Page 61 of Reign

Tyen watched us curiously. I’d invited her to join us. Not to fight, but mainly to spend more time with her. I wanted to get to know the quiet woman who was my mate’s mother. Sophie ran in, out of breath and dressed for action. Her slim body was athletic, but the curves she did have were accentuated by the lycra yoga leggings and tight figure-hugging top.

“Hey.” Her smile was bright and she was almost bouncing with energy.

I raised my hand and grinned. “Hey. You ready?”

Shannon smiled and high-fived Sophie. Everyone knew who she was to Connor now. Most of our pack had accepted her, though Drake’s attitude towards her needed a bit of work. And I was more than happy to have her on our side.

“Sure am.” She glanced at Tyen and her gaze softened. “Do you want to train with me for a while? I can teach you some basic fighting moves.”

Tyen contemplated her. Maybe a shadow fae didn’t need basic fighting skills, but her heritage hadn’t saved her in the past. She seemed to come to the same conclusion. “I’d like that very much,” she answered and stood up, uncoiling her tall willowy frame and squaring her shoulders.

After two hours of drills with basic blocks and punches, we moved on to weapons. We’d kept swapping partners, and I was back with Shannon. Across the room, B’nar wandered in and spoke to Connor, who grinned and nodded. The blue-haired Faerie prince approached in the fluid way he always walked. I blocked Shannon’s knife attack and inclined my head at the approaching prince. She got the message, and we both stopped, placing our weapons back in the sheaths on our thighs.

B’nar nodded a greeting and held out the bow he clutched in his elegant hand. “Remember this?”

I traced my fingers over the runes and carving. “I remember the one I had. This is similar but not the same one.Thisis the one I almost shot Alex with.”

B’nar actually smiled. All of us gaped, which seemed to amuse him more. “That’s right. You remember. I’m glad.”

“Where is Alex? Didn’t he go with your father to Canada?”

“Yes, he did. They haven’t yet returned.”

I spun the bow in my grip and lifted it, drawing back the string. Energy zipped through me, and the tattoo on my arm ignited, sending the Faerie magic Walker had used to create it into the bow. Runes glowed across the bow. I had no arrow in it, but I grinned as I eyed Connor across the room and targeted him. He smirked, his gaze dropping down my body and back up to my face. I inhaled and smirked right back. Yeah, scenting arousal worked both ways. I lowered the bow before I was tempted to drag him off into the nearest store cupboard. My eyes landed on the table. In fact, that old flat surface was looking good right about now.

“Mother Wolf,” Shannon muttered. “What’s with you? Are baby hormones making you super horny or something?” She poked my ribs. “Up here, lady.” She made a ring around her face with her forefinger. “Focus.”

I laughed and pushed her away. “Get lost. And yes, they are if you must know.” Then I remembered his mother was standing right next to me. Oops.

Tyen just shrugged, though there was a glint of playfulness in her eyes that surprised me. “He was made the same way, though I expect the way your baby got in there was far more enjoyable.”

I wasn't quite sure how to answer that, so I focused back on B’nar, my eyes narrowed.

“How did you get this, anyway? I thought you were going to Canada with them?”

“I was.” He shrugged. “But something more important turned up.”

“What?” I wasn’t sure what was more important than securing more fighters for this war.

He smirked. “Just something I needed to take care of.”

“Oh. Did Walker bring this?” I studied the beautiful weapon.

“He did...and he didn’t. He brought someone else, who brought it with them.” The Prince smiled and nodded over my shoulder. I was a bit nonplussed. I’d never seen B’nar smile so much in such a short space of time.

“Hey bitches!”

I squealed and threw the bow down, racing into my friend’s waiting arms. Her gorgeous chestnut hair covered my face as I squeezed her tightly. I blew it from my mouth, making silly noises like she was suffocating me with it. I wasn’t about to let her go, though. We held each other tightly, and I didn't bother to hide my tears. Once we’d both calmed down some, we broke apart a little, but I still grabbed onto her hands. My smile was wide, but it was hard to contain my worry. Blue didn’t look well; in fact, she looked like shit. “It’s so good to see you.”

“Yeah, you too, girl.” She eyed the nearest chair. “Mind if we park it for a mo’?”

“Oh, of course.” I turned to the chairs; only B’nar was already there. He pulled one out. “Here. Sit.” He eyed Blue sternly, and there was no confusion about who he was talking to. I smirked at him. He ignored me. Blue rolled her eyes but didn’t argue.

“Glad you didn’t lie and say I look great because I know I look like shit.” Her face twisted.

Lying wouldn’t work with Blue since she’d see right through it, so I didn’t. “Yeah, you do.”

“She does not.” B’nar’s words made us both look at him. He glanced down at Blue, who he was hovering over with his arms crossed. “She is alive, and that looks good on her.”

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