Page 97 of The Spark that Ignites
“I was.”
Fighting the urge to press her palms into her eyes, Emmery studied his cleanly shaved square jaw and blond hair knotted with a leather tie at the nape of his neck. His skin had returned to a healthy tawny glow since his injury although his pale, bloodless face still occasionally flashed through her mind. But she was quick to chase the image away. Emmery spotted the faint blood stain on the tiled floor and shivered. “Did you like it?” she asked.
He nodded but offered nothing further.
“What, um—” She nervously coughed. “What did you ... like about it?” Gods, this was more painful than plucking out her fingernails. More like crawling nude across broken glass.
Callias sighed, clearly irritated. “It keeps you disciplined. It’s important to keep both your body and mind sharp.” He scrutinized her. “But some of us are more athletically inclined.”
Emmery narrowed her eyes. “Not all of us can be the size of a bear and hit like one.” She envied Aera curled up in her bed enjoying the day, not being berated by a giant blond man with the charm of a mountain lion.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” He almost smiled. “And that’s why you’re using light weapons.” He uncrossed his arms. “You need to be fast and precise. You don’t have size to use to your advantage. You must be smart. Not fumble a blade and hope for the best.”
Her blood boiled at his curt answers.
It had been weeks since they had their little spat and this tension between them continued to rise, resentment brewing in every interaction with her.
She was damn tired of it.
And it was time to put it to rest.
“Look,” she said. “I know you were upset when I assumed about Briar, but I already apologized. I’m not sure what else you want from me, but I’d like to move past it. Be adults.”
Callias snorted. “Don’t lecture me about being an adult. I accepted your apology.”
“Did you?” He gave her a side glance, and she ground her teeth. “Because if you did, then I don’t want to see what you’re like when you truly hate someone. Look, I’m not daft, Callias. I see how differently you treat me.”
He turned at that, his brows shooting to his hairline. “Excuse me?”
“Did I do something to you? Some abhorrent act that made you hate me?” She clutched the bottle fearing it may shatter under her hold as her hands heated. Emmery squeezed her eyes shut, willing herkhaosflame to play nice too. “You’ve barely said two words to me since arriving here other than your heated lecture and relentless berating during training. I don’t know if some people like that, but it certainly doesn’t motivate me.”
His blue stare scorched her, but face remained impassable. “You misunderstand.”
“Then what is it?” Her voice rose an octave. “Is it because I used my magic on you? I know you were the castle healer, and I never wanted to take that from you. I couldn’t even heal Aera’s wing, so clearly, you’re better. But I couldn’t let you bleed out and you weren’t exactly conscious to consent. But next time, if you prefer, I can leave you for dead.”
He shook his head. “No, Aera’s wing was a unique injury. That web she tangled in was cursed. The balm I created worksfrom the inside out and counters what you cannot see. I never did ...” A sound escaped the back of his throat resembling a stifled gag. “I never did thank you for healing me. I should have said it earlier.”
Emmery frowned. It wasn’t exactly gratitude, but it was close enough. Probably the best she would get. At least he was trying. “You would have done the same for me.” Although as she examined his cold face, she wasn’t certain. “Then what’s the problem?”
“I don’t like owing people things. And you”—his turbulent gaze devoured her as he scrubbed at his cheek with a massive hand—“set my nerves on edge.”
“You don’t owe me anything. And as far as I’m concerned, your hours of training have more than paid back for my one-time dose of magic.” Emmery leaned into the wall wishing she could disappear into it. “I don’t know how to fix your ... bad feeling.” She sighed, releasing the tension living in her shoulders. “But I want to try.” But did she? Why did it matter? She would be gone in a week's time.
A muscle feathered in his jaw. “You should know I’m unflinchingly protective of Ellynne and my friends. When it was destroyed, we were all devastated, but this place is my only home. There’s no life for me back in Delmira.” His stare hardened to ice. “I don’t welcome people into my life easily. My trust is earned, not given.”
She clenched her teeth, turning away from his cold gaze. “If saving your life wasn’t enough, then I doubt I’ll ever earn it.”
Callias narrowed his eyes at her tone. “Keep training. Don’t worry so much about what people think. It shows weakness. But did you ever think I’m helping you protect yourself because I know the danger you’re in? That I’m volunteering my time to aid you, not punish you?” His chest rose and fell with a heavybreath, the outline of his muscular chest straining against his tunic. “We need you to be better. For all our sake.”
Breathing through her burning lungs, Emmery rotated the sword in her grasp to glimpse her reflection. Her flushed face looked back, and she smoothed a few hairs that had sprung free from her careful top knot. How many times had she caught her reflection and wanted to sneer at what she saw? She hadn’t done that in a while now.
But he was right. He had taken time to train her and every day he pushed her; she got a little better. Even if it was infinitesimal.
Despite her doubt she would ever be worthy enough to relight thekhaosflame, she was still trying to be. Not only for herself but for this place she dreamed would one day feel like home. Because Karynthia was theirs as much as it was hers.
“Should we get back to it then?” she asked. “I’m sure the gods are relishing in my torment and bloody calluses.”
“Are you ready to spar with a real dummy?” He selected a shiny longsword with a heavy onyx handle from the rack and expertly flipped it in his hand.
