Page 83 of A Touch of Gold and Madness

Void angled his head to the side, his lips pursed as if he debated whether to share that information. It was clearly a sensitive topic for him, and I didn’t have that right. But I needed to know what my people were capable of.

After several silent moments, he finally responded, “Ultraviolet.”

I nodded, thinking back to the blistering burns on my back at the palace in my escape. The Kinetic responsible for Void’s vision must’ve wielded it in light form. “I’m sorry that happened to you. It never occurred to me we couldn’t heal those kinds of injuries.”

Void cleared his throat. “Perhaps it was the black crystal-laced arrow that sliced into my arm that didn’t allow me to heal.”

I released a shuddering breath, unsure of what to say, so I scanned the training area around us. Elementals sparred in pairs, some even in groups of three or four, using different blades and various styles of fighting. It was familiar from my run-ins with them in the past, but I couldn’t replicate it.

The fighting styles were very fluid, graceful, and swift. It involved a lot of quick hits that tired the opponent while they spent their energy on heavy blows. It’s been rumored that Ancient Asian cultures learned and adapted the Elemental fighting styles centuries ago. While the Ancient Romans learned and adapted from the Kinetics. And the more I observed their sparring styles, the more I wanted to believe the stories.

“Before we start, I want to assess where you are,” Void said, drawing my attention from the sparring groups around the arena. “Close your eyes.”

I hesitated for a moment, the instinct to mistrust his intentions stiffening my posture. I twisted my chest away from him and narrowed my eyes.

“Relax.” Void’s voice was deep and calm, soothing the rushing waves of the rising tide of fear. “I need to see what level of awareness you hold.”

I exhaled and nodded. “Okay.” Ever so slowly, I closed my eyes, leaving me with only the sounds of the combat echoing around me.

Before he could even finish, a thick arm locked around my throat from behind, putting me in a chokehold. On instinct, my eyes flew open, and I jabbed an elbow behind me, aimed at his ribs. He didn’t flinch. I braced my arm for another jab, but Void released me.

I whirled on him, trying to gasp for air with subtlety. “What the fuck was that?” I refused to touch my throat, not wanting to show that the sneak attack shook me.

“A test,” Void said, shrugging his broad, corded shoulders.

“That was some bullshit test,” I hissed.

“Your father purposefully left out awareness training. There is no other excuse for you to be so ungodly ill-prepared,” Void said.

My breaths came in ragged and fast, seething at being humiliated and beaten with ease. “The joke’s on me, right? I’m so glad you got a good laugh at my expense.”

Void stood there in his quiet stoicism. His vacant gaze pierced right through me, his jaw clenching. “Listen,Princess,” he snapped. His deep tone dropped a few more octaves with the quiet anger that rolled through his body. “I’m not doing this for my amusement. Training an already highly skilled enemy assassin isn’t something that I’d do for fucking laughs. I’m doing this because it was an order. I’m doing this with the small hope that you have a heart inside that cold-ass exterior of yours. Chrome and Orion may blindly trust you, but I don’t. I have a hard time believing that someone who has been brainwashed by a psychopath her entire life has suddenly seen the light and wants to throw us a bone.

“However,” Void’s voice grew sharper, “since I’m not in charge around here, I’m to follow orders even if I disagree with them. Perhaps you can learn something if you get your head out of your ass. And let’s pray I don’t live to regret it.”

My mouth formed a slight O, and I angled my head to the side. “That…” I began, “is the most I’ve ever heard you speak,” I quipped. It was my only thought. The image I’d conjured of him being this calm, stout man ofvery few words conflicted with his emotional rant. It didn’t fit. I was too stunned to be angry.

“And it’ll likely remain that way. Now,” he said, blowing out a breath. “Let’s go again. Close your eyes and stop me.”

I didn’t stop Void. Not once. He proved to me time and time again that my sense of awareness outside of my magic was next to none. To say I was beyond frustrated was a vast understatement. How had I allowed this to happen?

Hours later, my body and mind ached from the training session. Every time, he had me pinned on my back with the breath knocked out of me before I could focus my senses.

Void insisted I feel for the air’s movements, which I did. He embodied stealth and silence to the point the air never alerted me. When I failed, he told me to use my nose to track which direction his scent moved. But he was too swift. By the time I caught it, he’d already slammed me on my back, my arms pinned above my head. Finally, he told me to use my hearing. But he was silent as well.

Void ensured that with practice, I’d be able to tune into my senses much quicker. Until then, I decided I needed to break his holds.

I left the training arena, taking fast strides to the dining hall. My stomach danced in excitement as I bypassed the liquid black pool and strolled inside. Once again, savory aromas flooded my nose. The other Elementals stared at me as I walked to the arranged food. Loud chatter died as I passed by tables. I pretended not to notice or care, being sure to carry myself with a little extra swagger instead.

Once I filled my plate, I searched for an empty table. This time, there was one available. Achievement rang through my chest as I claimed that golden spot and slid into my chair. Solitude. It’s what I did best. I could eat in peace. I could…

Another plate clunked on the spot across from me. I looked up to find Onyx with his inky black hair, glittering like the clearest summer night, plop in the seat with casual indifference. My heart sank. Ireallywanted to eat alone.

“So glad I caught you on your lunch break,” Onyx said, flashing a quick, beaming smile that’d made all the Kinetic girls swoon. He dug into his mac and cheese like a man starved. His orange currents illuminated his forearms, causing a pang of longing in my chest.

I looked around. The rest of the seats were empty. It was just me. “Why would you want to catch me on my lunch break?”

Onyx looked up from his loaded plate, looking like a chipmunk with puffy cheeks. An eyebrow quirked at my question. “B’cos…” he dragged out, the food hindering his speech. He waved his fork around in dramatic effect. “We’re friends?”

---