Page 77 of Stargazer

I didn’t want to give mix signals until I knew what I was doing with my life. Even though I was probably already unintentionally doing that. But I didn’t want to make things worse.

It was just an intense, emotionally driven moment between two people who’d been each other’s comfort in the past. And that was fine. That was allowed.

But kissing was not.

I had to keep that rule in place if I was to remain sane. Because the guilt surely would kill me.

Thankfully, River’s mood and that strain seemed to lift ever so slightly by the end of August, and he seemed to regain a bit of himself.

The upcoming Harvest Moon at the end of September gave us almost a full month to recuperate and plan.

CHAPTER 27

VENUS

There was only so much we could do between all the strategizing and the waiting.

Training was one of those things.

My sister was getting better and better, and with all the Knights around, she was essentially in her own personal mini version of the academy, right here in our hometown. Her confidence was increasing, and with it, my anxiety about her safety was doing the opposite. And thank God for that.

I was trying my very best to not be a hypocrite. I had wanted to be given the opportunity to train and fight. Wanted Griffin and River to trust me and have faith in my abilities. So the least I could do was ensure my sister was trained and prepared enough to be able to do the same and protect herself.

She was even going on patrols, tagging along as an extra to observe and learn with Raven—who surprisingly, and against all my expectations, had developed a fondness towards my baby sister, taking her under her wing.

Occasionally, the Knights partnered up with the pack to take watch, and those were the days Celeste would join in.

I was just relieved she was getting along with the wolves, especially given her previous detest towards them.

I mean, she was fine with most of them now, except for maybe Zander. He still wound her up the wrong way. But her friendship with Sky and Raven had me reassured. They’d be good protection for her to have in the town, and I’d sleep at ease, even when I wasn’t here, knowing my sister had eyes on her and people—or rather, wolves—in her corner, should she need someone to lean on.

Billie, Kit and I were perched on the log that bordered the sparring mat, watching on as Celeste and Raven practised with Griffin hovering over them, scrutinising and nit-picking their form while he circled the mat. His brows were scrunched as he observed, finding faults wherever he could and then barking out orders at them—which Raven begrudgingly obeyed. But I didn’t miss the resentful looks she directed at him every time he opened his mouth.

The fact that she still listened meant she obviously knew he was right and appreciated his help, whether or not she’d ever admit it. Although, knowing her stubbornness, it was unlikely she would. At least she was taking on the feedback.

Celeste—to my utter shock—had been quite good with listening to the captain, following instructions and respecting his knowledge. I think she admired the strategic thinking, expertise and finer details involved in his role, holding him in high regard. It could have gone either way, but I was delighted with the progression of their relationship.

Satisfied my sister was in capable hands and still participating, I moved off the log, sitting in the grass to face my friends.

My legs felt like jelly after the not-so-small functional training circuit the girls and I had just run through. I stretched them out before me, tucking one ankle over the other while I leaned back on my arms.

“Griff’s been more uptight than usual. And broodier than he’s been in a while,” Kit stated as she polished a dagger with the material of her tiny Lycra shorts. They went with her black sporty bralette perfectly and she wore matching fingerless training gloves. That beautiful platinum hair of hers was tied in a top knot with a black scrunchie. Billie was chugging down a protein shake, sitting on the log in her simple light grey workout set. She managed to get out a nod of agreement in response to Kit, making her high braided ponytail swing with the movement.

I winced. “That’s probably my fault.”

“Probably?” Kitana challenged with a perfectly arched brow.

I threw a gym towel at her, even though she wasn’t wrong.

Billie set down her shaker. “At least the wolves are benefitting from it. We all are. He’s pushing us hard, and the Knights need it. It helps to get our asses handed to us every so often. Keeps us in check. Especially being away from the compound.”

“Arms up Cel, don’t leave yourself open,” Griffin corrected my sister and my gaze drifted back to him. His tone was less harsh with her but equally as authoritative.

Pulling my attention away from the mat, I refocused on Billie. “We’re still no closer to getting answers. So yeah, you’re right, we need Griff to whip us into shape. If that’s all we can control, we better be damn good at it.”

“Mm-hmm,” Billie mumbled, nodding her head but sounding unusually distracted.

I followed her line of sight to see Santiago taking a drink break, meandering over to Griffin’s side to watch the girls spar. He’d been training with Griff all morning before the captain moved on to instructing, the two of them throwing ninja stars at a target like they were playing darts. I’d been sneaking so many glances at Griff the whole time that I didn’t even realise that my friend’s attention was focused on the other Knight with him.

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