He grinned. “I wouldn’t dare manipulateyou, love. But you do need to stop avoiding this.”
I hated how right he was. I was getting better with my magic every day. More than a week had passed since I’d found the caterpillar in the forest. Just as Krew had suspected, the king hadn’t really been that mad about their kin bond, just pouty they hadn’t told him. We’d all even managed to survive another ball around everything else going on.
And though I was still using my magic and training with Owen daily, the area I had been avoiding was combining my magic with Krew’s. So Owen had arranged a training session for just me and Krew.
Krew turned to me and took my palm, lifting it to brush a kiss across it. “Owen may have let it slip you are afraid to disappoint me while you figure out how to wield your magic.” He paused. “It’s not possible for you to disappoint me, Jorah. It took me years to be able to control my magic, and then years to strengthen it. You are already leaps and bounds ahead of where I was after my magic settled.”
I closed my eyes for a moment. “I know, but I also just want to feel worthy of this power. I don’t want to merely walk around with the knowledge that I can protect myself, I want to heal the forest. And when it comes down to it, if touching me keeps your father from being able to use his magic on you, then I want to be there when you face him.”
“Okay.”
I squinted again. “Okay? That’s it, justokay?” Under my breath, I added, “I was expecting way more of a fight.”
“Okay,” he repeated. “I wouldn’t want you to face him alone either. I get it. I don’tlikeit, but I get it. And I cannot deny what you can provide for us in being immune to magic both on your person and with your touch.” He paused. “But if you are going to help me take him down, we need to practice combining our magic.”
I tipped my head back to look at the stars, knowing he was right.
“If you are going to be there, I am going to need to keep my wits and not panic when he goes anywhere near you. Once he learns we are bonded, I fear you’ll likely be there whether I want you there or not. Practicing with me like you do with Owen, holding nothing back, will help with that. Seeing what our magic can do, the different ways we combine it, will help with that.”
I let out a sigh. “Fine. Let’s get started.”
“Owen says he always starts out with chucking random objects at you. Let’s start there and then work on the combining.”
“Fine.”
Before I even had time to think, a branch was headed for me. But because Krew was nicer than Owen was, at least it wasn’t coming directly at my head.
I flicked it away with a breeze, and then picked up a rock to send at him.
We were timid at first, throwing a small twig, a rock here and there, but then somewhere in the middle, we both got slightly competitive, and things picked up.
Krew stopped flirting with me to concentrate and that’s when I truly understood how strong and disciplined Krew was with his magic. How quick he could envision things and make them happen.
As I ducked from another branch, just to blow away more rocks, I considered that Krew might not have ever done this against someone who was his full equal before. I knew he was more disciplined, but was Krew truly stronger than Keir? I might be stronger than Keir now too for that matter, but I didn’t think for even half a moment I was nearly as fast.
So I moved toward him, just like I had with Owen and the wooden swords, making it seem like I was barely keeping up.
As soon as I was close enough and Krew was facing the correct direction, I released my magic into a rope and swung around it to land behind him.
He must have felt my change in direction through the bond because he somehow knew and spun around.
I hadn’t really wanted to kick him like I did with Owen, I’d just wanted to land behind him for a surprise attack, but now I was committed.
But instead of letting me kick him, in a move faster than humanly possible, Krew stepped toward me, caught me, and physically lifted me from the rope. I was now straddling him, in his arms, and definitely not behind him. My feet were also nowhere near the ground. This was the worst surprise attack in the history of surprise attacks.
Krew smirked as he made no effort to put me down. “Was this what you were going for, love?”
I gave my head a shake. “No. I was able to kick Owen to the ground when I did it to him.” I smirked. “But he also can’t feel if I change directions.”
“I’m curious how you’re going to get out of this one.”
He turned and moved so my back was to the tree and began slowly letting me down. Seeing his skin with a slight glow to it, the gentle care he took with me, the way he had just been walking while carrying me, it was all entirely enticing.
“Jorah,” Krew warned.
“What?”
“Stop feeling what you’re feeling right now. We’re supposed to be practicing magic.”
