Page 100 of The Powers of Nyx

I nodded, chewing my bottom lip. “Thanks for showing me the way,” I replied, offering her a nervous smile. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

At that, Vanya grinned, but she didn’t respond. Instead, she started walking backwards, wiggling her fingers in a wave, before disappearing down a bend.

Blowing out a shaky breath, I reached for Elias. He was nearby, though he kept his distance. I could feel just how much he hated that, but he’d assured me he could do this. That he was a soldier first, and if that’s what was needed in order to protect me, then he’d be that for as long as possible.

You’re hesitating, my mate grumbled.It’s not as bad as you think it is.

I shook my head.You have no idea how bad I think this will be. I still thought about, from time to time, the humiliation of high school gym. Part of me was glad this was just an intro to my mentor and had the possibility of private classes, but I still had to prepare myself for it.

Why couldn’t you or Maeve be my mentor for this?I asked as I started the slow walk towards hell—thegym. But what had Vanya called it? Thearena?That made my stomach sour.

Elias’s chuckle sounded down the bond, and it gave me a little bit of ease.Would you listen to either of us?

I frowned, but didn’t respond. I would, normally. And I’d let Maeve teach me how to hold the dagger, so I was definitely capable of listening to them.

The walkway ended, and I found myself, one hundred percent, hesitating at the door.

You’ll be fine. And if not, I’ll make sure you get a better mentor. I love you.

With those parting words, I mustered as much confidence as possible and pushed on the door. There was an echo of thumping, like fists hitting a punching bag, and the soft hum of voices as I entered. My nose crinkled at the smell of leather and sweat, which assaulted me when the door closed.

It was so much bigger than I’d anticipated. Where I stood, there was an actual gym set-up, which included bags, treadmills, and other human contraptions that I really wanted to ban from this world. In the centre, down a set of stairs, was an arena that made my blood run cold. A running track surrounded it, but the centre was like two different ecosystems that blended into one. And it was the size of a football stadium. I didn’t even understand how. One half was a forest, filled with real looking trees, and the other was rocky, almost sandy from this angle.

What the hell did they do here for training?

A throat cleared behind me, and my skin tingled with the proximity of...

I turned and sucked in a breath. Hawk stood with his arms crossed, dark eyes drifting over my body. He went rigid, his entire body tensing as his eyes met mine. Like always, he wore gear, but his shoulder-length dark hair was tied back, revealing the points of his ears. He was still annoyingly handsome, but after witnessing him with the woman on his lap at the bar, I tried to tamper down on those feelings. It only made my anger—and worse, my magic—rise.

“What are you doing here?” I snapped, taking a step back. A couple of the other students using the gym equipment looked over, but no one said anything.

Hawk smiled ruefully. “I’m your mentor, Princess.”

No.I shook my head, but when he chuckled, I stopped.“Absolutely not.” I was hoping I would be done with him. That after the other night, I wouldn’t have to see him again.

Hawk took a single step towards me and lifted his chin. Determination darkened his already black eyes. “I am. And there’s nothing you can do about it. Now, go change into your training gear, Your Highness, and meet me out here in five.”

“Hawk—”

“No,” he said, cutting me off. My mouth snapped shut, though my anger continued to boil in my chest. “Or I’ll make the next hour hell.”

I read the promise in his voice, but instead of arguing, I turned towards the changing rooms. I ducked into them and went straight to one of the lockers, which, according to Rowan, would answer to my magic for the next hour. I threw my book bag inside after grabbing my change of clothes and spent the next few minutes calming myself.

I kept a block up between me and the others, mostly because I didn’t want to worry them, but also because I was capable of looking after myself. Elias would come storming in here if he knew, and I couldn’t help but feel like this had to be some kind of test.

Deal with the jackass who constantly pisses you off.If I couldn’t handle Hawk on my own, then how the hell was I supposed to do anything?

Ugh. I changed, set my actual uniform in the locker, and made my way out of the changing room. I had no other choice than to deal with him.

By the time I made it out to the gym, Hawk had two long sticks in either hand, a dark smirk on his face, and too much confidence.

“Today we figure out just how much you know. No magic yet, just physical.”

I gulped. “I can already tell you the answer to that one, asshole. It’s none.”

Somehow, he seemedbrighterat that.“Then this will be fun, Princess.”

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