“They will come,” he told me with a stern look. It seemed like he had enough determination for the both of us regarding my gift.
My chest heated with affection for Elias. Gruff and standoffish but making sure I knew I was welcome.
"Having fun?" Azael drawled as he approached from the trees.
I rolled my eyes, in agreement with Elias's huff.
"I can take it from here, Elias." He told him. Elias shrugged, brushing his brown hair from his eyes, and turning to me.
"Tomorrow at six." I grimaced. "Can't wait." The corner of his mouth lifted a smidge, and I internally cheered.
"Now, are you ready to train?"
"Azael," I warned. "I'm taking this seriously."
"As am I, love." In three quick moves, he had me on my back.
The breath was knocked out of me, and I was spread out in a starfish position on the ground. "Fine," I gasped, taking his outstretched hand for the lift up.
He smirked, crossing his forearms, and cocking an eyebrow. "Take me down, darling." I grimaced at his words.
“Love is bad enough, but darling? Stop with the pet names.”
"Make me," he teased. I spun a kick at his abdomen, pulling my leg back before he could grab it. Then I lunged to the left, striking out at his stomach with my fist and sweeping his leg out from under him with my foot.
He landed on his knees with my knife at his throat. I leaned into his soft curls, set my mouth on the shell of his ear, and whispered. "I think I like you on your knees for me."
"Mm," he purred. "Competent and a fighter, delicious."
I rolled my eyes, withdrawing my weapon and retying my hair. Azael watched me with a strange look on his face. "What?"
"Nothing," he said quickly with an odd smile.
Day after day passed with me practicing my footwork and defensive moves with Elias. He occasionally switched up routine and had me work through offensive techniques. Large as he was, he moved like a wraith. Lithe and purposed, every move he attempted landed, and he blocked everything I sent his way. We often had visitors throughout the day; Callisa and Eleste liked to come and watch for an hour or two, offering support and advice and cheering on the sidelines. Carwyn and Bastien took turns helping Elias train and demonstrate moves; they were both wickedly good. Given the group's experience as soldiers, I wasn’t surprised. I also wasn’t sure I could ever match their skill, given their hundreds of years of experience.
After continuously eating, training, and waking with everyone, I was beginning to feel comfortable. Something was soothing about Eleste’s delicious cooking, Bastien’s raucous laughter. Even Carwyn’s wry humor and Nerys’s dry responses. I didn’t see much of Azael, but when I did, it was accompanied by smirks, smiles, and suggestive looks.
The clouds hung heavy that day, the scent of rain was strong in the air, but none had fallen yet. I flung a chunk of white hair from my face and narrowed my eyes at Elias. I aimed a firm kick to his midsection, dodging his punch and slicing out with my dagger before he could get his arm back up. His eyes snapped to mine and widened. He lifted his dirt-stained shirt to show a small slice across his ribs. A slow smile spread across his face, and he clapped me on the arm. “Good job, Aeryn.” I was momentarily stunned by the praise. I definitely didn’t think he would commend me for slicing him, although it was the whole point of training.
“Why don’t we head back now?” He asked. “I know Azael has been meaning to talk to you.”
My heart dropped, and my palms began to sweat. Could they be kicking me out? It’s been a whole two weeks, and I haven’t shown any progress in demonstrating any powers. Are they tired of waiting? Cutting their losses? Elias must have seen something of my thought spiral on my face because he gruffly said, “just something about finally getting your aura taken care of.” I knew better than to verbally thank him, so I just sent him a small grateful smile and followed him back to camp.
“Here,” Azael said, sneaking a quick look at my frame drenched in sweat and leading me toward the fire. The rest of the group was already sitting, talking amongst themselves. We didn’t usually all sit together unless it was the evening meal, but I’m guessing that this news involved them as well.
“She nicked me today, during training,” Elias boasted as he grabbed an apple from the nearby pile of food.
“Good job!” Callisa smiled wide and gestured to the empty spot between her and Eleste.
Azael snatched the apple from Elias’s hand before he could eat it and took a large bite, chewing obnoxiously and moaning. “Oh, delicious,” Elias growled and grabbed another apple, biting into it immediately and glaring daggers at Azael.
“So,” Azael said, working to swallow his bite, “that’s good news. It means we can begin moving, and Aeryn can keep training on the journey.” Bastien, Eleste, and Callisa cheered. “We’ve been in the area for too long, and despite the wards, it’s unsafe to linger.” He turned to me, tossing the apple into the air and catching it. “We’re going to be visiting a witch nearby who can dampen your aura and make it safe for travel.”
Wow. I get to see a real witch? They were highly seclusive immortal beings, witchcraft was no longer illegal like it was millions of years ago, but the effects still lingered. The witches and wizards, sorcerers and warlocks liked to live in isolated areas, selling goods and services to loyal patrons. Not unlike how I dried and sold herbs, but I made a habit of frequenting the towns to sell. My thought process was interrupted by a loud groan.
“Are you okay, Bastien?” My eyebrows raised at his grey face. He clasped his hands together and fell to his knees at Azael’s feet. “Please no,” he cried loudly. “Don’t make us go see her.” Carwyn cackled, and even Nerys had a sly smirk.
Elias barked a laugh and toed Bastien’s leg. “She’s the only one within a hundred miles who can help, so suck it up and be on your best behavior,” Azael smirked.
My confusion felt palpable, and Callisa must have taken pity on me because she spoke up. “Lavinia is the witch in this sector; twelve hundred years ago, Bastien went to her for a healing poultice for one of his lovers at the time, and he insulted her in the process.”
I gasped. No one insulted a witch and walked away unscathed. My eyes darted to Bastien’s pale face. Callisa stifled a giggle and brushed her light hair back from her shoulders; her blue eyes danced with mirth. “She cursed him; it lasted fifty years before it faded away.”
“She didn’t even tell me how long until it would wear off!” He cried, throwing his hands into the air.
“Impotence,” Elias smirked. He seemed to be enjoying the memory of Bastien’s struggle.
Carwyn huffed, and Nerys smiled widely.
“Fifty years we had to hear him complain about his non-functioning parts, and his lady friends pitching fits that they were unable to be satisfied.” Azael smiled dreamily. “Good times.”
“Poor Bastien,” I said, hiding my smile behind the heel of my palm.
“Thank you!” he said as he jumped to his feet and threw his arms around me. “Someone who understands!” Azael made a small sound, and Bastien dropped his arms and sent an incendiary look his way.
“It would be terrible if you somehow insulted her again during this visit,” Azael said, brow cocked and silver eyes glowing. I cleared my throat then glared at Azael, making sure to return Bastien’s hug before taking my seat next to Callisa and ignoring his scoff. I was honestly not sure what was going on between us. We were never alone together anymore, and he had given no indication that he was interested in me beyond his incessant flirting. But he seemed to view me in a proprietary manner, probably because he found me first and brought me back to everyone. Well, absolutely not. I was not a belonging, and he could use his words, or he could fuck off.
Callisa patted my arm sweetly before addressing the group. “Okay, I can collect some healing supplies from Lavinia while my powers are weakened, and we can suppress Aeryn’s aura. Then what?”
“Then we meet up with our remaining all
ies,” Azael said firmly. He slid his hands into his pockets and propped his lean body on the tree behind him. His eyes slid to mine, swirling intense silver. I narrowed mine before looking away, hoping that I could hide my increased heart rate—insufferable handsome man. Not just a pretty face, my brain said. Shut up, brain.
“Wait! Will suppressing my aura delay my powers as well? Will it prolong their dormancy?”
Bastien grimaced, turning to look at Azael. I blanched; that didn’t look good. “It’s a possibility,” Nerys said quietly. Her intelligent brown eyes seeking out mine.
Eleste must have sensed my worry because she smiled at me from her space next to Carwyn across the fire. Her round cheeks were flushed from the heat, and her warm brown eyes sparkled, “You’re an essential part of this group.” She stated. “There are not many of us, and powers or not, you are family.”
I felt my eyes fill with tears, and I worked to swallow the emotion in my throat. I didn’t trust myself to speak, so I just nodded. Callisa rested her head on my shoulder and gave my arm a quick squeeze. Family. Not a word that had ever been used in conjunction with me. Sure, I had realized how comfortable I felt with them, but I could never have imagined that the sentiments were returned. Azael gave me a soft smile, the planes of his face were muted by the dimming light, and he seemed much friendlier than he did during the day right at that moment. I looked at Elias to gauge his reaction to Eleste’s statement, but instead of the frown I was expecting, he nodded once, then looked away. Bastien lifted the solemn atmosphere with another pitiful groan, and I gave an indulgent smile in response. I could get used to this.
CHAPTER 7
The next day, we were packed by the time the sun rose. It was that quiet, contemplative time of day when the rays of sunlight were still pink and red, and the birds and creatures were sleeping. I volunteered to carry the food in my pack, and the others split the blankets and bedding. I had been walking close to Eleste and Callisa, slightly behind Carwyn and Bastien, with everyone else bringing up the rear. It was different from my walks with Azael. Jubilant, lively. Although… I turned slightly to look at him from the corner of my eye. His pale hair glowed from the sun, and his dampened shirt clung to his skin.
I felt a nudge in my left side and brought my attention to Eleste, just to see her giggle conspiratorially. “I wanted to make sure they weren’t too far behind.” I lied, feeling my cheeks flush.
On my other side, Callisa nodded solemnly. “Of course, they’re like wraiths back there. Wouldn’t even know they were behind you until you felt them.”
“Who?” Bastien asked from ahead, turning and missing the branch right in front of him. It caught on his midnight black hair, and he grunted before breaking it in half and tossing it aside. Carwyn smirked, brushing his hair back from his face. I wondered if he could see that look in her eyes? For the third time that week, I pondered what their relationship might be.
“Oh no,” Azael said from behind me. “We mustn’t give Aeryn any ideas. She’s a fan of using branches as weapons.” I didn’t turn to look at him, but I could just feel the smirk on his full mouth.
Ahh, that. That was what I was missing—banter with the unfairly attractive heathen behind me.
I pretended he wasn't there, hiding the small smile that threatened to surface. “Did you hear something?” I asked Callisa.
She tilted her head back, blue eyes sparkling. “No, no, I didn’t hear a thing.”
“I know you can hear me,” he growled.
I cocked my head to the side. Slowing until he was directly behind me, I pushed a tree branch out of my path then let it sling back to smack him in the stomach.
He grunted. “What did I say about Aeryn and tree branches?!” He yelled, lifting his shirt and rubbing his lightly muscled taut stomach. I caught a glimpse of pale hair leading down his lean stomach, and then my gaze drifted to his protruding hip bones. I shook the lust off, remembering a second too late to show my disgust, and kicked myself for noticing his enticing figure. I narrowed my eyes. He knew exactly what he was doing. That backfired, I thought.
“Oh, my eyes!” I cried, covering them with my hands. “It’s too bright! So pale, I’m blinded! Save me, someone!”
He smirked, glancing to the others who had passed the crop of trees in front of us then back to me. His pale eyes were swirling with mischief. He leaned into me, whispering in my ear before I had a chance to throw him off. “Wicked woman.” I prayed that he didn’t hear my intake of breath at the feel of his warm lips brushing against the shell of my ear, but his low chuckle told me I had been outed. I shoved his body away, brushing myself off like I’d been tainted by his touch. I sent one last glower his way before turning to catch up with the others, ignoring his snickers. I just didn’t know what to make of him. Was he like this with all strangers? Was his end goal to get between my legs? It sure seemed like it. I grimaced. No way. I wanted to focus on the mission, on finding my powers, not being played by the womanizer behind me. Not paying any attention to the part of my brain that screamed at him to trail those long fingers down my sides and take me to bed or the lonely thoughts that arose when I was alone at night, gazing up at the stars. I was determined to focus on learning, on growing, on becoming a member of the group. Not starting a dalliance that would turn sour once he tired of me, leaving me friendless and purposeless.
“It’s not too far from here,” Bastien groaned as he brushed his dampened hair from his forehead. Carwyn grinned wickedly. Her spirits seemed to lift whenever she remembered the strife that Lavinia put Bastien through all those years ago. I felt a pang of sadness. Yes, I had been welcomed with open arms, but camaraderie, loyalty, and family; I felt I had been deprived of those all my life. Always moving, always on the run, I could never form permanent attachments. I learned to keep others at arm’s length rather than put them in danger or mourn them once I left, and I always left.
I felt cold fingers caress my cheekbone, and I looked up into Azael’s silver eyes and solemn face. Any other time I might have resented how easily he could sense my moods, but then I was grateful for the contact. I gifted him a small smile and leaned my cheek into his caress for a moment, letting my eyes fall closed and brushing aside my reservations. Relishing the spark of warmth in my body before I went back to spurning his advances and scoffing at his flirtatiousness. He brushed my cheekbone once more before sliding his fingers along my jaw and shooting me a quick wink. I grimaced, pulling my mask back on and setting my features into a look of distaste. He looked at me like he knew. Like he could see into my soul, all my isolated and jagged parts, like he understood. I shook off my melancholy and turned to Bastien, ignoring Azael’s inquisitive look.
“How old were you when you were cursed?”
“Only 220. I was young and naive; I insulted her familiar, and believe me, that’s a mistake I won’t make twice.”
I laughed loudly. “Bastien, I’m only twenty-one, and I can’t possibly imagine insulting a witch's familiar.”
Carwyn cackled, adjusting the sword lying flat across her back and turning to avoid a tree branch. “Bastien’s a special case.” She said it with a smirk, but I wondered if he could see the underlying affection in her brown eyes.
“Leave me alone,” he scoffed. “I’ve always learned through mistakes; not everyone can be as perfect as you, darling.” Carwyn blushed furiously, a reaction I would have had to see to believe, and she quickly covered it with a scowl. Hmm, maybe he’s not so unaware at all.
“Me? I think you mean Eleste.”
Eleste chimed in between panting breaths; her soft voice rang with mirth. “I’m flattered, but I’m no role model.”
Callisa rolled her eyes. “Eleste, you regularly volunteered at the orphanage, brought food to those in the lower villages, tutored the town children in history; if you’re not the very definition of a saint, who is?” She quirked her brow.
Eleste’s full cheeks flushed with pink, and she tucked golden wisps of hair behind her ears nervously.
“Saint Eleste,” Nerys remarked wryly, softening her jab with an affectionate smile. She had changed since I first arrived, that aloofness had almost entirely left her eyes, and I could see glimpses of her true nature. Nurturing, teasing, solemn, and wise. She balanced the group well. Bringing an element of seriousness and security.
I glanced over at Elias, surprised to find him with a slight frown amid all the banter; his eyes remained as hard and watchful as ever. He always seemed to be frowning at something or other. I sidled up to Callisa and murmured, “has Elias always been like that?” I saw something akin to sorrow flash across her face, and she gave a tiny shake of her head, blonde hair shifting.
“I’ll tell you later,” she whispered back. Elias narrowed his eyes at our murmured voices, and I flashed him a wide smile. He grimaced, turning forwards and marching on ahead of the group. I couldn’t hold back my laugh, and Callisa giggled as well.
Not long after our conversation, we stumbled upon a narrow, paved path. Bastien looked several shades paler than usual, and his green eyes had lost their constant twinkle. “Bastien, do you want to stay out here?”
He sighed heavily. “No, I’ll go.”
“I’ll keep you safe,” Carwyn cooed. Bastien rolled his eyes and stuck his tongue out at her. I hid a smile at their interaction. Clearly, she knew how to handle his moods.
Nerys approached my side at the edge of the path; the sunlight reflected off the leaves and onto her fawn-colored skin, giving her a dappled glow. Her voice was low and calm. “Aeryn, I’m not sure if they warned you, but this might not be easy. There’s only a handful of ways to suppress an essence, and many are not pleasant. I don’t know which Lavinia’s educated in, if any. She has been around an exceptionally long time, but the knowledge of gods and goddesses is not commonplace. Make sure to keep your hands to yourself and your mouth closed as much as possible.”
Daughter of Retribution (Crescent Queen Book 1) Page 6
