Those cold, emotionless words fell ominously into the quiet. I started to shake my head, blood leaking between my fingers. My voice was nasal as I protested, “But you’re meant to protect me, keep me safe!”
Gage laughed harshly. “You mistake me for a hero! I’m not the good guy, Brydie, and you’ll do well to remember that.” He pushed back to his feet, standing above me, still making no move to assist. “We don’t have the time to teach you at a leisurely pace how to defend yourself. We only have eleven months—eleven months, Brydie! That’s nowhere near enough time to cover a lifetime of training. There will be no easy road on this route. You need to be a quick study, motivated to stay alive—and pain is what motivates everyone.”
Pain motivates. This was what was expected in my new life. There would be no unicorns and rainbows, this new life would be real, and it would be brutal.
I spat out a mouthful of blood, raising my head to glare at him. “Thank you,” I ground out softly, “For showing me who you are. I won’t ever forget it!”
He smiled, a chilled, bloodless smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Good, you’re beginning to understand. Now, go clean yourself up. We’ll resume training in five minutes.”
Speechless, I turned my back on him, cautiously lifting my fingers off the bridge of my nose, relieved to find the blood had clotted. I returned to the bench seat, grabbed my drink bottle, and tipped some water into my hands, using my tee shirt to rub off as much of the blood as I could. There was nothing I could do for my new clothes, now stained with splatters of blood. New or not, my activewear would have to bear the brunt; I understood without asking that Gage wouldn’t tolerate a clothing change. Besides, I didn’t think I’d come back. I’d take my chances locked up in my new room.
McKenzie had bought me the clothes. Gage rang through before we left Ian’s and asked her to pick up seven full sets of clothing and a variety of personal toiletries for me, given that my own items had exploded yesterday in the back of the rental car. Of the clothing she’d purchased, five sets were suitable for training. It was an indication loud and clear of what I would spend most of my time doing here.
I took a swig of water, clearing away the thick iron taste that lingered in the back of my throat. I didn’t feel like standing anymore, let alone fighting. My legs ached, my body ached, and my nose throbbed. All I wanted was a hot shower and to hide in my room.
“It’s time.” He’d crept up behind me again. How did he do that?
I swiveled to face Gage, muscles clenching in protest. “Fine. Let’s get this demonstration over and done with, shall we? How about you just take those punches? After all, asking me to fight you without any training is not a fair fight.”
His mouth thinned. “I never told you this was going to be a fair fight. Self-pity has no place here—only survival. Decide which side of the line you’re on and stay there.”
I clenched my fists as I stared back at him, refusing to apologize. “This is not the way to get me on board with the whole damn save-the-world thing! And is this how you all grew up? Being abused in training? If that’s the case, I’m glad I lived in ignorance. I’m happy my Father kept my existence a secret! This is appalling!”
He snarled. “You’re a fucking princess! A few taps and you’re out of the game, willing to give up that easily! How long do you think you’ll last with that attitude?” His eyes bored into mine, the dark blue irises whirling in a maelstrom of anger. “Seconds, Princess, seconds. As long as it takes them to connect one blow. You may not like my methods, you may not like me, but I can promise you one thing—you will see the end of this and you will be able to hold your own in a fight by the time I’m done with you.”
His lip curled as he assessed me from head to toe. “Now you’re just a walking advertisement, telling everyone how defenseless you are. My job is to ensure you survive to fulfill the prophecy. If you don’t like my methods, that’s tough, because you have no choice. So, take your fucking princess comments, and your fucking princess attitude and shove them up your ass because they will make no difference to me here on the training field. And let’s get this straight—you cannot comment on the techniques used until you earn that privilege. Have you got that?”
I clenched my fists. This man—this Druid—pushed all my buttons. He made me so god-damned angry, the hardest part being that there was some truth in his tirade. I was ignorant of the prophecy, and I was defenseless. He also had all the answers. Nor was there anyone else as qualified as he was to teach me combat skills, physical and magical. Ian lacked the skills and McKenzie—well, she strongly disliked me, possibly more than Gage did, nor was she tempered by prophecy to stop at the killing blow.
It was him and me until one of us broke, and I’d be damned if that was going to be me.
So, I gave him a curt nod, schooling my features, and said between clenched teeth, “I got that.”
I again caught the flicker of what looked like surprise on his face before it was replaced by intense scrutiny, as though he was trying to discern if I meant what I had said.
I smirked, relishing the fact that I had him on edge. “So, great master, what’s next, then?”
His jaw tightened, then he glanced at my nose. “You’re done with physical training for the day. It’s time to embrace your birthright.”
My heart thundered. “Are you talking about my magic?”
“That’s right, Princess,” he smirked, emphasizing the word. “We need to find your spark within and awaken it.”
“My spark?”
“The core of your magic.”
Shit! I wasn’t ready for this. The water bottle fell from my nerveless fingers, and I swallowed down the panic. I can do this. This is my birthright. But the truth was, I was scared. More scared than I’d ever been. I’d gladly go another few rounds with Gage than address what might live inside me.
“Relax,” Gage grunted. “Today is only about finding your inner core—where your magic resides. If you’re panicking, you’ll never find it.”
“How—how do I do that?” I asked breathlessly.
“It will be hidden inside you, within the folds of your mind. Find that quiet place; create a connection to it. Establish a bond that you can call on at will.”
I swallowed, willing my heart to slow its rhythm. It sounded easy enough.
He startled me by taking one of my hands. “We’ll be doing this together. I’ll be right behind you the whole time.”
At his touch, I felt that familiar surge of energy—a tingle of awareness that traveled up my arm and throughout my body. I clenched my jaw against it, refusing to acknowledge the desire that his touch created.
Gage squeezed my hand. “Close your eyes.”
Heart pounding, aware that there was nothing I could do except succumb to yet another of his demands, I did as he asked. As my eyes closed, darkness greeted me. I could feel my external connection with Gage and the warmth shared between our hands. The silence stretched, and my mind wandered, wondering what he was waiting on. Self-doubt began to creep in. I can’t do this. I don’t have magic, what am I thinking? Ian said I’m older than anyone else...what if my spark doesn’t answer? What if it’s not there?
Gage’s voice roared, shattering the silence. “Shut down all thoughts! Seek the quiet.”
It took me a moment to understand that he hadn’t yelled it aloud, but in my mind. How was that possible? Was this the connection he’d alluded to back in my villa? That we would eventually read each other’s thoughts? A shiver whispered over my skin. There was no way in hell that I wanted that kind of relationship with anyone.