Page 45 of The Awakening of Essensia

The bench creaked as Fang leant forward. “I think I’ve seen him before.”

Vaelira took a steadying breath. “He’s a senior member of the Royal Guard,” she said, swallowing hard. “I don’t know what his official rank is though.”

“You know him?” Ressa said, stunned.

Fang hummed. “Yeah, that must be it. What’s his name again?”

Vaelira’s mouth opened but she closed it as Eli stepped in front of her.

“Did you miss me?” he said, flashing a grin.

“Not particularly.” She leaned back, doing her best to feign indifference.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said to the others. “I’m a dear friend of Vaelira’s, and I need to borrow her for a moment.”

Vaelira shot him a look. His grin faded and his eyes darkened.

“Fine,” she said, pushing up from the bench and following him to a quiet corner of the room.

“How have you been?” he said softly.

“Like you care.”

“I just asked, didn’t I?”

“What do you want?”

“What gives you the impression I want something?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” she narrowed her eyes. “Maybe you showing up in the middle of my sparring session after a week of silence and dragging me to a suspiciously secluded corner?”

He smirked. “You didn’t look busy.”

“I don’t have time for this.” She turned away but Eli caught her wrist.

She spun, grabbing his own wrist as she raised her hand. She twisted, letting her hips drive the momentum. His arm bent at an awkward angle, and she let go, sending him stumbling into the wall.

Ressa was gaping at her from across the hall.

Eli laughed.

She whirled. “What is your problem?”

“I don’t have one,” he said, rubbing his wrist. “That was quite a move.”

“Yeah? I’ve got plenty more.”

His brow lifted. “Okay.”

“What do you mean, okay?”

“You’ve clearly got some things to work out.” He crossed his arms. “Work them out on me.”

She shouldn’t. She couldn’t. Her move had only worked because she’d surprised him. A triumphant look swept over his face, and her anger flared. “Let’s go.”

A hush passed through the hall as they stepped onto a vacant mat. Whispers followed. Eli either didn’t seem to notice or didn’t care. Maybe this wasn’t the first time he’d challenged a recruit.

Vaelira wiped her palms on her trousers, her heart hammering. Why was she doing this again?