ely grumbled, slumping down next to Shadow, her copper eyes bright with satisfaction.
Shadow huffed out a laugh. “As if.”
Ely set the short, twin swords on the floor next to her and swiped her damp face with the back of her paint-smeared fingers. “But you’ve definitely got a handle on this, and you’ve never used twin swords before.”
“It’s exhilarating,” Shadow agreed, snagging her energy drink next to her and gulping the sweet liquid. “I’d teach you parkour, but why would you want to learn running and leaping across building roofs when you can just flash?”
Ely grinned and unscrewed her water bottle. “As you can now, so I’ve heard.”
Shadow gently rubbed her symbionts on her sternum where they lay quiet in her chest, content for now. “Nik was supposed to help me with it today, but the day just runs away from us.” She exhaled roughly. “I have to practice summoning it faster, in case of dangerous situations.”
“I can help you with that. Tomorrow?”
“Really? Thank you.” Shadow glanced at the girl she’d once been fleetingly jealous over.
Ely was an Empyrean angel, incredibly stunning, but Shadow couldn’t understand why she’d chosen this dark job. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure. Hit me.”
Shadow set her drink down. Grimacing a little, she stretched first one arm then the other, trying to ease the throbbing in her shoulder blades. “Why here, this life?”
“You mean as a Guardian?” With a wry grimace, she sipped some of her water. “I like it. I have a purpose here. Besides, it was the only way I could stay in the realm and do what I wanted. “Another sip, then she blurted, “I search for a young.”
Caught off guard, Shadow blinked. “You gave up everything to find a child,here?”
“I didn’t give up much.” Bitter laughter escaped her. “Back home, my mother’s determination to mate me off to another who isn’t my destined, just to form an alliance, drove me to leave. My brother found his fated mate in this world, maybe I will, too. I won’t settle for less.”
Shadow nodded, recalling her own beloved sister’s torment. “Yeah, arranged marriages suck.”
Her expression troubled, Ely continued, “I came across a little boy crying in the alleyways when I searched for my brother a few years ago. I left him with some humans to aid him. I want to find him, see that he’s okay.”
“If he’s homeless, then you’re patrolling in the right place. Or he could have been found and already back with his parents.” Shadow frowned. “A few years? You do realize he’ll be older now?”
Ely’s eyebrows tipped together. “Oh, right. I hadn’t thought of that. Time moves faster for humans.” She sighed, her shoulders sagging. “No, matter, I have to find him for my peace of mind.”
At her despondency, Shadow changed the subject. “So, painting, huh?”
“What?” Ely frowned.
Shadow nodded at the evidence on her fingers wrapped around her water bottle.
“Ah, yes.” She laughed, sticking out her paint smudged digits. “I’ve always liked it. It relaxes me and gives me something else to do with my days.”
“Can I see?”
“I don’t know why you would want to put yourself through that torture, but sure.”
The door opened, distracting them, and Nik walked in, his gaze instantly connecting with hers.
Man, that look. Her face, already flushed from her workout, heated further, and she bit her lip.
