Page 79 of A Touch of Stars and Stones
My eyes want to search for Ten, but I force them to stay on my next opponent. I swallow the lump in my throat and try to forget the flare of pain that lashed my body when he punched me.
Glancing at Ten is almost instinctive, and I note the tense set of his jaw. Guess he doesn’t like the idea of me facing Calix again so soon, either.
Calix positions himself a couple of meters away and smirks. “Don’t look so frightened. No combat. I promise.” He steps forward. But instead of waiting and doing the hand thing, he just grabs my shoulder at the base of my neck.
There’s no time to compose myself, and I grab his wrist, a reflex, holding him as his fingers press into my skin.
“I’m sorry for the punches.” His voice is low enough that it’s just for me.
But I’m too busy concentrating, fighting to find that pull of power, like when we touched at the obstacle course. It just happened then. And when we were fighting. Now, I try to picture his strength and pull it into me, just like I did with Micah.
But as Calix’s smile falters, so does my control of that energy. It rushes at me. Storming me, just like his fists did. It’s too much, like every cell in my body is expanding. Getting bigger. Stronger.
Calix’s brows pull down as if he can’t work out what’s happening, and he loosens his grip on my neck, but I keep my grip firm.
“Ever?” His voice is strained. And I blink. He looks in pain.
No. I don’t want this.
My jaw clenches, and I inch my feet apart before I reach my arm up to take Calix’s neck, the same position he has me in, and connect my palm to the side of his throat. My eyes focus on that point, and I try to shove every single drop of strength back at him, reversing what I was doing.
And it works. I can feel my body ease and relax while Calix takes a deep breath. More confusion skits across his eyes as he works out what’s happening.
“Let’s see what you can take,” I whisper.
“Shit.” His eyes flare, and I know it’s working.
But my head starts to spin, my legs go weak, and it’s like I’m in the ring with him all over again. Every place he landed, a blow screams, as if he’s peeling away any of the mending, leaving me just pain.
Darkness creeps to the corners…
“Stop, Ever.”
It’s not my voice. And it’s not Calix.
“Calix! Fucking stop! Ever!” Ten’s voice breaks through, and I turn my head and see him with Rowan and Aurelia. I drop my hand and stumble back, hitting the floor.
Calix stumbles himself. “Shit, Ever. What in Aslendrix? I feel…” he clenches his fists at his sides. Crimson steps up to him and looks him over.
“What did she do?” She asks.
“I don’t know, but I’ve never felt stronger,” he laughs. “Ten, if there’s ever a time to take you on. Me, you. Outside.” He motions with his hand between the two of them.
But when I look at Ten, his face is as hard as stone, his jaw tight, emphasising the definition that’s so consuming.
“No combat. At least not today,” Rowan declares, reminding Calix, although he looks very interested in the experiment that he just suggested. “Ever, Raiden is next.” He looks at me, still sprawled on the floor.
The weakness and dizzy spells level out, and I move to stand, getting used to the idea that people don’t offer help often. Once I’m steady on my feet, I try to centre myself again.
Aurelia’s quiet, observing. No more words of guidance. Perhaps I am just an experiment to them.
“Hey, you okay?” Raiden asks, her hazel eyes full of concern.
“Sure.” I breathe out. “I’m just trying to get through this.”
She nods. “Palms?”
“Palms.”
