Page 107 of Rising Out of the Darkness
“For your first attempts, you’re actually doing quite well, Freckles.”
I snorted so loud at his statement, a few birds fled their perches from the trees above.
Killian nudged his shoulder against mine. “In all seriousness, Elena, when I first started, I zephyred myself into the ocean … multiple times.”
Folding my arms across my chest, I shook my head at the improbability of that story.
“He speaks the truth, little lady.” Liam dropped down on the other side of me. “Declan and I oversaw his training after he joined the guards after his Ascension. Don’t think I’ve ever seen anything flop around so much in the water…well, besides the fish.”
“I couldn’t swim!” Killian shoved Liam’s shoulder behind me.
“Ahh, yes. The flailing arms and gurgling sounds make more sense now.”
Giggles bubbled up to the surface, so much that my hand couldn’t smother them all. Liam patted my knee. “The point is, Elena, he eventually got the hang of it… floundering and all.”
“Yeah, and I learned how to swim.” Killian laughed out loud this time.
“Oh, don’t act like it was easy for you to learn either, Liam Hart.” A dark purr came from behind us. Nayla strolled over to us.
“I—I never said?—”
“The memories are flooding back from when we started practicing. Yes, I can see it clearly now?—”
“Woman…” he threatened with a growl.
“You zephyred yourself into the side of the cliff so hard that you knocked yourself out.” Her sly lips twisted up as Liam’s mouth fell open. “I remember having to drag you by your feet towards the ocean and toss you in just to wake you up.”
Dark chestnut eyes glared at Nayla, who was biting her lip to contain the mirth. Killian and I were already rolling on the ground with glee as a wave of freezing water splashed over us.
“Liam!” I shrieked.
“Woman! That was supposed to stay between us,” he grunted.
Nayla beamed down at me. “Elena needed to know that everyone struggles in the beginning, even you.”
He rolled his eyes at Nayla but gave me a pat on my shoulder. “Well, did it help? Are you ready to try again, little lady?”
My shoulders slumped at Liam’s words. “Zephyring was my first thought to try because it’s the closest to my father’s Tempest power, which I already seem to be using. However, each time I try, it feels like there’s some missing piece. The more frustrated I become, the more my dynamis fizzles out.”
“There lies your problem, Freckles.” Killian lifted me up from the ground and placed my palm facing upwards in his. “As you now know, emotions are the force behind our power. The stronger the emotion, the stronger the power.”
“Yes, I understand that?—”
“Do you?” he interrupted. Killian hadn’t used that tone since that day they collected me from my town. The gruffness in his words silenced me. “Just close your eyes, Lena. You wouldn’t want Declan to find out you refused our training, would you?” Killian’s grin spread wide, and snickers rumbled from beside me.
My lips pinched together, but my glare fizzled away as I did what I was told. Mostly because I didn’t want Declan to return and find out he’d been right, I really couldn’t take orders. With a harrumph, I slammed my eyes shut.
“Good job, Freckles. Now, I want you to choose one emotion, one single feeling, and hold onto it with everything you have. Pretend you are its captain and it’s your young and sassy guard you must put in their place.”
Peeking an eyelid open, I saw him smirk. I elbowed him in the gut and closed my eyes once more at the sound of his groan.
“Seriously, Elena, you’re in control, you’re the boss and only you can tell your dynamis what to do. If you don’t believe in it, then it will not believe in you. Remember what Declan taught you in the library. Find that emotion and hold onto it.”
I peeked once more as Killian beamed next to me, like he had just given me the key to unlock all the wonders of this kingdom. Hells, if mastering my power was as simple as he’d just made it sound, then there wouldn’t be water sloshing between my socks and boots. Closing my eyes once more, I tried to focus, searching for an emotion to hold onto.
The familiar splash of rocks against water arose from behind me, as well as the realization I must have been lost in thought. Amusement grew within me as I watched the stoic captains before me engaged in a battle of “who can skip the rock the farthest.”
“You cheated!” Liam snarled.
