Page 27 of A Song of Shadow and Starlight

I roll my eyes. "Was I not already on my way there?"

"Reluctantly." He says with a wolfish grin. "If you want us to help you figure out the answers to all of your questions and train you to master your magic, then no more wandering off by yourself. No more attempting to escape."

"It sounds like you want me to promise to behave," I cross my arms over my chest, and he shrugs.

"Something like that."

"Fine," I nod, which seems to surprise Atlas. "I promise to accompany you to Tronovia willingly,ifyou agree to let Nyx train me in hand-to-hand combat."

Atlas glares at me with a tight-lipped expression and Nyx barks out a laugh, slapping his knee.

"If those Soul Eaters come after us again, I want to know how to defend myself," I continue pleading my case. "Look at what happened tonight, Atlas. If I knew how to wield a weapon, I would have been more help."

Atlas is silent, and I wish I could read his mind. He must know I'm right. Had I not finally had a breakthrough with my magic, he would have been killed. If I can learn to use my magic and wield a sword, I could be a force to be reckoned with.

Finally, the corners of Atlas' eyes crinkle and a smile glides across his face. "Clever girl. You might make a cunning queen yet." He points a finger at me. "You continue practicing your magic with me, and I'll agree to let Nyx teach you fighting techniques. But I swear, if I find a knife held against my throat in the middle of the night, I'll tie you up, and carry you all the way to Tronovia. Do we understand one another?"

I pout, "Do you not trust me?"

"I trust you as much as I trust a rattlesnake."

I should be offended but I can't help but laugh, which puts a warm smile on his face.

"Do we have a deal?" He extends his hand to me, and I shake it.

"When do we start?" I ask, cuing Nyx to hop to his feet.

"Right now."

Taking each and every opportunity to be shirtless, Nyx slips his shirt off and beckons me forward. "Hit me," he commands, slapping a palm against his toned abdominals.

"What?" I stammer. He must be joking.

He rolls his eyes and slaps his chest again. "Hit me, Shaye. Square in the chest. As hard as you can."

"I'm – I'm not going to hit you, Nyx." I glance at the others to see their reactions. Finn doesn't look like he's paying us any mind. Eris looks like a mama hen concerned her baby chicks are going to hurt each other. And Atlas watches with keen interest. Even though they meet my gaze, no one speaks against me striking Nyx.

"Go ahead," Nyx's voice is soft, reassuring. "I won't break."

"I don't want to hurt you."

Nyx lets out a hearty laugh but when he notices I'm not giggling with him, a seriousness washes over him. "Were you being serious?" he asks, and I slam my hands on my hips.

"Yes, I'm being serious! I don't want to hit you and I certainly don't want to hurt you."

"First of all," he holds up one finger, "if you're going to learn how to defend yourself in hand-to-hand combat, you'll need to take a swing at me. And two," he points to his chest, "you can't hurt me. You already stabbed me and there's no scar to ever prove you got the drop on me." He smiles and motions me forward. "So, hit me."

He says I can't hurt him, but I know from talking with the others that even though Nyx has regeneration magic, making him damn near invincible, he does, in fact, feel pain. When I stabbed him in Midori, he felt my blade plunge into his chest, he felt his skin and muscles tear, he felt the hot blood ooze out of the wound. So, I know I can hurt him. I just can't kill him. Or, at least, I don't think I can kill him. I'm not sure what could actually end Nyx's life and I find the thought of him meeting his end forms a lump in my throat.

"Shaye?" Nyx's voice slices through my thoughts, bringing me back to the moment.

Even though I don't want to strike him, he's right. I need to learn self-defense and hand-to-hand combat if I want to survive another encounter with the Soul Eaters. So, I spread my legs shoulders-width apart, knowing I've seen the brothers start their training sessions this way. I put up two fists and cock back. With every bit of strength I have, I punch Nyx's chest, but he doesn't move an inch. He doesn't even flinch or groan at the contact.

"Did I do it wrong?" I flick my hand, my knuckles and wrist already aching from the impact.

Nyx shakes his head. "You didn't do it wrong, per se. You just don't know how to use your power."

"I can't control my magic," I fuss, running my fingers through my hair. "Tonight, I was able to use it because I thought Atlas was going to die."

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