Page 23 of Fallen Demon

Thea looked away and wiped under her eyes. I would never know the love a mother had for their children, seeing as I couldn’t have my own, but I knew it was supposed to be something so vast and so intense, it was inexplicable. It was one’s heart out of their chest.

And for a brief moment, I envied them.

But I had no time to cry about something I couldn’t change.

Thea and I ate half of the food on my plate. When we were done, I stood, holding the plate to take it back to the kitchen, but she told me to leave it there and someone would pick it up later.

I put the plate down. “I’m off to train.”

She glanced out the window. The sun was finally rising and bathing the landscape in golden light. “I’m not sure what time Zad will be up, but I’ll let him know where you are.”

“Thanks.”

With a wave of my hand, I walked away and went to the training grounds.

Outside, a frigid wind greeted me, and I lifted my head to the sunlight coming from the horizon. I stopped halfway and took a deep breath. Here, I could pretend everything was well, and that everything would work out.

Because it had to.

Inside the training center, I started with easy stretches and yoga-based moves, since I had just had breakfast. But after that, I warmed up by running around the track. My intention was to run for thirty minutes, rest for another thirty, and then start with my magic, even if it was something simple like playing with a small bolt between my hands.

But ten minutes into my run, Zad entered the place.

He stood beside the track and I slowed down until I was right in front of him.

“I thought you would be here,” he said.

“Isn’t it too early for you?” I asked.

He shook his head. “No, I knew you would be eager to continue.”

“I am.”

He pulled his blond hair into a tight ponytail. “Let’s train.”

* * *

The next week was hell.

I trained with Zad almost every morning and afternoon, for several hours at a time, and I hadn’t improved one bit. Well, that wasn’t true. I could access my magic a little faster, control it for a little longer, and aim better.

But my magic still fought against me and that made me exhausted.

And frustrated.

The day after the meeting, most supernaturals traveled home. Although, Farrah and Wyatt stayed.

“I’m not letting you out of my sight anymore,” Farrah warned me.

“She’s serious,” Wyatt said, sounding mildly annoyed.

I could relate. Farrah was treating me like a teenager who couldn’t make the right decisions.

I confess, there were moments when that was nice, but most of the time the attention was too much.

Almae, Keeran, and Luana also stayed for another day, along with Lacey, Abbie, and Maggie.

After what Aurora said about my magic, we wanted to do a checkup on me, and we needed powerful witches and warlocks.

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