I can’t lose him. Can’t watch him fall, I can’t–
He took a step back under the weight of it. Kara’s eyes darted to his. “Youheardme?”
He swallowed down the hollow echo her fear had left and forced a smirk. “Looks like you bonded to a Caldris after all. Can’t keep your thoughts to yourself now.”
Kara rolled her eyes, colour rising in her cheeks. “Ha, ha. Very funny.”
But her gaze lingered on him a little too long. Sebastian turned sharply, heat crawling under his skin. He couldn’t think about that. He needed movement. Distraction.
I need to train.
He drew his sword with more force than necessary, then snatched a training blade and held it out to her.
“What am I supposed to do with this?” Kara asked, bewildered, grabbing the hilt. Crimson lit her arm but Sebastian didn’t think she’d called for it.
He raised an eyebrow at her. “Fight me with it?”
“What? No, I wasjokingyesterday–”
“You’ve got the power,” Sebastian said, “but strength without technique is useless. Once they see we have Arcanth magic, we’ll be a target–”
“Sebastian, I don’t think–”
“Damn it, Kara! Do you want to survive this or not?” he snapped, his own crimson flaring.
She stepped back, hurt flashing across her face.
I didn’t mean–
Fuck. I shouldn’t have lost my temper.
He took a deep breath. Forced down the fire in him. “I’m sorry, Kara. I don’t want you fighting – you know I don’t. But we don’t have a choice. I need to know you’re protected. That you can defend yourself in close quarters.”
“He speaks the truth,” Veyra said.
Kara hesitated, before saying reluctantly, “Fine.”
I just want you safe, Kara.
Sebastian dropped into a guard and lifted his blade. “Like this, see?”
He watched as she mirrored him. It was a strange sight, his healer with a sword in hand – but necessary. He let his blade fall towards her in a slow arc. She blocked it cleanly.
“Nicely done,” he complimented her. “Again.”
He demonstrated the basics and form by form, he drilled her. To his surprise she picked them up quickly, her strikes sharp enough with her crimson to make his arms tingle. Like she’d done it before. He could heal without study – so they knew some knowledge had been shared when they bonded – perhaps Kara had gotten some of his skill with a sword. But she was holding back. Their blades clashed again, but at the last instant, Kara faltered, her blade veering aside instead of landing true.
“You pulled it,” Sebastian growled. He pushed his blade into hers, knocking her back a step.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” she shot back, frustrated.
“Imagine I’m a Draken. Because they won’t hesitate.”
She nodded once. Before he could defend, her blade had come down on his shoulder with a sharp crack. It sliced clean into his skin.
“Ow – hells!” Sebastian hissed, jerking back. His hand flew to his arm, and his fingers came away warm and red. She’d actually cut him. Drawn blood.
Not bad.
