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An agonized scream ripped through the training field. Knowing she could heal once the blade was removed, I summoned my Kinetic magic, preparing to send a shock to her limp arm.

She turned her focus on Chrome, who stood locked sword to sword with Onyx. Chrome was pushing Onyx back, and it was obvious Onyx wouldn’t last much longer as he gave Chrome another inch.

Chrome growled, his teeth bared, and his face contorted in pain as he withstood the invisible magic of Onyx’s thermal Kinetic ability.

Within a split second, River threw the knife she held with her uninjured arm. And with Chrome fully distracted, he didn’t sense the metal blade flying toward him until it had already sunk into his side. It cost him as he instinctively protected the wound, exposing his other side and weakening his grip on Onyx.

Onyx kicked him in the gut while ratcheting up the intensity of the heat he inflicted on Chrome’s insides. Chrome’s nostrils flared, and his molten eyes swirled dangerously. I faced River again, punching her with an electrified fist in the jaw and then using my air to lodge another knife in her side.

“Sorry…” I muttered before jumping from her torso. I sensed Chrome, and I spun, finding him on his knees.

Oh, fuck that. He kneels for no one.

I launched an electrical blast at Onyx’s back that locked him up as the volts ran through his body. With my air, I sent my fallen sword sailing to Chrome’s already open and outstretched palm. He’dfeltmy next move and was ready to catch it to run it through Onyx’s gut.

Even knowing that we could heal rather quickly, it still turned my stomach to see people I cared about wounded in such brutal ways.

Chrome rose to his feet, pulling the sword free immediately, bracing his shoulder under Onyx’s arm. Blood pooled from his mouth as he wheezed for air. “Fuck…” he rasped.

I whirled around to find River sitting up, wincing as she pulled the knife from her side. I dropped down beside her and slid the dagger free from the juncture between her shoulder and arm.

“Shit, are you okay?” I asked, noting the paling of her dark gold skin.

River nodded, strands of black hair falling over her face. “Yeah. I’ll be good.”

I felt compelled to apologize, but this type of training was commonplace among both Kinetics and Elementals. I just hated hurting people I cared about.

Movement in my peripheral caught my attention. Everyone on the training field had congregated to witness this brutal fight between their top fighters.

Orion’s ocean eyes met mine with a prideful smile. I returned it before pulling away and finding Kodiak standing between Aella and Void. As if sensing my stare, Void made his way toward us and knelt beside River. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder. The silver double rings around his black irises shone brightly in his vacant gaze. “You did well. Looks like you listen to me after all.”

If it weren’t for River sitting there in pain, I would’ve quipped something smart-ass to him playfully, but instead, I allowed the pride I felt from his approval bloom in my chest. “Thank you. Still want your lessons, though.”

I turned to seek out Chrome and Onyx. They sat in the grass, and Chrome glanced up to offer me a quick smile before returning to help with Onyx’s healing wound.

After training, I returned to my room, cleaned up, and headed down to see off Hogan and Dash. We’d each thanked them for their efforts and for coming to us withThe Book of the Arcane. It wasn’t a gesture we overlooked.

Dash had made some quip to me about not getting chloroformed again, to which Chrome laughed out loud. I couldn’t tell if I would miss the little shit around here or not. It was up fordebate.

Once the humans left and were on their way, the group and I made a beeline for the dining hall. I was fucking hungry. Now, here I sat, full and ready for a nice nap.

“You’ve been here for nearly two months, eating her food, and you’ve yet to meet my mother.” Kodiak shook his head disapprovingly before a playful smile spread wide.

I pushed away from the table, wanting to catch up on some rest after my long and active night with Chrome, followed by an intense training session this morning. Kodiak followed suit.

“Come on. You’re going to love her.” The earth Elemental grabbed my wrist and pulled me to the back of the dining hall leading to the kitchen. Pushing the swinging doors open, a mixture of delicious aromas of buttery potatoes and savory roast cascaded through my nose. If I hadn’t just eaten, Kodiak would’ve had to restrain me from raiding the place.

We continued through the vast commercial kitchen, noting the wooden spoons stirring inside pots on their own before moving the frying pans on the stove. I was confused until I remembered Kodiak having mentioned his mother was an earth Elemental like himself.

We rounded a corner and nearly collided with a short, stocky woman. A hand clutched her chest, eyes wide with surprise. “Oh! Baby, you scared the daylights outta me!”

Kodiak’s low rumble of laughter brought a playful glare onto her face, but she pulled her much larger son into her arms. “Ya think he’d want me in an early grave from the state he puts my heart in each time he scares me,” she muttered into his torso before pulling back and observing him to assure herself he was okay. “You and your sister both. Little heathens, I tell you.”

“But you’d be bored without us.” A sly smirk on his face pulled a reluctant grunt from the brunette before us.

“Says you.” A sheen of sweat coated her forehead. As she blew a fallen lock of hair from her eye, a kind, suntanned face was revealed. Her skin and vibrant azure eyes stood out beautifully with the dark hair she’d pulled into a loose, intricate knot at the back of her head.

As if she had just noticed my presence, her eyes widened along with her smile. “Oh, my! It’s…”