Nik nodded. “But you need to shut it off, baby—”
“I don’t know how.”
“Yes, you can,” he encouraged. “Imagine a vault around the place where this energy stems from within you, then lock it down.”
Teeth gritted, her frantic heartbeat whooshing in her ears, Shadow shut her eyes and instantly found the churning heat deep within her. She bolted it.
Utter silence fell, followed by thuds.
She opened her eyes, dragging in huge gulps of breaths, and stared at broken branches and shattered bench parts scattered about. “Oh, crap. I’ll clean it up.”
Nik smiled and shook his head. “I’ll see to it later.”
“Wow,” one of the women said. “That was quite something to see.”
She pivoted and cautiously eyed the Guardians and the girls standing on the terrace. Her friends grinned in excitement, flashing thumbs-up signs. The guys just nodded, looking as if it was an everyday occurrence to see someone’s powers awaken.
As they all strolled into the castle again, despite her exhilaration over this new ability, worry careened through her. She wheeled back to Nik.
“What is it?” he asked softly.
“Tolvi. He said I still carry his mark. How?” she asked, eyes wide.
Nik instantly ran his palms over her body, his brow creasing. “Your powers are locked down, I can’t pick up anything, except for your symbionts’ dark energy…”
“Is it this?” She pulled down the neckline of her top, revealing a faint red tinge around the middle ruby-colored symbiont on her sternum.
He gently ran a finger over it, and his features hardened. “Has to be.”
“I’m so sorry for burdening you with this—”
He shook his head and straightened her top. “You are not a burden, agápi. You are my mate. Whatever this is, we will fight it together. We will find and get rid of the damn scourge.”
God, she hoped so.
She pressed her face into his chest, tightening her arms around him, wishing the dickwad would just vanish. She didn’t want him ruining their lives. But on the bright side, yay, at least she had a new ability.
“C’mon.” Nik ushered her inside. “You’ll need more of the potion.”
Ugh. For that alone, she wanted to kill the stupid demon.
Chapter 29
Sweat beading her brow, Shadow eyed the smirking immortal woman in front of her the following afternoon.
Why on earth was she training with this fighting machine when she could have spent some sexy, alone time with Nik before he left for work?
Because she was a masochist for aching muscles and burning lungs—
Ely charged.
Ugh. Teeth gritted, Shadow sprinted head-on toward the twin swords swinging at her, spun around at the last second, gaining momentum, and struck hard with her own dual blades, causing Ely to falter back a step. “Whoa,” she wheezed. “Well done.”
They’d been training with weapons for the last two hours. Man, the girl was too fast and darn good. Shadow just about managed to keep up with her.
“That’s it for me,” Shadow groaned, collapsing to the floor of the ginormous training arena, protected with arcane magic—just in case the warriors’ immense powers slipped—or so Ely had said. And judging by the nicks and gouges in the stone wall, yeah, it probably had many times over.
“I think you’re trying to kill me,” Ely grumbled, slumping down next to Shadow, her copper eyes bright with satisfaction.
Shadow huffed out a laugh. “As if.”
Ely set the short, twin swords on the floor next to her and swiped her damp face with the back of her paint-smeared fingers. “But you’ve definitely got a handle on this, and you’ve never used twin swords before.”
“It’s exhilarating,” Shadow agreed, snagging her energy drink next to her and gulping the sweet liquid. “I’d teach you parkour, but why would you want to learn running and leaping across building roofs when you can just flash?”
Ely grinned and unscrewed her water bottle. “As you can now, so I’ve heard.”
Shadow gently rubbed her symbionts on her sternum where they lay quiet in her chest, content for now. “Nik was supposed to help me with it today, but the day just runs away from us.” She exhaled roughly. “I have to practice summoning it faster, in case of dangerous situations.”
“I can help you with that. Tomorrow?”
“Really? Thank you.” Shadow glanced at the girl she’d once been fleetingly jealous over.
Ely was an Empyrean angel, incredibly stunning, but Shadow couldn’t understand why she’d chosen this dark job. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure. Hit me.”
Shadow set her drink down. Grimacing a little, she stretched first one arm then the other, trying to ease the throbbing in her shoulder blades. “Why here, this life?”
“You mean as a Guardian?” With a wry grimace, she sipped some of her water. “I like it. I have a purpose here. Besides, it was the only way I could stay in the realm and do what I wanted. “Another sip, then she blurted, “I search for a young.”
Caught off guard, Shadow blinked. “You gave up everything to find a child, here?”
“I didn’t give up much.” Bitter laughter escaped her. “Back home, my mother’s determination to mate me off to another who isn’t my destined, just to form an alliance, drove me to leave. My brother found his fated mate in this world, maybe I will, too. I won’t settle for less.”
Shadow nodded, recalling her own beloved sister’s torment. “Yeah, arranged marriages suck.”
Her expression troubled, Ely continued, “I came across a little boy crying in the alleyways when I searched for my brother a few years ago. I left him with some humans to aid him. I want to find him, see that he’s okay.”
“If he’s homeless, then you’re patrolling in the right place. Or he could have been found and already back with his parents.” Shadow frowned. “A few years? You do realize he’ll be older now?”
Ely’s eyebrows tipped together. “Oh, right. I hadn’t thought of that. Time moves faster for humans.” She sighed, her shoulders sagging. “No, matter, I have to find him for my peace of mind.”
At her despondency, Shadow changed the subject. “So, painting, huh?”
“What?” Ely frowned.
Shadow nodded at the evidence on her fingers wrapped around her water bottle.
“Ah, yes.” She laughed, sticking out her paint smudged digits. “I’ve always liked it. It relaxes me and gives me something else to do with my days.”
“Can I see?”
“I don’t know why you would want to put yourself through that torture, but sure.”
The door opened, distracting them, and Nik walked in, his gaze instantly connecting with hers.
Man, that look. Her face, already flushed from her workout, heated further, and she bit her lip.
“Ely,” he murmured in greeting, but his gaze remained on Shadow as he prowled closer.
“That’s my cue to leave.” Ely grinned. “See you later, Shadow.” She leaped to her feet, flashed to the far side of the room, set her swords in the rack, and dematerialized.