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The ground shakes slightly, giving me a half-second warning, but it’s not enough, and I’m caught off guard as a vine shoots through the dirt and mat and curls around my ankle, holding me in place. It only lasts a second before I free myself, but that’s all he needs.
I see the smirk that curls his lips and realize this is just a test of skill but also a pissing match, and as far as Lyle is concerned, he just got the first point.
That wasn’t the point of this. Despite what he might believe, I want to help them get stronger, especially with the threat that Draven presents now that we’re back in my realm. Having them learn and grow stronger will only better help us protect Serena, and that’s all I’m really concerned about. I don’t care if she has these five or fifty other mates, though fifty might be a lot. If she’s happy and safe, then I’ll learn to deal with it.
I’ve lived a life missing her, something he can’t imagine past a few hours. It’s not something I ever want to experience again, and wouldn’t wish it on even him.
I’d also suggested it to keep Serena from training, something that he had asked for help with, but I guess that doesn’t matter now.
Fine. If he wants to do this, we can do it.
I drop down into a more serious stance, and Lyle matches me. I hear Serena call for him, but I don’t turn to look at her, no matter how much I might want to.
“They need this Little Rabbit,” I hear Blair tell her and her huff of frustration before I block it all out, turning my full attention to Lyle.
His eyes are dark as it is but right now they are that of his beast as he huffs before lunging.
It’s not what I expected, but I know that’s exactly why he does it. He was watching when I fought the others and saw that Storm caught me off guard like that. It’s smart, and I appreciate the fact that he was able to use such short fights to help him learn, but it won’t work twice in one day.
I move back, ready to dodge him the same way I did Storm, but when my foot hits the ground, it’s not met with solid ground the way it should be; instead, it is met with sand that my foot sinks into.
“Stop holding back and playing games, Pigeon. This isn’t a joke. We don’t need you to go soft on us because you want to keep Serena happy. You might be her mate, but she’s not the scared little girl you remember. She can handle herself with or without you.” Lyle hisses
His words hit a nerve even as I try to brush them off. I wasn’t going easy on them because I was worried I would upset her, I just didn’t want to push them too far too fast without knowing what they are capable of.
But he is right about one thing.
She isn’t the same girl in so many ways. She was always more capable than she gave herself credit for, but I enjoyed being able to help her. I like that she counted on me and would turn to me with her problems.
Now, I don’t have answers, and she has other people to help her. Our bond will forever connect us, but I can’t deny that I worry if we will ever have what we used to.
It’s terrifying.
“She can survive without all of us,” I shoot back, and his eyes narrow, but he doesn’t respond.
This time I lunge, letting my instincts take over. It’s dangerous and not at all what I should be doing with someone who has no training, but he asked for it, and I won’t hurt him…much.
My fist connects with his face, and he reels back, but he doesn’t let that stop him from striking out as well. I dodge his hit, but the air shifts behind me, and suddenly, I can’t move. His fist makes contact with my cheek, hitting me hard enough to snap my head to the side. It’s not the hardest hit I’ve ever received, but it’s disorienting because it shouldn’t have been possible.
“Having the ability to use all the elements is pretty helpful.”
It was one thing when he used his control of Earth to make the ground sand; it’s a harder thing to do but not super uncommon. But his use of air is strange. I know we told them they could use the other elements, but I hadn’t thought they had taken me seriously, let alone had time to practice.
Though maybe he hasn’t practiced based on what he said, maybe it was something he just went for in the heat of the movement.
Either way, it makes no difference to me. I call to my air magic, canceling his so I can move freely once again.
With his element of surprise gone, that hit will be the only one he gets.
He tries, but just like when we first came through the gate, I’m faster, and I can see his control slowly slipping. I know his type. Hell, had I not lost Serena, I might have been just like him. He holds those he cares about so close, hoping they don’t slip away. The problem is that people need room to think, act, and grow, and sometimes growth hurts.
More often than not, it does, but that’s how we learn.
And he’s going to learn.
I’ve trained for years, and I know Lyle seems to think I’m just a prince, just another guy who wants the girl he loves, but it’s so much more than that.
I’ve spent years training because of her. Because when she needed me, I wasn’t able to help her. I was too slow and weak, not only physically but also in terms of power. And I would never be less than again, especially to some asshole on a power trip.
