Page 29 of Alice and Her Shifters (Dirty Paranormal Fairytale Haremlan 2)

Milo shrugged. “I have never heard such nonsense before, but I suppose it is similar enough. Think of the exchange as something like this… not too long ago, you were standing there ready to turn me into ash.”

“Yeah, and?” she asked with a shrug.

“You were angry, correct?” Milo asked in turn.

“I was furious,” she responded. Her eyes focused on Milo, intent on what he was telling her, but something about the way she studied him. She was looking for more than what was on the surface.

I chuckled. She would have been an excellent pupil under my wing, under different circumstances.

“What did you give?” Milo asked.

“Is this whole training session going to be nothing but a lecture and riddles, because if so, I can just find some books and read up on this whole thing on my own. I thought you wanted to teach me to actually use and control my magic?”

I was growing rather fond of this woman. She was giving Milo a run for his money, and the swell of pride I felt in my chest gave me a glimmer of hope. Hope was such a strange sensation, and one I hadn’t felt for so long. It all had to come from her. She was the reason for all of this.

“I am. Remember, the basics?” Milo said. “Look, you were furious, so you held fire.”

“I’m listening,” she said.

“Fire is destructive and passionate. The flames bring life and death. Sometimes all balled into one. It also comes from anger, desire, fury, etcetera.”

Allison nodded. “I see.”

“Go to that place again,” Milo said. “Feel the anger. Let the rush of power flow through your veins. Let the emotion burn through you.”

Allison nodded and closed her eyes. I was caught by the reflection of the moonlight in her blond hair she had pulled back. Her round face and features I had the pleasure of being close to. She was astoundingly beautiful. Headstrong as well. A worthy partner for a man like me had I never crossed paths with Camelia.

But, I supposed, if my stint with the red witch never happened, I wouldn’t have likely met Allison.

As I observed her, a crease of concentration appeared between her eyebrows. Her lips were firmly together. Then, a fire ignited in her hands and encircled her wrists.

“Great work,” Milo said. “Now, try to strike me.”

Allison’s eyes snapped open. “Are you kidding me? You wanted me to hit you this whole time?”

Milo smirked. “Well, I did say try. Hitting me is going to be a lot harder than you think.”

She shook her head. “What if I hurt you?”

Calvin snorted, capturing my attention. I had almost forgotten he sat on the ground near me. He had an arm draped over a bent knee. “We should only be so lucky.”

Milo huffed a chuckle. “Darling, if you could hurt me, we would have nothing to worry about.”

Allison scoffed. “Don’t be an ass.”

“The point is to help you aim and land your blows on your target. If you can strike me, we’re done for the night.” He shrugged. “If not, then we will continue until you can.”

“What about answers to my questions?” she asked.

“Always inquisitive, aren’t you?” Milo asked. There was something in the way he smiled at Allison that made my stomach churn. He wanted her too. I almost didn’t believe Calvin when he teased Milo, but now that I saw the desire for her with my own eyes… jealousy was an ugly color on me.

It was bad enough Calvin wanted her too. That wasn’t part of the prophecy. Or the plan. Still… I supposed it could have been worse.

“That was part of the deal,” Calvin reminded Milo.

Milo rolled his eyes. “So be it. I’ll answer your questions also.”

“Fine,” she said. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

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