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Our abilities weren’t to be used. They never were in the training arena. It was strictly for sparring and weapons only. No holds barred.

We all circled each other, sizing one another up. I wanted to match with Onyx, but I could tell the plan was for Kodiak to spar with me one-on-one.

It was Onyx who made the first move on River, all traces of the earlier humor and light-hearted nature gone. He became the fighter I’d always heard about. He feigned as if he were going to tackle her, and when she deflected, he struck her with his shin in her thigh, using a diagonal kick. Shealmost fell but stumbled to catch herself, which allowed Onyx the slight window of opportunity to exploit her momentary weakness.

That was all I could witness before I caught Kodiak’s advance. I honed in on my target. He braced his hands in front of him, mirroring my own, but with lightning-quick speed, he threw a jab at my ribs. Because I wasn’t expecting his swiftness, I wasn’t able to defend against it in time.

I felt a bone crack, followed by a sharp pain that reverberated in my lungs, robbing me of my breath. I grunted but refused to nurse the injury.

I managed to land several blows before Kodiak started anticipating them. After he blocked my strikes, I aimed for the sensitive spot on the side of his knee. I thought I had him when he stumbled, but once again his agility took me by surprise.

In a blur, he landed three consecutive jabs—my cheek, ribs, and waist. In the half moment when I reeled from the confusion, he had me pinned on my back with two of my limbs locked in a bear hold. I gasped for air. A sharp pain seared my ribs with each breath as I waited for the healing process to begin.

“Fuck,” I grunted, tapping out on the floor. “That was unexpected.”

Kodiak released my limbs and rolled his crushing weight off my body. A deep chuckle rumbled through his chest, and he held out a palm to me to help me to my feet. “You’re really good, Princess. But you have room to improve.”

I nodded. “Do your worst.”

“You’re a fucking cheat!” River yelled, her sharp voice echoing throughout the training arena.

I looked over as I heard a deafening crack. Onyx lay on his back, a hand clutching his cheekbone. He released a long string of curses. “I didn’t cheat, you cruel woman.”

River stood over him, arms crossed over her chest. “I know.”

I cocked an eyebrow at the two, confused by their antics. River stepped over him without a second glance. Then she settled those laser-focused eyes on me. “Go again?”

Three hours of sparring went by. Kodiak bested me several more times before I swapped with Onyx, where we each got several wins in. It took some time for me to maneuver around the Elemental’s fighting style, but I adjusted and had Onyx on his ass a few times.

Kodiak would observe me while he and River took a break, offering tips and suggesting new techniques once the round between us was over.

It was a lighthearted session. Back at the King’s Palace, that didn’t exist. The Kinetic culture was so cutthroat that they considered anything less a weakness. I preferred the Elemental way.

“Well, that was fun,” Onyx said as we walked out of the training arena. It was unusually warm outside, considering it was the beginning of November. It was Georgia, however, which meant the weather changed its mind every other week. The pleasant reprieve from the chilly air allowed me to spend more time outdoors.

“So, it’s different from back at the King’s Palace, isn’t it?” Onyx asked. The late afternoon sun blinded us as we rounded the corner of the building, spotting a copse of oak trees to my right.

“It’s the attitude here that has surprised me the most,” I said. “People are actuallyhappy.”

“Yeah. We are. We don’t have a dictator threatening our livelihoods at every turn. There’s a freedom here that doesn’t exist back there.”

Freedom. The word rang around in my mind and struck me with longing. It was what I’d always craved. I’d never expected it to happen, but could I possibly be free here?

Onyx stopped walking. He combed his fingers through his star-flecked hair. His bright currents were stark against the deep reddish-brown hue of his complexion. He glanced around, awkwardness taking over. “I just want to say,” he said, averting his gaze. “How the Kinetics treated you was total shit. The propaganda your father spread was…” Onyx shook his head and cleared his throat, meeting my eyes again. “I never bought into it. I always felt a king who publicly humiliated his own daughter—adoptedor not—shouldn’t be trusted. Turns out my intuition was right. I’m glad you’re free and are here with us now…where you’re wanted.”

Tears stung my eyes as a knot formed in my throat. Why was everyone being so nice to me? I didn’t feel like I deserved it.

I tried to swallow the knot, offering him a grateful smile. “Thank you for telling me that.” My hand went to my chest. “Until now, I never realized how much I needed to hear it.”

Onyx dipped his head. “You’re a badass and our future queen. I gotta get on your good side from the start, ya know?”

A chuckle escaped me, followed by a sniffle. “Ass-kisser,” I muttered.

Onyx threw a hand to his chest. “An ass-kisser I may be, but at least you know I’ll have your back.”

Without warning, Onyx wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into a tight hug. I tensed beneath his grip. I wasn’t a hugger.

“I’m your new bestie. Get used to it,” Onyx whispered into the top of my hair. “Come on, G. Just relax. I’m not gonna take you hostage.”