Page 44 of Gift from the Tree

The moment that girl laid her hands on Corentin’s chest, jealousy like a forest fire rose in me, and it took everything I had to keep it pushed down. Then she opened that fucking mouth of hers, inviting him and Tillman to come visit her, and all bets were off. The beast inside of me, the darker side that threatens to take the reins of my anger sometimes, wanted to tell her to back the fuck up because I wasn’t going to hear another second of her talking to Corentin, but I kept its tight leash in place.

It settles as they finish up the tour around the training yard, distracting me with all the torture devices lying around. There’s a huge gym that would be used for training and field scenarios, or when the weather gets rough.

I have to be honest, it’s very intimidating. By the time they get done explaining some of the drills and class exercises we’ll be doing, the jealousy has completely subsided and the fear of possibly getting my ass handed to me in combat class tomorrow is all I feel.

Back at the estate, I secretly watched online self-defense classes on YouTube since there was no way I would’ve been able to go anywhere in person. I was tired of constantly walking around with black eyes and busted lips, so I tried to use some of the moves that showed you how to protect your head and body from blows better. Knowing that I’ll be going in tomorrow knowing fuck all nothing freaks me out.

“You know, I’ve only ever had the shit beaten out of me. I have no clue how to fight and I’m probably going to get beat up every day in class,” I throw out casually to the three of them as we walk to the transport zone outside of the training yard.

Three angry noises leave all of them at the same time, so I stop walking and look at each of them. They all wear a similar expression that says they don’t like me just throwing that out there like that. Oh well, that was my reality for twenty years. I don’t have happy campfire stories to share with them.

“I was going to wait until dinner when we were all present to discuss it with you, but since you brought it up now, we think it’d be best for you to train with Tillman, one on one, in the mornings.” Corentin sounds annoyed I brought it up, but I think he’s pissier about my nonchalance about what I’ve been through or my shitty attitude with that girl just now. Fuck it, though. I didn’t like the way she looked at them and something’s fucking off about her.

“What? Like me fight Tillman? Are you crazy?” I ask, baffled. Tillman’s over a foot in height taller than me and weighs at least a hundred pounds more than I do. He’d squash me like a bug.

“No, not to fight. To train. Tillman’s E.F. Lead Instructor for a reason. One-on-one time with him will get you the basics you’re going to need quicker and more efficiently,” Corentin reasons.

“Okay, so like fitness training but with some fighting techniques included?” I ask hopefully.

“Yes, basically,” he answers vaguely.

“Well, then that doesn’t sound so bad, I guess. I got to warn you, though, I didn’t do much exercising back at the estate other than walk or go for a run in the woods,” I tell Tillman, giving him a fair warning that he’ll be teaching me from scratch.

He grunts in acknowledgment, not one to ever use his words, then transports right out of thin air. As cool as it is to watch, I’m going to have to get used to people poofing in and out of existence.

“You’re with me, kitten.” Draken reaches his hand out to me, lacing our fingers together as soon as my palm is in his grasp.

“This is going to go as smoothly as this morning,” I say with false bravado.

I hear Draken’s chuckle as we enter the darkness. The spinning only lasts a few seconds, and there’s warm air swirling around me. Not too hot, but like a breeze on a sunny summer’s day.

As the scene around us opens to the backyard of the mansion, we step out and I sway, taking a deep breath to ease the dizziness. A vial’s pressed to my lips, and I open my eyes to see Corentin standing there, ready and waiting. Holding his intense gaze, I tip my head back and let him pour the liquid down my throat.

“Thank you,” I whisper as he slowly pulls the vial away from my mouth.

“You’re welcome. How did this time go?” That tone of his voice makes my lower belly tie in knots, and I have to fight back a blush trying to creep up.

“It felt a lot like this morning. Much easier, but it was warmer for some reason.”

“That was my element.” Draken shoots me a scorching smile that breaks the restraint I had on my flaming face as he holds out his palm.

Fire.

Fire fits him perfectly. He’s so warm and welcoming but also blazing fucking hot. One touch from him, and I have no doubt it’d be seared into my skin for eternity. Before I think better of it, I reach my hand out to touch his fire, his power calling to me. When I feel its warmth caress my fingers, I snatch my hand back.

What the fuck am I thinking?

“It’s okay. It’s not going to burn you,” Draken says in a low, easy tone, reaching his hand back toward me.

“Yes, it will, it’s fire.” I take a step back, eyes locked on the flame still sitting in his hand.

“I promise it won’t. It knows who to burn and who not to burn.” He gives me a challenging smile, one I can’t resist. With a now shaky hand, I reach out and let my hand hover above the flame. It’s warm but not nearly as hot as I thought it was going to be. The flame grows higher, touching my fingers, and I have to hold myself back from snatching my hand away again.

My air element begins to tug in my chest, eager to respond to the other element dancing around my fingertips. This is the first time it’s alerted me, not me calling on it, so I let it out slowly to see what it wants. Suddenly, it takes control of Draken’s flame, creating a rope of fire, flowing around our hands and up our arms. It looks almost like the two elements are playing with one another.

I can’t help but let out a surprised laugh. I’m amazed, mesmerized to see the elements interacting like this. Looking at Draken to gauge his reaction, I find him staring at me with such longing and admiration, it cuts my laughing off and I let my huge smile linger on my face.

I pull my air back into me the way Gaster taught me and for a second, it puts up a fight but gives in eventually, settling back into my chest.

---