Chapter 145

[ 1,390 words ]

She’s my mate

145: 145.

She’s my mate Aria

Steel shrieks against steel, sparking as the blades slice against each other.

The sound echoes through the arena.

Fire shoots past my face and I side step, tossing out a while of flames at my attacker.

The hair on the back of my neck rises.

I duck beneath a slashing strike, pivot on my heel, and snap my hand upward blocking the strike of the second.

The smile is wiped from my face when my world topples sideways and I hit the ground.

A fucking foot swipe.

Figures.

I slam my hand on the ground conjuring flames spikes that shoot up, making my opponent jump back.

He retaliates by slicing through my fire with his blades.

The open he creates is enough to launch him through.

I roll to get away but it only get a few inches before I knock into a wall of dirt.

Cornered.

Rock blows his whistle.

“Great job boys. Aria, on your feet. We’re gonna try this again.”

A hand is offered to me and I take it getting onto my feet.

“If I didn’t know you liked me I would be seriously considering kicking your ass right now.”

“As if you could,” Rick chuckles.

We take our starting positions.

I have to admit, most of the warriors are picking up using their new claws.

A few have even taught me a few tricks.

Around me warriors are paired in teams learning to work together like a well oiled machine, switching partners frequently so they can combine different styles, techniques and the new weapon abilities.

“Attack,” Rick shouts.

The young warrior to my left grins despite his heavy breathing and lunges back into position.

He moves faster then I can react, digging his metal claws into the earth and making a twisting motion.

The earth beneath my feet caves in.

Instead of fighting it, I drop with it, tucking and rolling backwards into a kick.

When my leg makes contact, I know I made the right choice.

Dragging myself out I suck and weave through the flurry of punches, taking every pitless punch in stride.

I’m getting used to the pain now and I appreciate that these young warriors don’t hold back.

The air smells of hot metal, ash, and damp rock.

My wolf prowls beneath my skin.

They’re stronger than last moon.

And the young one is fast.

Proving my point pain explodes in my jaw and I go down as I’m clipped by a stiff jab.

My head spins as he takes his opportunity to mount me.

I pull my blade up at the last second holding it against his throat.

We stare at each other, breathing hard before he dips his chin and gets up, offering a hand.

“Shit, earth was a good choice for you,” I admit.

“Thanks,” he says with an easy smile.

We go to grab drinks and I take the time to look out at the grounds to watch the progress of the others

Rick stands at the far end of the grounds with another group gathered around him, demonstrating how to brace their stance before channeling earth through their claws.

I clap my hands once, getting the attention of the warriors manipulating fire.

“Everyone, eyes on me!” The chatter dies immediately.

“You’ve been doing well. I can see that some of you have already started excelling at using your fire in combination with your fighting. Others are about having a bit of a harder time. These claws aren’t like knives or arrows, they aren’t just tools,” I say.

“They’re an extension of your instincts, and your motivation.”

One of the younger warriors raises his hand.

“So… they have minds of their own?”

A few people snicker.

“No,” I answer with a smile.

“But your emotions, your fears, your doubts, your insecurities will hold you back. Call to it like to call to your determination, see what you want to happen in your mind and use them as an extension of that will.”

I see a few head nods.

“I want you to make two person pairs, one with control on struggling. Help each other.”

The arena erupts into motion again as they take position with new people.

Kade is working with Dex in the center.

Dex might be a phenomenal fighter but for some reason he’s holding himself back and that’s blocking his fire.

It makes sense, that male does not emote, my wolf says.

I think of the toxic loop he and Felix have been in mostly because he can’t bring himself to choose him and it makes sense.

Emotional blockage is a sure fire way to stop the fire from working.

I hope Kade can help him get over this before the battle.

I weave between pairs, correcting foot placement, redirecting elbows, and knocking aside reckless attacks before they can connect.

Moving between training and teaching has led to tireless days but the count down in my head keeps me going.

One week.

Across the arena, Rick slams his claws into the ground.

Stone ripples outward like water.A ring of waist-high pillars rises around him creating a cage for him and his opponent.

“The only way to get out is to fight your way to freedom,” Rick says.

“You sure you want to do this old man,” Liam says.

A crowd gathers around to watch this match.

Liam moves the earth like a natural, creating complex landings he scales and uses to create different angles, but no matter how he attacks, Rick is always able to block him.

The battle is fast and explosive and from the smile on his face he approves.

“This is what earth is,” Rick says.

“Decisive and spontaneous.”

Rick and Liam strike and kick and punch, earth breaking against earth.

Then there is a shift in Liam and suddenly he is moving like wind through the trees.

Fast, sharper, more vicious he strikes, pushing Rick back until the cage crumbles around them.

Rick laughs maniacally, his belly moving with the effort.

“No, that is what I call a battle.”

A murmur passes through them.

I’m even surprised at the strength of my brother.

A true warrior.

It is why the assembly needed to get rid of the hybrids, even five would have turned the tides dramatically, my wolf assesses.

“Rick stands and dust off his shirt.

“Alright you lazy pups, element drills, now.”

Excitement immediately replaces exhaustion at the chance to put the elements against each other.

Rick comes to stand by me.

“Choose three representatives from each side. We’ll go through until everyone has a turn.”

Ronan takes his place opposite Cobalt, Barric stands opposite Sigrid and Elliot and Liam give each other a look that can only be described as rivalry.

“And so it begins,” murmurs.

“It will be good for them. Win or lose, sparing is the fastest way to improve,” Rick crosses his arms.

Everyone stands back against the putter edges of the sparing grounds.

Rick sticks two fingers in his mouth and whistles.

The males spring into action setting the rotation into motion.

The rest of the day is a blur of taking notes and testing skills and growth.

We keep going until half before dinner, giving everyone time to go and bathe the dirt and blood and grime off before we attack the food like the starving animals we are.

Liam takes a seat in front of me in the mess hall, putting down his plate.

“You did well today.”

“yeah but I still got knocked off my feet.”

He shrugs.

“Most of the warriors here have been training since they were children.

They should have a physical advantage over you if they are taking it seriously.

But you have your fire.

It evens out the playing field.”

“Stop blowing smoke up my ass,” I say, taking an agitated bite out of my roast.

“I’m not. You’ve barely been training for four months. It’s impressive how far you’ve come.”

Warmth spreads through my chest.

“I’ll take it,” I look into his eyes feeling closer to him than I have in a long time.

“So are you ready for Hazel to leave?”

He frowns pushing around the food on his plate.

“Don’t have a choice do I?”

I reach across the table and place my hand over his.

“She’ll be okay.

Ransom and her have been surviving that place together since before we knew them.

We have to trust that they know what they are doing.”

“Saying I understand and watching her go are two different things.”

“Such a male,” I chastise.

He snorts, looking down at his plate.

When he meets my eyes again I see the first trace of fear lying in them.

“She’s my mate,” he admits.

“What if something happens to her?

What if I can’t get to her in time?”

“You will,” I say with a fierceness that surprises me.

“And she will do everything to get back to you.”

A look of resignation filters through his face.

“You’re right.”

“Wow, did that hurt?” I tease.

“Immensely,” he deadpans.

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