Page 112 of A Touch of Gold and Madness

I felt the air’s movement and heard the slight whistle just before the sharp sting of a blade sliced across my chest. Invisible.

I looked down at the bleeding wound and then met the eyes of its creator. “Did you just make an air weapon and cut me with it?”

Gray couldn’t hide the smug smile that was followed by a shrug. “I did.”

“Before a shield?” Orion asked, doubt evident in his tone and raised an eyebrow.

Gray nodded once.

I held her gaze, unspoken words passing between us. The pride continued to swell in my heart, loving the savagery within her. “Perfect,” I said. “Again.”

My fists pummeled the leather punching bag full of rice from our fields.

I struck the bag with my shin before beating it in quick succession with precise jabs. Tension released with each strike, as well as the intensity of trying to keep my distance from Gray for the past two weeks. The madness started to return in small waves. But the anger and hunger continued to build. My withdrawals and need to replenish my reserves began to grow unbearable as Grim’s haunting laugh echoed in the depths of my mind.

Salt dripped into my mouth from the sweat. I hadn’t stopped, even as I released my tension and irrational anger in the best way I knew how: through violence. Images of bloodshed and ruined bodies splayed about flashed in my mind, tempting me to inflict pain and take their auras for myself. The potent memory of the euphoria the act fed me lived rent-free in my mind and soul. I couldn’t forget it, tempting me every day to cave just one more time.

The all-encompassing craving began to ease little by little two hours into my workout. Grim’s voice trailed off, quieting in the recesses of my mind. I still didn’t stop, focused on the punching bag. The faces I imagined shifted from Forest to Grim to my mother. The ever-present pain and betrayal of Amethyst stung me. What kind of mother did that shit?

“Hey.”

I spun and swung. Very rarely did I get caught by surprise by someone. Gray blocked my punch and landed one of her own in my ribs. “Fuck,” I wheezed, rubbing the spot she assaulted. “Sorry.”

The princess stepped forward with a concerned expression and placed her hand on my arm to make skin-on-skin contact. “You okay?”

I nodded and inhaled a deep breath from the reprieve her touch offered me. The hug I pulled her into was instinctual, tucking her head under my chin, emotion clogging my throat at how close I was to slipping away again, yet I was beyond grateful I was granted the chance to free myself from it. “Thank you,” I whispered, my chin resting on the crown of her head and breathing in her warm vanilla scent.

“Where have you been the past two weeks?” she asked, her voice muffled. “You’ve barely been around lately.”

I cleared my throat. “Trying to give you space.”

Gray straightened and pulled back to look up at me. Her face twisted in confusion. “What? Why?”

“Because you don’t need me clinging onto you while you’re figuring things out and getting acclimated here. You need to make your own path while healing your trauma. I’m not trying to add stress to you while you do that. Plus, this ismyissue, and I won’t put that responsibility on you.”I fought the urge to run my fingers through her hair to brush it away from her face.

“And I’ve told you,” Gray insisted. “I want to help.”

I smiled. “I know, Rainbow,” I said, studying her multicolored eyes. “Beneath that steel exterior of yours, you have a heart of gold.”

Gray rolled her eyes dramatically. “Not cringey at all.”

I laughed and then took her palm in mine. “Come on,” I said and gave it a tug, gesturing for her to follow me.

“Where?” she asked but trailed after me anyway.

I glanced over my shoulder, flashing her a wide grin. “You’ll see.”

“Seriously? Hide and seek?”

“Let’s see if you can actually catch me this time, little savage.”

Gray narrowed her rainbow irises at me and pursed her lips. “What are the rules, oh legendary one?”

I leaned my shoulder against the oak tree and crossed my feet, holding out my hand. “No weapons. No magic.”

Gray sighed. “Fine.” She removed her weapons belt, placing all her blades on the grass in a nook of two tree roots. I did the same.

Balling my fist, I placed it on the flat of my other palm. “Ready?”

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