Page 70 of Burn of Obsidian

“My turn to teach,” he replied, watching the kids move into their next stance. They varied in age, starting from around five to seventeen or so. A few looked over, their gazes skirting away quickly once they noticed him observing.

Kace grunted, the sound low. “You’re in no fucking state to teach.”

By day, the Vault was a shady as fuck business where Kace earned money beating the shit out of people, and in the evening, it became a safe place for the kids on the streets. They came from all over the city to learn self-defence, to eat, or to just hide from whatever horrors were waiting for them back at home.

Within the walls of the Vault, the kids were safe, and many of the Guardians took turns helping Kace, and the humans who ran it.

“You’re on the edge,” Kace continued, reaching over to grip Jax’s jaw. “Wanna tell me why your eyes are lined in silver?”

Jax jerked away with a growl, jumping to his feet. He needed a distraction, and Kace was someone who dominated the cage fighting scene. Which wasn’t a surprise considering he grew up fighting for his life on the Pits.

“Just shut up and hit me.”

He’d left Thea because he didn’t trust himself. He wasn’t sure if he was going to shift again, or take her up against the wall until she screamed his name.

Fuck.

She should never have kissed him, because before she was simply a flame to his moth – beautiful, alluring, and dangerous. But now she was a drug. An addiction he could still taste across his lips. He’d needed to leave before he scared her with the force of his obsession. For years, he’d simply existed, and now he didn’t know if he would survive without her laughter and light spreading warmth through his frozen heart.

Kace shook his head, his torso bare and training trousers tight to his skin. “Did you sleep?”

“Fuck off, K.” Jax was dressed identically, allowing the kids to see every movement without any obstructions. It wasn’t about fighting one another, each Guardian different in their style. It was about learning to defend within their ability, and then running. Because in reality, they were still children, and the monsters that hurt them were much stronger.

Kace snarled. “Careful what you – ”

“Hey, are you guys ready?” Eva asked, walking over with a little girl clamped onto her hand. “They’re getting impatient.”

The little girl hid behind, peeking around Eva’s arm slightly. Her eyes were a light blue, surrounded by darkened bruises. Jax’s lungs tightened at the sight, and Eva noticed the change, offering him a gentle smile.

‘If she smiles at you like that again, I’ll break your fucking legs,’ came Kace’s growl.

Jax kept his expression blank, simply nodding to Eva and the little girl. Eva may anchor Kace’s rage, but he was still the most unstable out of them all.

“We’ll be right there,” Kace said aloud, his face softening when he turned to his mate.

Her eyes glittered as she stepped back, darker than they were supposed to be as hunger took its toll. Kace tracked her across the room, not leaving even when she took her place amongst the kids. They’d all taken a seat along the benches, their little voices hushed as they waited with anticipation.

Jax shoved Kace to the side as he took his position at the front.

Kace grinned, the sight feral as he moved to stand opposite. ‘Let’s get this over with. My mate needs feeding.’

Jax clicked his neck before rolling the ache from his shoulders. He’d walked in on Kace feeding Eva once, so he knew it wasn’t the feeding part Kace was looking forward to.

‘Your beast’s riding you hard,’ Kace said, keeping the mental connection. ‘Harder than usual.’

‘I’m dealing with it.’ Jax widened his stance, his thigh screaming at the movement. Kace’s eyes narrowed as if he could sense it, but Jax knew his expression revealed nothing. They were all trained to hide pain, to ignore it. His thigh was no different.

‘Your beast is pushing you to complete the bond.’ Kace impatiently pushed at his mind. ‘Trust me, the pressure will release once it’s done.’

Jax growled, wanting to fight. He may be stronger than Kace, but his brother was a fraction of a second quicker. Their natural styles were very different, Kace more manic and Jax more defined. But Kace had been fighting since he was a kid, which made him fun as fuck to fight against because he never held back.

Kace pursed his lips, irises shifting to silver as he lifted his fists. ‘Ready?’

Jax didn’t bother with a reply, already hitting out and allowing himself to get lost in the movements. The first half was practised, going through different ways in which to defend against certain attacks. But it wasn’t long until their movement became faster, their hits harder as the training became a scrap. Jax fought with practised precision, planning each movement like a game of chess. He could usually predict his opponent’s next move, making sure he was always ahead. His brother, on the other hand, fought solely with instinct. It made him unpredictable when fighting, which made him the perfect person to spar with.

‘You’re favouring your right leg,’ Kace commented, his fist hitting like a fucking train to the side of Jax’s face.

He’d felt a stitch pop, and this time he was pretty confident the wound had reopened. ‘Took down a Class C hound yesterday.’