Page 56 of Visions & Shadows

There’s training, and then there's standing around like an idiot while allowing someone to beat the everloving shit out of you.

I don’t want to meet the jackass who trained her.

Done with everything, I turn around so I can walk away, but instead, I slam into a wall of muscle.

I bounce back, hissing as pain tears through my body. “Dammit!”

“You must be Alchera,” the man says.

My eyes dart to his face, and shock shudders through me.

He looks like the masculine version of me.

“Peace be, Alchera. I’m Roark, your brother. Welcome home.”

When I just stare at him, he lets out a chuckle. “We last saw each other when you were twelve. I left for training shortly after and only returned once you were sent to Earth.”

Feeling overemotional, I let out a trembling breath and glance away to stare at the trees in the distance.

“Why didn’t you wait as you were told,” Raighne snaps at me as he comes into my line of sight.

“Because I wanted to get this shit over with,” I mutter.

His eyes sweep over me, and his features turn to stone as anger darkens his eyes.

“At least she didn’t kill me,” I say, my words dripping with sarcasm. “But hey, there’s always tomorrow.”

Roark’s eyes lock with Brenna, and his tone is icy when he says, “We’ll talk later. You can leave, Brenna.” When he turns his attention back to me,his features soften. “I’ll take over your training, and I’ll deal with Brenna.”

His eyes touch on my bloody lip and the cut on my throat. “I’m sorry. You weren’t meant to get hurt.”

Whatever.

“Go to the healers so they can tend to you,” he says. “Meet me at the training field near my camp first thing tomorrow morning.”

I’m in no state to train tomorrow, but I keep my mouth shut because I’m too upset and can’t trust anything that will come out of my mouth right now.

I watch as Roark walks away, wondering what other surprises will come my way.

I smell Raighne before his fingers brush near the cut on my throat. When I turn my head to look at him, I see him wipe my blood on his shirt.

Our eyes meet, and the gutted expression on his face makes a lump form in my throat.

“You should’ve waited for me,” he says, his tone tense with anger.

I lift my chin, wanting to look stronger than I feel. “Hey, at least I got a new trainer out of it. Hopefully, Roark won’t kick my ass as badly.”

I try to pass Raighne, but he brings up his arm and blocks my way. His hand curls around my right shoulder as he steps into my personal space, his chest almost touching mine.

Turning my head away, my eyes land on three people in the far distance. It looks like they’re sparring.

Raighne lifts a hand to my face, and taking hold of my chin, he nudges me to look at him.

The moment my gaze locks with his, the lump in my throat grows, and I struggle to swallow it down.

“I’m sorry I took so long to get to you,” he murmurs, his tone low and rough around the edges. “Once our bond strengthens, I’ll get better at sensing when you’re in danger.”

“It’s fine,” I say, letting out a tired breath.

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