“That was impressive! Really fast thinking. You also didn’t freeze as soon as I started pressing you more. You thought fast and creatively. Well done,” she says with a huge grin.
We continue practicing for the next hour, with her pressing me harder and harder, forcing me to use different sources of my magic and use them creatively to defend myself. I have a hard time attacking her and tend to just use my magic to fend off attacks.
“We need to work on you getting over your fear of attacking,” she says as we grab our waters and exit the basement.
I sigh and say, “Yeah, I just don’t want to hurt anyone.”
“That may be the only way you survive, Mae. Do you think the cambion felt that way? No. And thank the Mother Asmo wasn’t scared to kill to keep you safe.” She glares at me pointedly before opening the door back to the first floor.
I stare at the scene in front of me.
A black snow leopard cuts through the air, paws reaching for a massive grizzly bear. The bear swats it away, but the leopard isn’t deterred. It bounds back up and darts behind the bear, pouncing on its back. Before it can sink its teeth into the bear’s thick, fur-lined neck, an enormous white wolf pounces on the cougar, knocking it from the bear. But before the bear can escape, the wolf leaps onto its back.
In an instant, the bear transforms, forcing the wolf to leap away as his massive form gives way to…a very nude Barrett.
“What is this? Attack Barrett Day?” he huffs, standing and walking to the edge of the training room. His backside is on full display, powerful back muscles covered in thick, curly hair. I stifle a smile. He digs in one of the bags against the wall and pulls out a pair of shorts to slide on.
The wolf and leopard transform, revealing August and Koa. Barrett tosses them each a pair of shorts.
I shoot a glance at Elle, but her eyes are locked on the scene in front of us. I clear my throat, and August’s gaze snaps toward us.
“Mae!” he exclaims, a pair of blue shorts now slung across his hips. “Sorry, we didn’t know you were watching. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have shifted so carelessly.”
I wave him away. “Sorry to intrude. It was cool to watch.”
Barrett downs an entire glass of water, then rolls his eyes. “Yeah, cool to watch me get beat up.”
The training center doors open. The two Serpent Princes stride in, both dressed in black training gear.
“Ah, we thought you two were too scared after yesterday’s fight,” Barrett jabs at them playfully.
“Cute,” Asmo mutters.
Barrett gestures toward Elle and me. “We do have an audience, so please refrain from shifting while facing them.”
Asmo and Marik glance toward us. Asmo’s gaze lingers momentarily on me before flitting back to the group of shirtless High Princes, but Marik smiles when he sees me. Beside me, Elle plops down on the training center floor. She stretches her long legs out, then leans back on the palms of her hands.
“This is about to get good,” she mutters.
I join her on the floor, watching as the two newcomers begin a series of dynamic stretches.
“Remember, no cheap shots,” Barrett says, eyes glued on Asmo.
“The enemy will use any advantage they can get,” Asmo counters.
Koa sighs, sounding utterly exhausted. “How many times do I have to remind you that the kingdom has been at peace for centuries? There is no enemy.”
Asmo walks gracefully as ever to the opposite side of the training room. “That callous attitude is the reason Mae got hurt on your watch.” I bristle at the reminder. So does Koa.
I’m not sure how I could have missed it, but at some point, Asmo removed his shirt. And every single inch of him is lined with cut muscle. He rolls his shoulders back in one fluid motion, his black snake tattoo moving as he carefully stretches each muscle.
Koa rolls his eyes. “Whatever, man.” He turns his back on Asmo.
That was his first mistake. In the blink of an eye, Asmo shifts. A massive light gray snake with a body the width of a tree trunk slithers across the mat toward Koa with an alarming speed. Koa whirls, shifting in an instant to his leopard form. His answering snarl raises the hair on the back of my neck.
Asmo slows as he circles Koa, trapping him inside.
Koa could jump, but I have no doubt that Asmo would be able to snatch him up in his powerful jaws with one quick movement. Instead, Koa sinks into a prowl, sharp teeth bared, a low growl emanating from his throat as Asmo continues to circle him.
