Page 139 of Her Ivory Flame

“If the masked man was Silas, I doubt he would say anything because of the circumstances he saw us under.” She moved to siton the bench next to Boone. “It would ruin his plan, whatever it is.”

Kaden sat next to her and she leaned back into him, her skin burning for his touch needing some kind of comfort. He must have felt her need and wrapped his arm around her, his hand resting on her stomach.

“So, do we go back to Elnora to see what the rumors are or sit here and wait till it comes tumbling down around us?” Boone questioned.

Kaden stayed quiet behind her and she looked around at the rest of the group that all had the same exhausted look on their faces. They all knew it was only a matter of time before Emris found out about Mydalsa, and now with the masked person seeing them, so would Mavros.

“I need to train.” she sighed. “I need all of my power if we have any chance.”

“Let me think of a plan on what to do unless anyone has any ideas.” Kaden added behind her.

“Boone and I should go scout tonight, see if Elnora is safe to return to.” Xander spoke. “If we return, we can say we escaped the attack and laid low for a few days before returning. It would give us more time here to prepare and for her to train.”

The rest of the group nodded and she let out a long breath.

“Let’s get started then. If almost dying and saving Finnley won’t break my wall down, not sure what will at this point,” she said, her voice defeated.

“You males go train, we will plan our scouting mission and finalize plans.” Xander mumbled and stood from his seat, disappearing into the hall towards the library.

“Let’s go.” she groaned and stood, stretching her arms above her head. “Now I really can’t die so I need my powers as soon as possible. There would be no way you could survive without me.” She smirked over her shoulder at Kaden who was still sitting behind her.

“Yeah, now we are all done for if you both die. Did you really think this whole bond thing through?” Finnley teased.

“I didn’t hesitate.” Kaden smirked. “It was fate.”

Hearing the bench creak behind her signaled Kaden standing behind her and she whirled around to face him, smirking.

“I felt you hesitate,” she breathed playful.

“I did not!” he growled.

“Go train you two.” Finnley chuckled. “You’re getting nauseating.”

She turned and gave her red-headed friend a playful glare, her eyes then landing on Raine.

“You’ve been quiet,” she said, her voice now hinting with concern.

“I’m just tired.” Raine smiled back. “We had a long night.”

Red colored her friends cheeks and it seemed they had not been the only ones in the house wrestling in the sheets since returning.

She gave her friend a playful look, acknowledging she understood and started to head towards the door, Kaden following close behind.

She needed her full power, and if she failed to figure out how to break her wall down, everyone she cared about was going to die.

That couldn’t happen.

Being slammed onto the ground in her old training grounds seemed poetic, and ironic all at the same time.

Long ago, she was training with her fellow warriors to become the best she could be in this very spot. They didn’t train casually, but broke and bled to be a great warrior.

She had thought she would never have to come back here, but fate seemed to have its own funny way of proving someone wrong.

“Still need to block better on your left side.” Kaden sighed, holding his hand down to help her up.

“I think we have established that.” she groaned.

They had been at it for hours now, the sun bright above them and she took in a deep breath.