Sure enough, I spotted Jaxon. He was a blur of movement as he sprinted across the yard.
Targets appeared as he ran, and Jaxon’s wrists snapped out as he passed, his magic slamming into them and shattering. Each required a distinct magic to dismantle. Their purpose was not only to train your magic but also your mind. It required you to make flash decisions, just like you would in battle. My father and Gunnar created this yard, weaving its magic so that it was never the same course twice.
Jaxon had on his leathers, weapons strapped to nearly every inch of his body. He spun around targets, his magic lighting up the yard as debris flew in the air.
Stepping out from the archway, I pressed my back against the sharp stone of the castle. Shadows clung to me, concealing me as I crossed my arms and watched my brother ascend a metal structure. They stood about thirty feet tall, encircling the yard, with wooden beams and moving platforms stretching high between them, connecting one to another.
Suddenly, a wave of rock and dirt erupted from the ground, spearing towards Jaxon as he continued to climb. The rocks slammed against an invisible shield just as he pulled himself onto a platform. He barely had time to stand when flames burst to life behind him. He spun, water clashing with the flames as he dove through them and onto another section of the course, his chest heaving.
How long had he been out here?
“You need to take a break,” I called, and Jaxon’s head spun, his gaze spearing toward where I stood hidden in the shadows.His golden eyes narrowed on me, and his palm shot out as a torrent of water shot in my direction.
My magic yawned awake in my veins, and my chest swelled with a vibrating hum. A wide, unbidden smile stretched across my face as a dam burst in my chest, filling my veins, my limbs with unbridled power.
A sharp breath left my lips as I leaned away from the wall, my palms heating as fire rose to the surface of my skin. My magic met the oncoming water, and steam exploded around me, obscuring my vision, just as Jaxon had planned.
Smirking, I shadowed a few feet to my right, and Jaxon’s hulking body crashed into the wall where I had just been standing. Jaxon’s angry growl vibrated through the air, and I chuckled as I turned toward my brother.
I'd had little time to savor feeling whole again. Having my soul ripped out left a cavernous hole in my chest, and even though it had been mended, pieced back together, my mate shattered it again in a completely different way. But I couldn't ignore how I felt using it now. It was like I could finally breathe properly again, even though a part of me still felt like it was missing.
Jaxon dove toward me, but he was being sloppy. I ducked my shoulder and got within his defenses, throwing him aside. His hands tried to grab me as he stumbled off balance, falling sideways into the dirt. Jaxon wasted no time as his fists slammed into the earth, which broke upward like a wave and headed toward me.
I shadowed behind him, but he was already on his feet, spinning toward me, his face twisted in fury as he met my gaze. He growled loudly, “You are using your shadows as a crutch.”
A dark laugh passed my lips as I tilted my head at him. “Not a crutch, a tool. And you don’t use them nearly enough.”
My power lashed out, and Jaxon’s eyes widened as black, wispy ropes wrapped around his body. He thrashed, and I lifted him into the air and tossed him across the yard.
Jaxon slammed into a metal structure, and it bent under his weight with a deadening screech. He appeared in front of me a moment later, mist curling off his shoulders, as his clenched fist slammed into the side of my face.
I chuckled, rubbing my cheek. “You should have done that before you slammed into the tower.”
“What do you want, Xavier?” My brother's golden eyes were blazing, and so much rage was swirling within them.
“You are too angry, brother. It will get you killed.” I sighed, and Jaxon didn’t seem to care as he started to turn away.
“I need you to talk to Aria.”
Jaxon froze, his back stiffening as he looked at me over his shoulder. His golden-blond hair was longer, and it fell over his face, the muscle in his jaw feathering.
“She is putting our people, our kingdom, at risk.”
He turned back to face me and let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “And why do you think she will listen to me? She hates me, remember?”
My jaw tightened in response, my lips pressing into a fine line. “This isn’t a request, Jaxon. I need you to go to her camp.”
Jaxon’s hands clenched into fists at his sides as he spat, “So, I’m on babysitting duty then, am I? I don’t know if you noticed, brother, but we have a war going on. I have better things to do than—”
“You will do what I command of you, brother,” I barked, stepping closer. “We cannot risk them gaining more land, and Aria is putting us at risk.” Jaxon squared his shoulders at me. “If you want to help in this war, this is what is needed. Not this.” I waved my hand around the training yard. “Relentless training isn’t helping anyone. You are needed out there, with our armies, helping keep the witches at bay, preparing for when they inevitably march into our lands!”
Snarling, Jaxon got into my face, baring his teeth at me. “And what are you doing? Hiding away in your room while everyone else risks their lives fighting your battles?!”
I couldn’t stop the barking laugh. “That’s real rich coming from you, Jaxon. The only difference beingbrother, is that I'm not hiding. I am physically and mentally compromised, unlike you, who only wanted pity.”
Jaxon lunged, tackling me to the ground, my back slamming into the hard earth. He punched me in the ribs as my fist connected with his jaw. My boot found the ground, and I pushed, rolling so that I was now on top of Jaxon, my fist slamming into his jaw again and again until he managed to break free from under me and roll to his feet.
Panting heavily, wind slammed into my chest, and I went flying backward. Before I could hit the stone wall, I shadowed and materialized back in front of him, my boots skidding backward through the dirt from the force.
