Page 65 of Threads of Fate

“It looks like it to me and the smoke is strange too. Though, I have no idea what that is. Maybe that is something from your fathers side. We will have to ask Aavin when he gets here.” We step onto the grass and look at some of the soldiers who stayed behind. Probably waiting for their next orders.

“So, what will we do now?” I look over to a young looking fae. “I assume we need to take down the rest of whatever these domes are? When shall we do that?” She looks between Kreed and me.

“I think you all should head back to the training grounds like usual for now. I will have to talk with Furden to see how he would like to go about this. Since Dana is the only one who can see them and apparently,” he turns to me for a moment, “break them.”

“Yeah…” I drag out, feeling awkward and out of place. I hold my hands in front of myself. I rock back and forth on my heels. I hate when all eyes are on me. It usually ended in ridicule or future ridicule. What should I say? Thankfully Kreed keeps talking.

“After I have spoken with Furden, we will make a plan. We will keep not just you but the whole force updated. You’re free to go.” He nods and everyone takes their leave.

“Training grounds?”

“Yes.”

Chapter 22

Dana

“Shouldn’t we grab the weapons?” I ask as I follow Kreed to the training grounds. Greer takes off as well bored with us I assume.

“No, we have practice weapons. Ones that will not hurt as bad when you get whacked.” He leads me down the backside of his house and I see a giant circle of dirt with a fence wrapped around it. Looks like a horse corral more than anything. There are indeed weapon racks everywhere. How many weapons does a man need? Also, can’t he summon his weapons?

“I have seen you with axes and materialize a set of swords, why do you need all these weapons?”

“I can summon any weapon but they are sharp. I can’t dull them down.”

“Why? If your magic is materializing them couldn’t you change the sharpness? The color? Literally everything about them?”

“I–huh,” he stares at the training grounds looking bewildered at the thought. Then he looks down at his hands. “I guess I could. I never thought about it before. I’d have to work on it because the weapons I summon now are like a reflex. I just think about them and then they are in hand.”

“That is pretty nifty. Is that something all fae can do?” We walk in through the gate.

“No, that is why there are so many weapons here and the need for blunted weapons. We hold training here or sometimes,” he looks back at me with a smirk, “sometimes we hold fights. Bets are allowed of course.”

“Are we allowed to talk about fight club?” I whisper conspiratorially.

“Yes.” I shake my head and laugh, that went over his head.

“You did not buff up on movies did you?”

“No, I mean, I did watch some but not much. I spent most of my time tracking Naomi down and staying in libraries.” We walk up the weapon racks. “So, to start with training we will work on balance first. Then one weapon at a time. We have to also throw in hand to hand combat. The balance work is going to seem boring but it is crucial. You also need to eat.”

Here we go.

“I do eat! Gods, why are all the men in my life up my ass about how much I eat?!”

“It’s probably because you eat less than most offspring and you are a grown woman. How you have such large breasts is a mystery to all.” He sucks his lips into his mouth. He likes to do that when he is trying not to laugh. The audacity of this man. I mean fae. I don’t pull my punch. He can take it.

“For the love of Danalia!” He hisses. Rubbing his chest. “That actually hurt.” I ‘humph’ at him.

“I know if I’m going to be training I will need to eat more. I just always forget. Or I get distracted. For the titty comment you don't get to touch them until I say you can.”

He raises a brow and moves closer to me, taking up all my space. He dips his head down, closing in on my lips. He pauses, turning his head to my ear, “I think I can get you to change your mind.” He nips my lobe making me shiver. He pulls back abruptly, “Now, we stretch.” I blink at him. How does he do that? How can he just change face so fast? I’m still over here breathing heavily just thinking about all the ways he could get me to change my mind.

I begrudgingly follow him farther into the ring. We go through stretches. Every stretch I failed to touch my toes with more than the very tip of my middle finger. We learned my hips were exceedingly tight and he came up with all kinds of fun ways to stretch them that made me feel hot and bothered.

“We need to see where you're at with your balance. Let's get you a weapon and run through basic moves. You need a solid base to build on.” I nod and follow him to the weapons rack. “I want you to choose a weapon. Something you can whack someone with.” I nod and look at the hundred different options.

“What did my mother fight with?” I run my hands over the daggers and the different swords.

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