Page 43 of Draekora

And in a blur of movement, he ran forward.

Alex barely had a microsecond to release a startled yelp as she shied to the side, avoiding his reach.

“Good reflexes,” Roka said. “But can you dodge this?”

She swivelled her torso away from him again, but he turned at the last moment and went low, kicking her legs out from the floor.

“You didn’t even try that time,” Roka admonished.

“Maybe if you’d give me a second to prepare myself,” Alex said, rising back up to her feet and rubbing a hand against her bruised behind.

Roka cocked his head. “What’s there to prepare?”

“You know, to centre myself and—” She bit down on her tongue, hard, as she remembered that Meyarins wouldn’tneedto centre or prepare themselves. If only Alex had that luxury. She needed to concentrate in order to activate the capabilities of her blood.

“Never mind,” she told Roka. “Just, uh, if you don’t mind, can I just have a quick moment? Just to sort of, uh, mentally psyche myself up to attacking the royal prince, and all that.”

Listen, she encouraged herself, closing her eyes.Just listen.

And as she had done all through thevarrungard, Alex slowly expanded her senses outwards. She hit a block at the Myrox barrier but it didn’t matter, because when she opened her eyes, she knew she was back in the game.

“Okay, I’m ready,” she said.

Roka arched an eyebrow but, taking her word, he came at her again, faster than lightning. This time she was able to trace his movement almost as if it was in slow motion, and rather than jump out of the way, she raised her arm to block his attack. Her other arm moved to block his next, equally powerful counter-blow. She then decided to jump on the offence and drop to the floor, throwing her leg out to swipe his feet, but he evaded her by leaping into the air at the last second. Seeing his intent to strike now that she was in a vulnerable position, Alex sprung upwards and executed a backwards handspring to escape his range—something she had no idea she was capable of doing.

“Excellent,” Roka said, his voice ridiculously smooth to her now heightened hearing. “You’re much better than I anticipated, considering your lack of training. You’re a natural.”

Alex laughed at that, the sound strange to her Meyarin ears.

“Let’s see how you fare with a weapon,” Roka said, pulling his sword from its scabbard and raising it between them.

When he made no further move, Alex pointed to his blade and asked, “Do I get one of those?”

Roka’s brows rose. “You wield the Sword of the Stars, Aeylia. I recognised your blade earlier today, as did Aven and Kyia, though none of us had ever before laid eyes on it. The Bringer of Light is but a legend, or so we thought. I’m certain no weapon I can offer you would compare.”

Alex was surprised. Mostly because she wondered how—orwhen—A’enara ended up coming into Aven’s possession if this past version of him had never even seen the weapon before. It was, after all, the blade he’d tried to kill Alex with, so he kind of needed it in order for her future to play out. She hoped when she got back to the academy in her time that she’d hear from Kaiden, who had offered to research the strange weapon for her. She could certainly use some answers to her mounting questions.

At an encouraging gesture from Roka, Alex held out her hand, mentally summoning the blade. Just like earlier that day, it arrived in a dazzling blaze of light, surrounded by blue fire that danced along Alex’s arm.

“Why is it doing that?” she asked, entranced by the spiralling flames.

Roka sounded surprised when he asked, “Hasn’t it always?”

Alex shook her head. “No. This is definitely new.”

The prince stepped closer to inspect the flames. He reached out a finger to touch them but withdrew his arm quickly.

“Stars above, that’s hot,” he hissed, shaking his hand. When he held it out to show Alex, she could see a raw, blistering burn mark. It was healing quickly thanks to his immortal blood, but it still looked painful.

“I can’t feel it at all,” Alex marvelled, moving her free hand into the flames where they tickled her skin. There was perhaps a slight comforting heat, but nothing more.

“That’s because you’re as much a part of the weapon as it is you,” Roka said. “Where you go, it goes. You are bound to it, as it is to you.”

“I sort of already knew that,” Alex said, which was true, if not in so many words. “It’s been the case for a few months now, but I’m telling you, this fire thing is new. As in, newtoday.”

Roka seemed to contemplate that, but then his gaze travelled over Alex. She followed his eyes to the bare skin on her non-flaming arm, and since she was still using her Meyarin senses, she could easily see the glimmer from her bond with Xiraxus.

Roka motioned to her golden-hued skin. “Have you called forth the blade since enactingvaelianawith the Draekoran heir, Aeylia? Or was today the first time?”

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