Page 30 of Temple of Magic and Bone

"Daggers, short swords, and hand-to-hand stuff. I have found that if you toss a ghoul at someone, there's not much they can do against it," he said matter-of-factly.

Elektra put the staff down and gestured at Vanth. "Give me one before you hurt yourself."

Vanth passed her one, and she began to show him how to hold it properly, how to use it to hook and grapple, and how to slice. She was a good teacher and soon had Vanth moving in slow drills.

"Now, let's pour some magic into it," she said, facing him again. "Do it mid-drill so you can feel how they work together," Elektra instructed. Her eyes were shining, her own magic filling them.

Heat licked up Vanth's backbone as he tried to concentrate on fighting her and not anything else. They moved together, the sickles clanging each time the blades struck.

Vanth's magic burned out of his hand, and the sickle responded, eating the power he fed it and making it move of its own accord. Something in his brain clicked into place, and he leaned into it, changing up the drill and making Elektra step back.

"You're so not ready for those kinds of fun and games," she purred, magic soaking her own blade.

"I'm a quick learner," he said. It was like his muscle memory was waking up, and adrenaline pumped through him. "I still owe you another tussle after you broke into my house."

Elektra hummed, her feet sliding into a fighting position. "You still pouting that I broke your wards so easy, sweetheart? Hurt your feelings, did I? Not such a big boy necromancer after all."

Vanth laughed as he attacked her. She was purposely stirring him up, but he loved it. She wasn't wrong either. He really wanted to know how she broke the wards when no one else could. He let his brain shut down and his instincts take over. She would be able to handle him, but he wasn't going to make it easy for her.

Vanth moved backward, blocking each strike Elektra aimed at him. With his other hand, he let his magic unfurl into a cord of gray smoke and whipped it out at her. Elektra leaped to dodge it, but it grabbed her around the waist, tugging her forward, forcing her to toss aside her weapon or land on it. She dropped it and rolled, swiping out a leg and hitting him in the back of his knee.

Vanth went sprawling, his sickle skittering across the floor. Elektra was on his back a second later, wrapping his own whip of magic around his throat. Vanth rolled, disintegrating the whip at the same time. Elektra let out a filthy curse as they grappled, and he ended up pinning her down. Her furious expression melted, and she started to laugh. It was big and joyful, and Vanth couldn't stop from joining in.

"You feeling better now that you have some of that energy out of your system?" she asked breathlessly.

Vanth didn't think. He leaned down and kissed her smiling lips. Elektra made a soft noise of surprise before her legs tightened around his waist, pulling him flush up against her. Theworld spun, and suddenly, he was on his back, staring up at her triumphant smile.

"Never let your guard down, even if your enemy is pinned," she said, the teacher back in her voice. "No matter how distracted you are."

"It's not my fault. You are…very distracting," he admitted.

Elektra cocked a red brow, and just when Vanth thought she might hit him, she shifted a little to grind herself against his hard dick.

"Oh? I'mthatkind of distracting, am I?" she asked, her gray eyes widening a little.

Vanth let out a husky laugh. "I can't help it. It has a mind of its own." She wasn't getting off him, so Vanth moved his hands to her hips. "It really likes you in my T-shirt."

"Does it?" Elektra rolled her hips against his, and he sat up to take her mouth in another kiss.

Fucking gods, she tasted good, like death magic and starlight and searing hot female. His hands slid under her shirt to brush against soft skin that was burning hot to the touch.

Elektra's hands swept into his hair, fingers twisting it in a way that gave it just enough bite. Vanth's thumb brushed over the soft lace of her bra, her nipple already hard. She let out a breathy whimper that almost had him coming in his jeans. He could smell her sweet as fuck arousal and knew if he put his hands into her boxers, he would find her pussy wet. His mouth watered just thinking about how she would taste…

"Tarael? Elektra? You still down there?" Flynt's shout echoed down the hall.

Elektra was off him so quickly, he was left holding air. She picked up the sythes and was innocently examining them as the smith appeared.

"Ah, here you are. What are you doing on the floor?" he demanded, looking down his nose at Vanth.

"I kicked his ass, so he's a bit dazed. These are beautiful. Did you make them, sir?" Elektra asked sweetly.

Vanth's vision was still red from the burning need riding through him.

"I did, and Eiline infused them with her magic. How about you come and help me in the kitchen, Vanth? Your mother wants steak pie for dinner, and you're looking a little glazed. Did you hit your head?" Flynt said, offering Vanth a hand off the floor.

"Something like that," Vanth muttered.

Flynt looked between them like he didn't believe either of their bullshit. "Eiline is in her room if you want to join her, Elektra. She's determined to find her old books."

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