Page 88 of Stealing Embers
“Nothing, there is absolutely nothing going on between us.” Haven’t we already established that?
“—but you need to put it aside. I know you’re still getting used to our world, but you are in a very serious position right now. Forsaken very rarely target a particular angel-born. There’s something going on here, and if we don’t figure it out soon, it could mean very bad things for you.”
I squirm in my seat, unwilling to meet Deacon’s milky-blue stare.
Sable leaves her seat and starts for her door, a clear indication our meeting is over. “All right then, it’s settled. Steel will continue to stick close to Emberly and also help with her training sessions.”
“W-wait.” I scramble to my feet. “What about the rumors?”
Sable and Deacon exchange a look.
“Steel, take care of it,” Sable orders.
“Me?” Steel eyes Sable as if she’s grown a second head. “I told you I didn’t start them.”
Her hands land on her hips. Uh-oh. He’s about to get laid into. “That may be true, but I also know that you could have stopped them from ever circulating in the first place. You can wipe that innocent look off your face. I’m sure you had an idea this could happen when you decided to implement your half-cocked plan.”
The leather seat next to me squeaks as Steel shifts uncomfortably. He doesn’t deny her accusations. “So then you want the entire academy to know you’ve put a bodyguard on Emberly?”
“Not particularly, but it’s better than the alternative.” Sable pauses, taking time to pin us both with a guilt-inducing stare before continuing. “Can’t you two just learn to be friends? That would solve a lot of issues.”
Steel and I exchange a wary look. I want to argue against friendship, but after Deacon’s mini-lecture, my resistance feels petty.
Steel pushes out of his seat. “Yeah, Sable. We can work on being civil.”
That wasn’t exactly agreeing to what Sable asked, but I’m not going to point out the difference.
“Head to the gym after your morning classes. Training starts today.”
Steel answers Deacon with a curt nod. His face is blank of emotions, but his hands are fisted at his sides.
What has him worked up this time?
“I’ll wait for you in the hall,” he tells me before pushing through Sable’s door. The hallway beyond is now clear of students.
My lips pull into a frown as I watch the door shut behind him. I don’t know if the sinking feeling in my gut is from feeling so out of control, or induced by Steel. Whatever the reason, I think I may have to get used to it.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The rattan sticks smack against each other in quick succession.
Crack, crack. Crack, crack.
The vibration from each impact sends a wave up my arm that leaves my hand throbbing.
The frosty bite in the air doesn’t help. My body is equal parts fatigued and frozen. Some parts of me drip with sweat, while other parts feel near frostbitten.
The negative-degree temperature and snow flurries bite at my exposed skin. Mountain air freezes the moisture in my nostrils with every inhalation, and melts it on the exhale. The conditions aren’t affecting Steel in the least. His attacks are furious and don’t abate, so I’m fighting with a constant ache in both wrists and jiggly arms.
If he can’t make it through my defenses, his strategy is to force me to drop my weapons.
I’m not going to let that happen.
Gritting my teeth, I ignore the sting from the sweat pouring into my eyes and order my limbs to keep functioning.
I’ve been told the angel-born have reserves of energy available to us, but right now I feel as weak as a full-fledged human.
Seeing a small opening in Steel’s defense, I deliver a front kick to his side. Sticking with my strengths, I follow it up with a roundhouse kick to his hand, which causes one of his rattan sticks to go flying through the air.