Page 49 of Wings of Ash & Flame
She advanced, one punch high at the juncture of his neck and shoulder, another straight to the gut.
Alaire smirked. Kaia had used the same move on her recently.
Galwen blocked one strike, but Kaia adjusted, connecting with his jaw instead. He staggered back, and Kaia pressed forward, exploiting the opening with a powerful uppercut that sent him reeling.
Alaire couldn’t help but be impressed. Kaia’s moves were rougher than those of their fae peers, but she was scrappy—and it showed on the mat.
Galwen sank to the ground, the sound reverberating around the Crux. It was over. He braced himself on his forearms, struggling to rise, but his efforts were futile. Kaia stood over him, chest heaving with exertion.
“Match to Kaia!” Hawthorne announced. “Well done, Novice Moore.”
Kaia bounced off the mat, practically glowing. Archer’s enthusiasm had already drawn stares—particularly from Caius, whose scowl had deepened.
“Think I ruined his day?” Kaia whispered, dabbing her face with the towel Alaire tossed her.
“Oh, absolutely.” Alaire smirked. “Best kind of victory there is.”
They shared a conspiratorial grin.
Alaire wrinkled her nose. “You could use a shower.”
“You don’t exactly smell like roses either.” Kaia rolled her eyes and tossed the sweaty towel at Alaire’s head.
Thirteen
The sky outside Alaire’s arched window was a canvas of stormy grey. It had been like this for days—clouds lurking on the horizon, threatening to break but never quite doing so, much like the thoughts swirling in her mind. She stood stiffly at the window, arms crossed.
“You’re scowling again.” Kaia’s voice pulled her back to the present.
Alaire blinked, turning to find Kaia perched on the edge of her bed, auburn hair spilling over her shoulder. She grinned, amused.
“I wasn’t scowling.”
Kaia’s brows rose. “Oh, you were. Let me guess—you’re brooding about Dawson.Again.” Her almond eyes sparkled with mischief. “Tell me, is it about how he’s been avoiding you?”
Alaire’s nails bit crescents into her palms. “I don’t care what he’s doing.”
“Oh, please. You’re practically vibrating with repressed feelings. It’s been days. Can’t you admit that someone caring about you might not be the end of the world?”
“I don’t need anyone to care about me,” Alaire bit out, the words tasting bitter on her tongue.
Kaia’s teasing expression softened. “You’re right. You don’t. You’re strong as hell. But that doesn’t mean it’s bad to let someone in.”
Alaire’s throat tightened. She didn’t want to hear it. She didn’t want to think about Dawson’s hands steadying her, firm and sure, or the low urgency in his voice as he said,I’ve got you—as if it mattered. As ifshemattered.
“He only stepped in because he needs me alive,” Alaire said flatly. “We’re partners.”
Kaia tilted her head, gaze unreadable. “Maybe.”
Alaire turned back to the window, her reflection faint against the darkening sky. Her fingers brushed the cool stone as she exhaled, fogging the glass. No matter how hard she tried to ignore it, the memory refused to fade.
You’re not what I expected, Alaire Aerendyl.
The stars blinked, offering no answers.
“… and we deserve to blow off some steam,” Kaia said, clapping sharply, snapping Alaire back to reality.
“Right,” she mumbled.
