Page 77 of I Accidentally Summoned a Demon Boyfriend

“Yes.” Metice reappeared by my side. “Focus on the tree, then imagine yourself next to it. You should feel your energy connecting to the spot you choose. Lean into that energy and imagine yourself crossing it like walking across a bridge.”

“That doesn’t sound that simple.” My unrealistic expectations of a five-minute training sequence that ended with me at an expert level went right out of the damn tent flap.

“I didn’t say it was simple, but we start small. Short distances, then we’ll gradually increase the range.”

“What about my other skills?” The breeze picked up and blew the dress around me.

“We’ll work on those later, but right now, this is the most important.” He stepped behind me and pinched my ass. “Unless you want to keep falling on those beautiful cheeks of yours.”

“Okay, fine.” I rolled my eyes, but my face warmed with a blush. Focus woman!

Okay, visualize. Can you see yourself next to the tree?”

I closed my eyes. “Yes. I’m standing there, right next to it.”

“Open your eyes, Rayna. We don’t need your imagination taking over and landing you somewhere dangerous.”

I opened my eyes and focused on the spot near the tree. Just as Metice said, the energy connected like a thread through my heart and pulled me to the spot. It opened like a path between myself and the place I wanted to be. I imagined myself walking across the path, then I felt myself moving. Bit by bit, I flowed like rolling on skates across the track.

The next thing I felt was my face slamming against the tree.

“Ow!” I cried out and held my nose.

“Ha ha ha ha!” Metice laughed, doubled over, and smacked his knee.

“Are you seriously laughing at me?” I turned, still holding my throbbing nose. “What kind of husband are you?”

“Now you want me to be the doting husband?” He laughed even harder. “I’m sorry, but that was funny. You should have seen yourself!”

“Jerk.”

“Okay, I’m sorry.” He held his hands up. “I couldn’t help it.”

“Screw this.” I stomped off toward the tent.

“Come on, Rayna, you can’t give up that easily.” Metice called out. “Maybe I’ll go back and tell Keri what you’re doing here.”

“Excuse me?” I turned on my heel to face him. “Are you threatening me now?”

“She doesn’t seem like the type to let you live it down. Keri is a go getter. What would she think of her best friend giving up after one minor slip up?”

“That is low!” I rolled my eyes. Not that I cared that much what anyone thought of me, but he was right: if Keri knew, she’d never let me live it down. I couldn’t imagine having both of them making fun of me for it. “Fine!”

I stomped back over to him.

“Good. Let’s try again.”

“If you laugh at me again, I’m going to hurt you.”

“I’m sure you will.” He pointed to the tree. “Take your time, visualize.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” I waved him off with confidence, but inside, I felt shaken. I really didn’t want to hit the tree again.

It took ten more tries before I landed safely next to the tree without busting my face or landing on my ass. The third time, I ended up tangled in the rainbow branches, and Metice had to cut me down. He didn’t laugh, at least not to my face. After each failed attempt, the demon popped away. I was sure he went somewhere to laugh in safety.

After that, Metice had me try to go a little further each time, and it worked, most of the time. Sometimes, when aiming for a tree, I’d land in a lake. But he was right there—if something went wrong, Metice was there to catch me.

By the end of the fourth day, I was a pro at the short jumps.

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