He doesn’t respond, but I follow, eager to speak to Ten. I push our connection, sure that it must be able to work now that we’re even closer.
“Ten?”
As we get closer, I remember the training area outside and realise that’s where we’re heading. The gate to their cell is open as we approach. And Ten and Crimson are already in the middle of the ring.
“Ten? Are you okay?”As soon as I see him, it’s like the tether to him reforms, happy to rush towards him.
“We’re fine.”
“I’ve been trying to reach you all morning.”
“Me too. Do you think?—”
“Your training needs to be put into practice. And as well as offensive, you need to learn to defend. So, I thought you might like a training partner.” Fenix interrupts us.
“Who? Ten?” I smile, my heart lifting at the idea of training with him.
“Yes,” he sniggers. “It’s good that you’re so eager. I said that I wouldn’t hurt them. As long as you train.” That sinking feeling is back. Especially as I look over at Ten and Crimson, who’s supporting her broken wrist. Both look absolutely furious. As I step closer, I’m hit with a wave of dread, and it’s coming from Ten. He lifts his eyes to mine, and all I see is pain swimming in his eyes.
“I’m here. Training. I’m doing everything you’ve said,” I repeat the words to Fenix, reminding him that I’m holding up my end of the stupid bargain, and he just agreed to help Crimson.
“Good. Now, practice. With him.” Fenix steps aside and makes a show of pointing to Ten as I step into the ring.
“What?” I look between him and Ten. “No.” I shake my head. “I don’t know what I’m doing yet. How to control…”
“And what better way for you to hone your skill. Call it an added incentive. I told you it was about motivation. And don’t worry. Ten will play along. His friend is a useful pawn in this game, too. Everybody’s on the board, now it’s time to play.”
“Ten, I don’t?—”
“It’s okay, Ever. I can shield.”
I nod, and step forward. This isn’t how I wanted to reconnect with him. Not like this. Not with force, and being scrutinised, like an animal being experimented on.
“Come on. We don’t have all day.” The Usher’s voice echoes over us. I hadn’t realised he’d followed.
I meet Ten, face to face, and look up into his eyes. He doesn’t give me time to second-guess, and slides his palm over my cheek, holding me, pulling me closer to him. My will crumbles, and I collapse into his chest, happy to be safe—pretending that we’re safe—if only for a few moments.
The familiar energy warms my skin, spreading through my body, radiating from me. But instead of trying to press my power and force it to expand, I order it to calm. I think of the stillness of the lake and lock it down deep within the well at the centre of my chest.
My breathing evens out.
“There’s no way that Fenix can tell what we are doing, or what our power allows us. How will he know if we’re practising, as he calls it?”
But even with both of us willing our touch to stay as just that, the visions start to shift. Flashes of places, of scenes I don’t recognise, blur in front of me. They speed up, changing before my eyes as they dance and skip. It’s the same as it always has been, and after last night, it’s like our reaction to one another is primed and ready to explode.
Despite being exactly where I want to be, the need to pull away and to spare Ten the pain I know will come next is overwhelming. But he just shakes his head and runs his other hand up and around my neck, ensuring I have nowhere to go.
“We can do this, Ever. I won’t put either of us, or Crimson, at his mercy.”
I close my eyes, willing everything in me to obey and be calm—the exact opposite of what I just did with Selina.
Maybe the pain won’t be the same here? Everything else about our magic is muted, so maybe this will be, too? But then the tension of Ten’s hand flexes, and he shifts his stance, and I know he’s feeling it. My heart sinks, and a flash of anger—of resentment—stabs me in the chest.
“If you two think that standing there is going to satisfy our idea of training, you have another thing coming.”
“Our power doesn’t do anything, Fenix. You can see that,” I defend.
“Do you think I’m a fool?” he questions. “Do you think I didn’t have every single detail of your training at The Court relayed to us? Micah was verythorough.”
