Chapter 51

Gray

“This honestly isn’t fair,” Onyx grumbled about being paired off against Chrome and me. Chrome tilted his head to crack the stiff joints in his neck. “Just think of it as a growth opportunity.”

Onyx deadpanned, dropping his arms by his sides from his stretch. He huffed. “Whatever. We’ll kick both your asses. Right, River?”

River rolled her eyes before dropping down to grab her ankles to stretch her hamstrings. “If I don’t have to carry your ass through, then yes.”

I was still hurt by the information Chrome skirted around telling me back in his room. Betrayal stung deep by the possibility of one of my friends turning against me. In all honesty, it seemed very plausible that it was one of them.

But what had me most upset was Chrome withholding that information from me. I appreciated that he wanted to protect me, but I wasn’t a child.

Despite being pissed at Chrome, even after the world-shattering night and morning we had, I felt this was a great opportunity to test our enhanced bond. It would also serve as us standing in solidarity with the rest of the Hollow. I needed to earn their trust and respect. I didn’t just need to; I wanted to because I really liked it here. It felt more like a home than the King’s Palace ever had.

With Chrome standing beside me, we fell into offensive stances. I eyed River while Chrome’s feline lethality faced off with Onyx.

I’d shut off Chrome’s connection to me through our bond, but now, I wanted to see what it was capable of in the midst of a fight.

Even though I’d made a lot of progress in combining my two abilities, neither one of us had been able to mimic what Chrome had done to me on the day that I almost depleted Orion. We’d tried. Based on what he felt compelled to do, Chrome’s theory was that it was my soul’s way of calling out to him as a failsafe. And it most likely worked the other way around, too. We just hadn’t fully figured it out yet, although the theory was strong.

With a simple thought, I lifted the mental barrier I’d placed over the tether. Warring emotions slammed into me that weren’t my own, and the chord connecting us hummed with the usual tug. I gave it a moment to settle, focused on his excitement for the fight and the thrill of violence, and let it swim through my bloodstream as it mingled with my own drive.

Like before, I could feel him beside me, almost like an extension of my soul. It was so odd to be connected to someone on this level. It would definitely take time to adjust, but I couldn’t help but imagine how beneficial this could be in a fight.

We all wielded human-made swords, the non-lethal type. So, we would, indeed, be inflicting pain without the threat of being poisoned by redfern or black-crystal blades. A lot of blood would be shed between us.

I spun the pommel in my hand, getting used to its weight as I prowled toward River, remembering all her weaknesses—not that she had many. Like all of us, she had them, they were just harder to get to.

Chrome sauntered toward Onyx, his double-edged sword hanging casually at his side. Instead of two blades glowing orange, this sword had one blue and one orange. His gait was relaxed but coiled tight with an intensity that I channeled for myself.

My lower stomach clenched all over again to see him so deadly, violent, and confident. Remembering all the ways he touched me with those lethal hands…

River stalked toward me as she seemingly mentally planned out her line of attack. It didn’t take long before she lunged. I raised my sword to clash against hers, steel ringing out across the training fields. River’s violet eyes glinted with a ferocity that matched my own, and I loved it.

In my peripheral, I noticed a crowd beginning to form around us as the Elementals in the Hollow wanted to see their rightful leaders in action.

I shoved River back a step, but then she swiftly swerved around the kick I aimed at her side. In the same fluid motion, she swiped her sword in a horizontal arc. It came an inch from slicing across my abdomen. I lurched back.

An air shield would protect me from taking any hits, but it would also prevent me from making any either.

I summoned my air to pull the knives from my weapons belt as a whip made of water coiled around my ankle. Just as the whip jerked my foot out from beneath me, I managed to get a knife free and launched it at River.

The knife sailed the short distance between us, embedding in her thigh. The water around my ankle began to freeze to my skin. I sent a gust at River, knocking her airborne and onto her back.

The ice freezing my foot to the ground began to melt, so I stabbed it three rapid times with a knife, breaking free.

The clash of swords to my left drew my attention to Chrome and Onyx dueling with one another with magic and weapons alike in a whirl of orange and silver currents blurring together. They spun around one another with their swords in a violent dance, making it obvious they trained together more frequently than not.

River jumped to her feet. I sprinted at her, wrapping an arm around her and tackling her hard, dropping my sword in the process. I scrambled to straddle and secure her in a pin. The glint of metal reflected off the sunlight in her hand. She speared me with a look of pure focus, a knife in her fist.

A piercing pain shot through my diaphragm from the punch she landed in my ribs. I gritted my teeth and took a second hit just as I summoned a dagger to my palm. I jabbed it into the space between her chest and shoulder.

An agonized scream ripped through the training field. Knowing she could heal once the blade was removed, I summoned my Kinetic magic, preparing to send a shock to her limp arm.

She turned her focus on Chrome, who stood locked sword to sword with Onyx. Chrome was pushing Onyx back, and it was obvious Onyx wouldn’t last much longer as he gave Chrome another inch.

Chrome growled, his teeth bared, and his face contorted in pain as he withstood the invisible magic of Onyx’s thermal Kinetic ability.

Within a split second, River threw the knife she held with her uninjured arm. And with Chrome fully distracted, he didn’t sense the metal blade flying toward him until it had already sunk into his side. It cost him as he instinctively protected the wound, exposing his other side and weakening his grip on Onyx.

Onyx kicked him in the gut while ratcheting up the intensity of the heat he inflicted on Chrome’s insides. Chrome’s nostrils flared, and his molten eyes swirled dangerously. I faced River again, punching her with an electrified fist in the jaw and then using my air to lodge another knife in her side.

“Sorry…” I muttered before jumping from her torso. I sensed Chrome, and I spun, finding him on his knees.

Oh, fuck that. He kneels for no one.

I launched an electrical blast at Onyx’s back that locked him up as the volts ran through his body. With my air, I sent my fallen sword sailing to Chrome’s already open and outstretched palm. He’d felt my next move and was ready to catch it to run it through Onyx’s gut.

Even knowing that we could heal rather quickly, it still turned my stomach to see people I cared about wounded in such brutal ways.

Chrome rose to his feet, pulling the sword free immediately, bracing his shoulder under Onyx’s arm. Blood pooled from his mouth as he wheezed for air. “Fuck…” he rasped.

I whirled around to find River sitting up, wincing as she pulled the knife from her side. I dropped down beside her and slid the dagger free from the juncture between her shoulder and arm.

“Shit, are you okay?” I asked, noting the paling of her dark gold skin.

River nodded, strands of black hair falling over her face. “Yeah. I’ll be good.”

I felt compelled to apologize, but this type of training was commonplace among both Kinetics and Elementals. I just hated hurting people I cared about.

Movement in my peripheral caught my attention. Everyone on the training field had congregated to witness this brutal fight between their top fighters.

Orion’s ocean eyes met mine with a prideful smile. I returned it before pulling away and finding Kodiak standing between Aella and Void. As if sensing my stare, Void made his way toward us and knelt beside River. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder. The silver double rings around his black irises shone brightly in his vacant gaze. “You did well. Looks like you listen to me after all.”

If it weren’t for River sitting there in pain, I would’ve quipped something smart-ass to him playfully, but instead, I allowed the pride I felt from his approval bloom in my chest. “Thank you. Still want your lessons, though.”

I turned to seek out Chrome and Onyx. I approached them, where they sat in the grass. Chrome glanced up to offer me a quick smile before returning to help with Onyx’s healing wound.

After training, I returned to my room, cleaned up, and headed down to see off Hogan and Dash. We’d each thanked them for their efforts and for coming to us with The Book of the Arcane. It wasn’t a gesture we overlooked.

Dash had made some quip to me about not getting chloroformed again, to which Chrome laughed out loud. I couldn’t tell if I would miss the little shit around here or not. It was up for debate.

Once the humans left and were on their way, the group and I made a beeline for the dining hall. I was fucking hungry. Now, here I sat, full and ready for a nice nap.

“You’ve been here for nearly two months, eating her food, and you’ve yet to meet my mother.” Kodiak shook his head disapprovingly before a playful smile spread wide.

I pushed away from the table, wanting to catch up on some rest after my long and active night with Chrome, followed by an intense training session this morning. Kodiak followed suit.

“Come on. You’re going to love her.” The earth Elemental grabbed my wrist and pulled me to the back of the dining hall leading to the kitchen. Pushing the swinging doors open, a mixture of delicious aromas of buttery potatoes and savory roast cascaded through my nose. If I hadn’t just eaten, Kodiak would’ve had to restrain me from raiding the place.

We continued through the vast commercial kitchen, noting the wooden spoons stirring inside pots on their own before moving the frying pans on the stove. I was confused until I remembered Kodiak having mentioned his mother was an earth Elemental like himself.

We rounded a corner and nearly collided with a short, stocky woman. A hand clutched her chest, eyes wide with surprise. “Oh! Baby, you scared the daylights outta me!”

Kodiak’s low rumble of laughter brought a playful glare onto her face, but she pulled her much larger son into her arms. “Ya think he’d want me in an early grave from the state he puts my heart in each time he scares me,” she muttered into his torso before pulling back and observing him to assure herself he was okay. “You and your sister both. Little heathens, I tell you.”

“But you’d be bored without us.” A sly smirk on his face pulled a reluctant grunt from the brunette before us.

“Says you.” A sheen of sweat coated her forehead. As she blew a fallen lock of hair from her eye, a kind, suntanned face was revealed. Her skin and vibrant azure eyes stood out beautifully with the dark hair she’d pulled into a loose, intricate knot at the back of her head.

As if she had just noticed my presence, her eyes widened along with her smile. “Oh, my! It’s…”

“Princess Gray Monroe,” Kodiak finished for her. “Thought you two needed to meet. Meet my mother, Katia.”

“It’s just Gray. No need for the formalities, ma’am.”

Tears welled in Katia’s eyes, and her bottom lip trembled before she jolted forward, wrapping her arms around my neck and tugging me flush against her chest. “You have no idea how long I’ve waited for you to find your way home, my dear.” The embrace was something I always imagined a mother’s would feel like. It was something I’d never experienced, making me long for more of it while squirming on the inside simultaneously. She pulled back and held me at arm’s length. “Thank you for being here,” she whispered as her eyes roamed over my face. “You look just like her. So beautiful.”

Heat crept up my neck and cheeks. I ducked my head down to try and hide my reaction. “Thank you,” I said, clearing my throat. Uncomfortable from the attention, I added, “So, I hear you’re responsible for the fantastic food around here. In my opinion, you deserve to run this place. I’m sure Chrome doesn’t hold a candle to your delegation skills.”

Katia swatted away my compliment. “Oh, stop it. My son must’ve put you up to that. I only do what I can to contribute around here.”

“Not at all,” I assured her, chuckling. “The food is much tastier than at the King’s Palace. Theirs is good but lacks flavor.”

Katia’s chest puffed out. “Well, of course, dear,” she said, trying to stifle her pride. “They lack any semblance of a heart.”

I grinned. “Those were my exact thoughts when I had my first meal here.”

Katia squinted at me, slight wrinkles forming on her forehead. “How are you replenishing, dear?”

Taken aback by the subject change, I stuttered and looked to Kodiak.

“It’s a learning process for her, but she’s taking it easy,” the Warrior General provided.

His mother nodded as if it confirmed whatever suspicions she had and dug in the front pockets of her loose pants. “Take this, Princess. Come to me whenever you get low.”

A small tin can pressed into my palm. Its round shape clutched easily in my fist. “What is it?”

“Mushweed,” Katia said. “It’s an herb that helps replenish you when you’re unable to do it from an aura. We all know the risks of going too far, so we hold onto Mushweed as a security blanket to avoid depleting if we get too low on our reserves.”

I stared at the tin can, amazed and relieved that this existed, wondering why no one has mentioned this to me until now. “Is this a new development?”

“Oh, gods no. This has been a well-kept secret for millennia, going back as far as when we lived in villages and little clans.”

“Do the Kinetics know this exists?”

“No. And we’d like to keep it that way. It’s a minor advantage we hold in the grand scheme of the war.” Katia’s tone took on a hint of warning.

I nodded. “Understood.”

The double doors we’d entered through swung open and slammed hard into the wall. Kodiak and I spun to find River’s rigid posture with twin Elemental blades in her fists. “The Hollow is under attack. Forest found us.”Kodiak was moving before she finished, brushing past her. “Let’s go.” Gone was the quiet teddy bear; in his place stood the Elemental Warrior General, ready to protect his home.

I moved to follow him but remembered Katia. I turned to find her right on our heels.

“I’m coming,” Katia insisted, her kind demeanor wiped clean as fierce determination glinted in her eyes. “My son and daughter fight, so I fight with them. A mother protects her own.”

A tightness welled up in my throat, and I simply nodded again.

“Come.” Katia grabbed my arm, and River joined us in our hurried rush from the dining hall.

On the other side of the wall window, a battle raged on between Kinetics and Elementals. Magic and weapons flared to life in the dying sun. I ached to join, but River and Katia were going in the opposite direction toward the front of the lodge. “Where are we going? We need to be out there!”

“Weapons! Extra weapons. It was a surprise attack, so some weren’t prepared and will be depleted on their reserves if they don’t get weapons in time. We need to grab some extra antidotes, too, just in case,” River rushed out as we weaved through the lodge and made it through the front doors.

The battle raged out front, too. The Kinetic Warrior Guild had us surrounded. I raised my hand to launch an air attack, but River snatched it down. “Not yet. Save it.”

My hand itched to let something fly—anything.

We sprinted to the training facility and stocked up on various blades and syringes of antidotes. It wouldn’t be enough for everyone, but these extra supplies could spare a few lives.

Fury lit an inferno in my chest. As long as my father was alive, he’d never let me live in peace. He wanted the Elementals gone for the sole purpose that he knew they were the only ones who could stop him in his quest for power. So many innocent people had died because of him. The asshole had an entire race of people brainwashed to do his bidding.

Elementals were nothing like he’d taught me growing up. I would protect them in any way I could. I was meant to be their leader, and I’d show him tonight that he fucked up by creating me.

Shoving daggers and knives into my pockets, I grabbed four swords. Two went into the holster at my back in the shape of an X while I held onto the other two. River barely contained her rage with her curled lip and sharp expression. Kodiak remained silent as he finished strapping blades in holsters along the Elemental tattoos marking his thick arms. Sweet Katia transformed into a fearsome warrior with not a shred of fear in her eyes.

Without a word, we dashed back outside into the melee, hoping we weren’t running into devastation.