Author: Raven Steele
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then realized the heart monitor was still going off.

“Get this stupid thing off me,” I cried as I tried to tear it from my wrist.

Very gently, Christian turned over my wrist and pushed a button on the side of the monitor, silencing it. “What happened?”

“I—” I began, but stopped. “You need to teach me to fight, and not the normal shit I’ve been doing. I need the upgraded version with all the perks.” I stepped away from him.

Instead of answering, he took me by the hand and guided me into the living room.

“Before we do anything else, I want you to sit down and tell me what happened.”

“You mean what’s been happening.” I sucked in a deep breath and collapsed into the sofa.

Christian sat opposite me. In a calm, but strained voice, he said, “Please explain.”

I hesitated, but only for a moment. I thought I’d be able to handle everything. I thought I was stronger. Obviously, I wasn’t.

I couldn’t look him in the eyes as I told him all that had happened, beginning with the dead mouse in my back pack. In fact, I avoided looking at him all together. His bare knee became my focal point. When I finished telling him what had happened tonight, his hands had clenched into fists.

“So you see, I have to learn what you know and fast,” I whispered. “I don’t want to be scared anymore.”

He was silent for several moments, then, “This is all my fault. It’s my job to protect you, and I’ve failed. I will call the Council in the morning and have someone else assigned to you.”

I looked up at him, aghast. “You can’t be serious! You haven’t failed.”

He shook his head. “But I have. I should’ve been watching your house longer. I should’ve set up a tighter security system. I shouldn’t have been such a moron!”

“You installed a security system?”

“Just on the doors and windows.”

“When?”

“Before you moved in.”

“I thought it was from the old owners. I didn’t know it actually worked.”

“Obviously it doesn’t—not how it should anyway. I had no idea a Vyken could get to you like that.” He visibly shuddered. “I’ll need to report this. Other guardians should know.”

“No. You can’t! If you do, Sophie will tell Jake, and they’ll all force me to leave. I’m not leaving. There’s only a few months left of school.”

“School isn’t important. Your life is.”

“This isn’t about school. It’s about not running. You said you’d teach me. I did what you asked and even wore your lame beeping machine. And I think I got pretty good at it.”

“Except for tonight.”

“Well, yeah. I was touched by something inhuman. Who wouldn’t freak out?”

“I’ll admit you’ve gotten better. And what you’ve been able to do with your fighting has far surpassed what I thought you were capable of, to the point where it’s a little unnerving.”

“Why?”

“Because Auras supposedly aren’t capable of fighting. And even if they were, the Council doesn’t allow it. If they found out, you and I would be in a lot of trouble.”

“What is so wrong with me trying to defend myself?”

“Because you weren’t meant to fight.”

“Who knows what I’m meant for? Is my destiny already written somewhere?”

His shoulders sagged. “Look, I’m not saying I agree with it. I’m just telling you what I’ve been taught.”

“If you don’t agree, then teach me.” I tried to keep from yelling, but I could hear my voice losing control.

After a moment, he said, “Fine. We’ll start tomorrow. You can stay here tonight.”

The dark cloud above me lifted. “Really? Won’t your dad care?”

“He’s at the same convention as Jake.” He stood. “Come on. I’ll show you to the guest bedroom.”

My legs felt like bricks as I made my way up the stairs. If it wasn’t for Christian’s hand on my back, encouraging me forward, I might not have made it. But no matter how tired I was, I was still afraid to be alone.

“Is something wrong?” Christian asked, when I remained in the doorway to the bedroom.

“I don’t mean anything by it, but could you stay with me?”

He smiled kindly. “I’d love to.”

After I changed and slid into bed, Christian shut off the lights and laid down next to me. His arm came around my shoulder, and I could feel his warm breath against the back of my neck. It was the most comforting feeling in the world.

My mind began to drift, but before I wandered too far into dreamland, Christian whispered to me, “I’ll get him, Llona. I promise.”

Chapter 31

“All of our lessons will start with a fifteen-minute yoga session,” Christian began.

“Really? Yoga?” We were in Christian’s basement, which had been converted into a miniature basketball court/training room. The giant room was every teenager’s dream, and I could tell by the worn mats that it was used frequently.

“Yoga will get you in the right frame of mind. Everything I teach you will require you to be calm and collected. Do you think you can handle that?”

“Bring it on, Master.” I crouched low into the eagle pose.

Christian was right about yoga. After just a few days of training, I was already more focused. Yoga helped me become more at one with Light giving me added strength and agility despite the moon’s cycle. This was a new feeling and gave me much-needed confidence.

Although I was learning a lot during the day, nighttime was still difficult. I was often anxious, almost to the point of hyperventilating. Christian had installed a more sophisticated security system surrounding the perimeter of our home. He also promised to watch our house throughout the night. I refused, as I couldn’t see how he could maintain school, too, but he assured me it was what he was trained to do.

My clock flipped to 3:00 a.m. I sat up straight, breathing hard from a lingering nightmare. I slipped out of bed and moved to the window, which had recently been stripped of the black paint. Christian thought it would help my anxiety if I could see him outside not far away.

I looked out the window and smiled. Sitting in his usual spot, half way up the hill was Christian, a blanket wrapped around him. The light from the moon encased every part of his tensed body as he stared in the direction of my house. His eyebrows were pulled so tightly together, they shadowed his eyes.

I moved the curtain back until I found the recently installed security keypad. I pushed a few buttons and a green light appeared. As quietly as possible, I opened the window and began to climb out. Christian was by my side before my bare feet could touch the cold ground.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I just wanted to see you.”

He shook his head. “You need to stay inside.” His face was pale making the dark circles under his eyes stand out like a raccoon’s.

“You can’t keep doing this,” I said.

“Doing what?”

“Watching my house like this. You’re going to collapse.”

He forced a grin. “I’ll be fine. The last thing you should worry about is me.”

I lifted my gaze to his. “Impossible.”

“Go back inside.”

"Give me your hand first.”

“What?”

“Just do it. Please?”

He held out his hand. I gently closed my palm over his, shut my eyes and concentrated. In a matter of seconds, warm light ignited between us. I transferred what I could without making myself too weak in the process.

I opened my eyes and dropped his hand from mine. “How do you feel?”

He searched my eyes with a look of wonderment. ”Better.”

“Good. I’m not sure how long it will last though.”

“What did you do?”

“Gave you some of my Light.”

He creased his forehead. “But won’t that make you weak?”

“A little, but you needed it more than me.”

He stepped back—away from me. “Don’t ever do that again.”

“Christian?”

“Go back inside, Llona.”

“I was just trying to help.”

“I know, but I don’t need it.”