Page 45 of Ava's Love of the Dragons
She didn't count the laps she ran, completely lost in thought, and only looked up when she no longer heard Magg fighting. The cadet was looking towards the weapons cabinet beneath the stands, where Master Clark and Kilian were standing, talking to each other. Kilian wore his fighting leather and didn't look like he'd slept at all. He towered over the trainer by more than half a meter, yet he behaved respectfully towards him.
She couldn't blame Magg for staring at Kilian. She usually did the same herself.
Deliberately, she focused her gaze on the track and increased her pace in an attempt to outrun her feelings. But it didn't work. The fact that Kilian was within reach and she knew he wouldn'tpush her away if she wanted to approach him didn't really help. Although she wasn't one hundred percent sure about that. He took his job seriously; he had made that clear several times.
Draco looked over the wall. He had positioned himself outside the arena in front of the cliff and was monitoring the surroundings. Thalara was on the other side, and they took turns flying over the area. No mage would be able to sneak up unnoticed.
"Everything will be alright, Ava, have faith."
Of course, Draco had sensed how her heart had clenched at the sight of Kilian. And he probably heard every single one of her thoughts, which was why she might have been better off finding a sport where she had to stop thinking.
"The main thing is that you and the other dragons survive. That's the most important thing to me."
Draco puffed out a few clouds that rose like smoke signals towards the sky, but said nothing.
Lilly jumped into the arena alongside Marcus and waved to her. If she wasn't mistaken, the girl was holding two rolls in her hand. Of course, Lilly wouldn't have missed the opportunity to watch Kilian during combat training and had simply moved breakfast outside. It probably wouldn't be long before Lynn showed up to drag her into the classroom.
Marcus watched her attentively, radiating a calmness and peacefulness that didn't match this training facility. He raised his hand in greeting and winked casually. Somehow, his relaxed, easygoing manner made her feel good. She waved back at the two of them and ran over, and Lilly held out a roll to her.
"We're bringing you breakfast."
Ava looked at the raisin roll in disbelief. It hadn't even been nibbled at. "You're voluntarily sharing food?"
"Sure, I've already had five and there are more inside. Lynn might be a real slave driver when it comes to lessons, but shegives me two extra breakfast breaks, and I think she convinced the cooks to bake more. There are definitely advantages to looking starved." She grinned.
Smiling, Ava grabbed the roll and broke off a piece. "Thanks, I don't need more than this." She popped the bite into her mouth, took Marcus's canteen, and took a good swig.
Then Kilian's voice rang out across the arena.
"Ava!"
Surprised, she turned to him. He no longer sounded like the man who had to restrain himself from getting close to her, but like a tough trainer who wouldn't tolerate any excuses.
Lilly leaned towards her. "Better not keep him waiting, or you'll have to do a hundred push-ups."
"He wouldn't dare!" But one look at the dragon fighter was enough to confirm that she was facing the leader of the royal army and not the mysterious man who rushed to save her life and sat with her under the starry sky at night to talk.
She said goodbye to her friends and jogged over to him.
He stood with his legs apart in the middle of the sand pit, his muscular arms crossed over his chest, and nodded at the daggers tucked into her belt. "Are those your preferred weapons?"
If only she knew...
She shrugged her shoulders, still feeling uncomfortable with the weapons topic. "They're small and handy. So far, I've managed best with them."
"Then show me what you've learned." He beckoned her over, a clear invitation for her to attack.
Great.
She drew the daggers and began circling him, but hesitated. She could hardly attack him with the sharp blades. It had been easier with Magg because the cadet made no secret of her hatred towards Ava, but it was different with Kilian...
She considered and ventured a small attack from the side, which he deflected with a simple slap against her forearm. She retreated and tried again, but he effortlessly warded her off once more. As she launched the third attack, he knocked both daggers from her hands, grabbed her by the waist, and spun her around so that her back hit his chest. He held her wrists tight, preventing her from freeing herself. Or did she just not want to? Her breathing changed, his scent enveloped her, his heat transferred to her, and as he leaned forward and brushed her ear with his lips, goosebumps raced across her skin.
"What do you want, Ava?" His whisper sounded rough.
Her breath came in bursts as she was consumed by his entire being, unable to answer.
"Do you want to be defenseless, helpless, at the mercy of the mages? Or do you want to stand up to them and save the dragon world?" His voice sounded beguiling, though his words had the exact opposite effect.
