He threw the medallion around my neck, and instantly, we were falling through the ether. When we landed, I still fell to my knees, the snow soaking through the leathers, but I only dry-heaved this time. Progress.
Quicker than last time, I was back on my feet. Wet snow was falling heavily today, the clouds an ominous gray. I knew I was in for a long, cold day.
“Begin,” Azar stated.
I looked at him. Begin what? He hadn’t created a fire this time. I guessed I was starting them from scratch today.
I tunneled into my fire channel where it eagerly awaited me and pulled it up to the surface.
Azar placed a stone a distance away. “Light it up.”
“It’s stone.”
He gave me an expression that could only be described as disgust. “Did we not have this conversation before? Stone will burn if you want it enough.”
I gave him a dubious look. “Are you always this charming? Or is it just for me?” But I pulled fire up through my channel, aimed, and released it at the stone. It hit, and I felt a moment of joy for actually hitting my mark.
“You hit the stone. Oh, good for you.” The derision in his voice burst the joy. “Is it in flames? No? Then try again!”
I gritted my teeth. “Your enthusiasm is overwhelming.”
AndI tried again.
As soon asI had barely mastered both hitting the stones and surrounding it in fire, Azar decided to shake things up. I knew that because he had lobbed a fireball in my direction.
“Shit!” I cried, throwing myself to the side and narrowly avoiding getting hit.
“Is this dodging class? No!” he screamed at me. “Defuse it with your own fire channel.”
“My mistake, I figured self-preservation was still allowed!” I shot back at him.
Apparently not, as the next one again came directly at me. This time, I was more prepared, and held my ground, fire channel at the ready. I flung my power out, and the fireball careened back toward him.
A wicked grin crossed Azar’s face, as though I was finally a worthy opponent. Now he looked like he was having fun.
Uh-oh.
“You’re enjoying this too much,” I told him.
The grin became wider, if that was even possible.
I didn’t have time to dread what came next before he threw everything he had at me. Again and again and again.
I was exhausted,but I wasn’t falling over. So that was progress.
I’d lost track of how long we’d been out here, the snow continuing its endless fall. My hair was plastered to my scalp and my skin was clammy. But at least all of the fire work had kept me somewhat warm.
The back of my neck prickled the same way it had last time, again with the strangest sense of being watched. I looked into the trees butagain saw nothing. Then there was a strange spike from that golden place inside me—the one I’d yet to have anyone adequately explain. It flared, giving me a burst of energy, almost enough to stop leaning against a tree.
“That’s enough for one day.”
The voice sent my heart racing.
Striding out from the snowstorm was Griff, snowflakes landing in his sandy hair. His eyes were hard, focused solely on me, raking over me. He looked furious. Not at me—at Azar.
I hadn’t seen him in days. And now here he was, on the side of a mountain, apparently for me—his wayward responsibility. I couldn’t quite tell through the snow—was that a limp? Had he been injured? How bad was it?
“Ah, there’s our missing teleporter,” Azar sneered. “Nice of you to finally join us.”
