Page 72 of Tricky Magic
“Again,” Ros directed, and then he launched himself.
She had to use both dowels to block his blow. They crossed, and she twisted him away, but he struck with his left, smacking her in the hip. She yelped and glared at him.
“Ass.”
“Use your magic.”
They had been going for almost an hour, sparring with the dowels. He was trying to force her to use her magic while her hands were full, something she had never done and something that currently seemed impossible.
Ellea had thought she would feel different after her night with Ros. Her magic had reacted in such a strange and powerful way. But right now, she didn’t feel powerful. She felt like she had never been trained to fight or use magic.
“Again,” he ordered, and she groaned as he took long strides toward her.
She feigned left and stepped right, catching him slightly off guard and smacking him in the ribs. He pivoted and whirled on her, sweeping her dowel out of the way and striking with both of his overhead. She blocked him again, but he was so much stronger. Her arms began to shake as he pressed down on her. She gritted her teeth and roared at him. The trees shuddered. Suddenly, she felt a yank on her ankle, and her back met the ground in a hard thud. His shadows slithered away from her feet, and she stuck her tongue out at them.
“Your magic is an extension,” he said, hovering over her. “It’s a part of you, but you have to let go of it. Don’t control it, guide it.”
She glared up at him, his large form blocking the sun. It was easy for someone as ancient as him; he’d had years to master his magic, and she had never tried.
“Do you expect there to be a time where I’m in the midst of battle with two swords in my hands?” she mocked, using one of the dowels to help her stand. Her legs wobbled underneath her. There was no way this would work.
“First”—he paused to wipe dirt from her leggings—“I would pay a lot of money to see you with two swords in your hands.”
She grinned slyly at him, wishing she had the energy to do so.
“Second, I don’t know what the future holds,” he said solemnly. He placed her long braid over her shoulder and ran his callused thumb across her jaw. “All I know is I want you to be prepared.”
Ellea didn’t know how to respond to that. She could look into the future if she dared, but she already knew what awaited her. For him, though…she shook her head at the thought of it.
“You’ve shocked me before without your hands,” he said, dropping the wooden poles and placing his hands on her bare arms. “Do it again.”
“I wasn’t controlling it.” She sighed up at him and then smirked. “You were pissing me off—it was pure instinct.”
He smiled down at her with a devilish look. “Would you like me to piss you off?”
“You already are, and clearly, it isn’t—”
“Your coffee wasn’t actually that good this morning,” he interrupted. Her eyes widened at the insult as heat bloomed in her chest. Electricity radiated across her skin, and Ros yelped, jerking his hands away from her. He rubbed his fingers against each other and smiled at her.
“I’m never making you coffee.” She glared at him. “Ever again.”
“No.” He grabbed her before she could walk away. “It was a lie, please don’t say that.”
Ellea held her chin up high as she sent another wave of electricity to where Ros’ hand held her. He gritted his teeth and held on. She created a new wooden dowel out of thin air and whacked him in the shin. He yelped but held on, and when she went to hit him again, his shadows wrapped around it, halting it.
“Dammit,” she cursed at his grinning face.
He let go of her arm only to snake his own around her lower back, pulling her in close.
“Please say you’ll make me coffee,” he pleaded quietly.
She ignored him, refusing to speak. He tried to kiss her, and she moved her head out of the way. He did it again, and again, kissing her cheek, her neck, and her hair. She couldn’t take it, and swatted him away as a giggle escaped her lips.
“Fine.” She groaned, and he landed a kiss on her lips. “I will still make you coffee.”
“Thank you, princess,” he said, kissing her one last time. “I will forever be in your debt.”
She swatted his ridiculous comment away. “Can we be done, please?”
