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The spider collapses. Micah yanks the blade from the spider’s head, cleans it on the ground, and then shoves it back in his sheath before walking toward me. “Now you know how to kill a spider.”
“Is there a book that tells me what’s in the forest?”
“You don’t need a book on the forest. This forest will submit to you the minute you prove you’re its ruler. And you do that by showing it who’s boss. You need to learn to kill demons. Read about demons.”
“Then why am I fighting in the forest?”
“Because you can’t go back to the human realm until you can control your powers and suppress the serpent. That means magic needs to be second nature. I could have killed that spider twenty ways. You need to know you can, too.”
“With magic?”
“Yes. With magic. Where did those extra blades come from? Why do you think it died from my blades and not yours?”
“Magic.”
“Right. I used poisoned blades. But none of this is about spiders or giant crabs. The minute we leave Elysium, you need to know who, when, where, and what when it comes to demons. We’re going to the library, and you aren’t going to get distracted by spellcasting books. We’re going to study demons. Together. After which, we’ll meet Gabriella, and you will learn to use your fire. If you can master it, it’s the answer to everything.”
“You agreed to no fire.”
“I changed my mind. You’ll be dead without it, and so will we.”
I don’t argue over the fire. Micah is in too foul a mood to hear any of my arguments.
We spend hours in the library, holed up in the lower level with a table between us and books piled on the floor next to us. We study one demon after another, and Micah makes me recite what I learn. At one point, he actually drags me to my feet and insists I act out a kill scenario with him. He’s intense, and there is no small talk between us, but he finally eases up after he eats a meatball sub and most of a box of donuts long before I’m even slightly hungry. Apparently, food is the way to the man’s good moods, and I’m thankful for it.
“How do you prepare for the Fray?”
His brow inches upward. “Still talking about the Fray?”
“I guess I am. It’s training I will never have.”
“You train before the Fray,” he says. “You survive the Fray. And in answer to your question, you can’t fully prepare. You never know what is coming for you, and every Fray is different. You basically train for anything and everything.”
“Like me now.”
“Exactly.”
“Which reminds me, what time do I train with Silas?”
“You’re not. You stay with me.”
I’m instantly combative. “Because I was a little beaten and bruised? That’s part of training, Micah.”
“A little beaten and bruised?” he asks incredulously. “You were incapable of standing on your own, Ember. No. You are not training with Silas.” His tone is absolute.
Mine is defiant. “You can’t stop me.”
Anger sharpens his features. “I can stop him.”
“Don’t be an asshole. I want to train with him. I want to know what it feels like to have him come at me like that and walk away tall and strong.”
“In the meantime, you plan to stay beaten and bruised while I become your caregiver?”
I bristle. “I wasn’t aware I caused you such hardship. I don’t need you to take care of me.” I stand up. “I need some air.”
He’s already on his feet, right in front of me. We seem to do this a lot. “I cannot see you like that again,” he declares, scrubbing a hand through his dark hair, leaving it in disarray that mimics the look in his eyes. “I won’t.”
The sincerity in his worry for me soothes the wound I’d wrongfully assumed. He’s not being a jerk. He’s being protective, too protective. “You’re frustrated at me for not being able to beat the spider, but you won’t let me push myself. Do you think I want to feel that pain again? I don’t, but I want to leave here able to control my powers and control the serpent. I need to be able to keep up with every one of you.”
