Page 38 of Destined to Fight

They spent the next hour meditating, if you could call it that. Somehow, Fabian knew just when her mind started to wander and would gently guide her focus back to its rightful place. Her mind typically wandered all over the place, so that guidance took place about every few minutes. Fabian’s tone never grew impatient, though, and she felt like she was getting a little better when he announced that they were done with meditation for the day.

“How in the hell do you do that?”

“What?” he asked casually.

“How can you tell when I’m not focusing?”

“Subtle changes in your breathing and heart rate.”

“You can hear my heartbeat?”

He shrugged. “Yes. Not as well as a vampire, but I do have enhanced senses.”

Her face must have given her frustration away.

“In time, you will get used to all of this. Ginna will likely start with an overview of each race and our abilities. From there, she will go into our history and legal structure. This will be your new normal before you know it.”

“I thought she was teaching me about my power.”

“You must not get ahead of yourself. The small amount of power you possess right now will not allow you to do anything. You must know the abilities and weaknesses of those around you as well as their history to understand how to live and fight with or against them. Knowing another gives you much more of an advantage than a weapon or magic ever could. Arcane wars are won or lost up here,” he said, pointing to his head.

“So I won’t get to use any magic at all until I’m bonded? You just said I would be able to focus on it to meditate.”

“What you think of as magic is insignificant. Your current ability is the equivalent of a faucet that drips every few seconds. You bleed it into the air around you, just enough to let others know you are around, but they can’t tell anything other than the fact that you’re a mage. Even then, they have to know what they are looking for. What you felt when Ginna was reading your abilities was her magic, not your own. That spark you get in your fingers is about all you will have until you are bonded. It is plenty to focus on during meditation, but it is nothing outside of that other than a flag to show others you are easy pickings.”

“This is going to be the longest ten years of my life,” she thought out loud.

“Ten years to an immortal is nothing. There are many reasons mages cannot be bonded when they are young, all of which you will learn about. Now, let us get back to your training. You have a full day ahead of you.”

Fabian put their mats away and went on to explain some basic self-defense moves and how to target weak points on the human body. They practiced moves over and over again until he felt she had them down. Then they practiced more.

When they were done, Kelly was sweaty, but not worn out. Her training over the past year had prepared her well for something like this, and she was proud to be able to go a couple of hours with Fabian without getting tired.

“Maybe tomorrow we will bring Kade in and let you practice on him. It would be beneficial for you to learn how to defend yourself against a vampire, and I will be able to critique your actions more effectively.”

The thought of beating up on Kade was enticing to her for some reason. “I’m up for that,” she said with a smile.

“Careful what you wish for, Warrior. He is faster and stronger than he lets on.”

“I can handle a challenge.”

He shook his head. “You will learn not to take on challenges you cannot win. Ego will lose battles and lives. Go wash up and call your father. Then you will need to find Ginna.”

Brodric was suddenly in the doorway, holding a towel and a small box.

“I swear you have a sixth sense, man. You just appear when you’re needed.”

He smiled proudly, holding out both items. “Keen ears and years of learning how to serve others, madam.”

She took the towel, wiping the sweat from her face and neck, and then noticed that he was still holding the box out to her.

“What’s this?” she asked as she took it from him.

“Your phone, madam. It has a local area code to Dallas so your father will not be concerned, and international service is included. You have unlimited data as well.”

“This really isn’t necessary. I don’t need my own phone; I just need to make one call.”

“Kade said you would say something like that. He insists, so there is no sense in trying to say no.”

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