Page 73 of Son of a Witch

Tor explained that his therapist did exercises with him to retrain his muscles and build his lost vigor from lack of weight and strength training or participating in routine Guardian exercises.

“Twenty percent?” That sounded like a lot. I didn’t voice it. Didn’t want to reinforce his despondency.

Tor gave a hard shove of the wheel to push his chair. “Yeah, from not lifting weights in weeks.”

Three weeks to the day. The physiotherapist had him on light gym activities. Rowing with his arms. Winding in circles like his feet would peddle a bike. Arm stretches and various movements to keep his muscles active. They also did other activities to prevent his leg muscles from wasting away.

Three long fucking weeks that Tor slipped from me. Since Raze left. The crack in my heart widened, and I stuffed down my whimper. I had two phone calls from my wolf in that time and I was both thankful and lucky for that.

I pulled myself together. This was Tor’s time. Later, I’d cry in my cell or in the shower block like I had every morning for the first two weeks after Raze left.

We rounded the last corner and my queasiness reached fever pitch. Gloomy thoughts sprung to mind. What if Tor hated this? What if it worsened his depression? Sourness rose from my stomach to my throat and twisted my hands.

Tor stopped at the doorway, frowning at the darkened windows. “Are we walking into a trap? Another beat down?”

My poor man had been the target of bullies and experienced his fair share of shakedowns. Pascal, too. Recently we were all targeted by guards and prisoners alike, seeking to claim the green light bounty Slash established.

I laughed nervously. “Don’t be silly. Selena called an afternoon training session.”

The excuse I gave to get him here.

Tor gazed up at me. “With darkened windows?”

Before he spoiled the surprise, I grabbed the handles of his chair and pushed him through the security check, and it beeped, scanning for weapons.

“Enter.” A robotic voice granted us access as the training door unlocked.

Tor reached back to massage my hand. “Ah, glad to know you’d push me into danger to save yourself, Supergal.”

“What are Candy Girl girlfriends for?” I leaned down to play with his hair, which had grown out a little, giving him a sexy, scruffy look.

Tor’s cobalt gaze panned the room, taking in all the decorations. Fairy lights dripped from the lockers, serving to provide a dim light. Dark material hanging on the back wall. The scenery Knoxe, Pascal, and I painted of the Nightshade realm from Captain Victorius. Thorny branches grew out of the soil. Red eyes of monsters glaring from the gloom. Giant claws reaching out to capture us.

“What’s all this?” Tor wheeled over to the wall to stroke the dark feathers of a beast.

I slipped out my cell phone—a rare treat afforded prisoners, minus the sim card connecting us to the outside world—and played the game scenario I pre-recorded.

“This is where Captain Victorius defeats Nightmare.” My voice came out sounding like a voice-over in a movie. “Nightmare killed the captain’s love interest, Zestia, and Victorius won’t stop until he hunts that bastard down.”

Tor flashed me a halfhearted smile.

“Your mission, should you decide to accept it.” My voiceover paused for dramatic effect. “Is to track and capture Nightmare and end him for stealing the most treasured jewel in Victorius’ life.”

Tor smiled up at me, amused. “I accept.”

Yes! Winning.

The knot in my sour stomach loosened.

“I accept too.” I swept my hands over his strong shoulders.

My voice-over continued after the brief pause. “Get your superhero costume on, your weapons at the ready, because the latest intel places Nightmare on his home planet of Nightshade.”

Tor rubbed his palms together and my chest warmed.

I clasped his hand, tugging him over to my locker to retrieve our costumes and plastic weapons.

Tor lifted his garment, inspecting it. A silly-looking Batman outfit, complete with a mask, muscled chest piece, detachable cape, and tights. Not that he needed help with the chest piece when he was perfection with his sculpted muscles.

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