Page 34 of A Touch of Stars and Stones (Kirrian #1)

nineteen

. . .

Aten

“ A Guard is arguably more powerful than any other Order,” Kamari states. “And a part of that is that the full extent of our power is guarded. That’s what the name refers to.” She’s been over this in our last session.

“I still feel as strong as I have my whole life.” Whatever power I was born with hasn’t left me.

“And you will. That’s a part of you, and why our powers can be so unique.

Your father is who he is. Powerful. Lean into that, but don’t forget that it’s not only you who will have their latent power.

Learn how to use that and your gifts together to your advantage.

You will be enviable if you can master your mind. ”

“Okay. Tell me, teach me,” I press. It’s my second meeting with Kamari, and I’ve only had a theoretical view of the Order I now call mine.

I’ve never questioned the lack of information until now, never concerned myself with it because I was going to be the next leader of the Warrior Order.

Now, I don’t even know how to control my gift.

The confidence that my path was set is now the blind spot that causes all my frustration.

“What can you do now? What have you explored for yourself?” Kamari paces slowly around her ornate office like she has all the time in the world.

“I think clearer, predict moves in the ring, work out what someone is going to do before they do it.” I think back to all the physical sessions, and they are usually the same.

“You’re strategising, possibly a result of your father’s power.”

“It feels like I can shield, like my mind wants to protect itself.” I don’t tell her that I can hear thoughts or that I’ve heard thoughts when Ever’s around. Like last night.

When she told me she wanted to kiss me.

Fuck!

“What else?”

“Sorry.” I snap back out of the memory, and Ever’s voice in my head.

“I err, I’m not sure.” Holding her gaze in the lie is harder than I expect as she bores her stare against mine, and for a moment, I hold my nerve.

She can’t tell I’m lying. There’s no reported instance of that being a gift of the Guard, at least in what I’ve read.

But the slant of her mouth tells me that might not be true.

Or that her gift might just allow her to read me. She is the head of the Order.

“Your gifts may be subtle. You’ll have to learn to build them and work them like you would any other muscle. You’ll be able to feel more, and your intuition will be your greatest ally once you master it.”

I nod, knowing full well what I can pick up from others, or rather, one individual.

She tilts her head again as if she’s listening for something. “Anything else you want to tell me?”

No.

Absolutely not.

But I ask it anyway. “Can you read my mind?” I stand and turn away, trying to lessen the impact of that question.

“No. That is a very powerful gift. Even for a Guard. However, it’s not unusual for the strongest of us to pick up others’ emotions and their general state of mind.”

“What about hearing someone’s thoughts, as if they spoke to you when they only thought it?” A small but important difference.

“The Maker speaks mind to mind and can read thoughts,” she confirms and levels that same look at me again. “And I believe you know who else.”

Ever.

So, she knows. How? Shit.

“Be careful, Aten. She is?—”

“Going to be late if I don’t go and wake her.” I stride for the door, ending our conversation.

“Next week?” Kamari asks this time. I requested these sessions. Being at a disadvantage because I don’t understand what my Order gave me the ability to do is unacceptable. She’s given me more than the few scraps my mother gave me. Otherwise, last night might have been a whole lot different.

“Sure.”

Making my way down The Tower and out into The Court, I run over the training we’ll likely have today with Ever.

They’ll all want to know what she’s capable of.

What a Fifth is capable of. That’s my next task.

Digging up every shred of detail I can find on the Order that was seemingly just rumour and myth until she stumbled into Kirrasia.

Ten minutes and I’m watching the sunrise break into a full-blown morning sun, the golden light burning the pinks and oranges to dust.

I head to the residence and march straight to Ever’s door, knocking gently.

No answer.

My hand is more insistent this time, knocking harder. “Ever, it’s Ten.” I tilt my head to listen for movement within. She wouldn’t want me barging in, would she? It doesn’t sit well that I’m considering breaching her privacy so easily.

One more time. “Ever!” I bang on the door this time.

Nothing.

I told her I’d make sure she wouldn’t miss training, and besides that, I’m eager to see her after last night.

But she needs rest, too. We were all wiped after our Transference, and ours didn’t involve any element of pain, so I let her sleep and head to the food hall to grab breakfast and get her a selection, too.

The general din of the rest of the trainees echoes through the corridor as I draw closer, and my eyes scan over the benches, the usual split between the class still in effect.

But with one difference. Ever.

She’s sitting right next to Micah Star. Again.

My feet have already started in her direction. “Hey,” I greet, and she looks up from her plate, her green eyes full of their icy colour as I study them, no hint of the darker shade that seems to infect them whenever I give in and touch her.

“Hey.” She smiles timidly compared to last night. And I already miss the colour in her cheeks after our conversation about her lips on mine.

“I didn’t expect to see you here already.”

“Oh, she wouldn’t be,” Micah answers. “I had to drag her out of bed.”

He what! I cross my arms to stop myself from throttling him.

“Kyra gave me the heads up. Ever isn’t a morning person.” He grins up at me, shrugs his shoulder and then goes back to his breakfast. With Ever.

“Glad you’re ready for training,” I grit the words out and head to collect something to eat, coming back to the bench next to Ever’s and taking my usual spot by Calix.

“Hey, ready for today?” he asks.

“Sure. Why?” My eyes narrow at my friend. “What’s today?”

“I overheard Rowan and Perrin. They want us all to go up against Ever. See what happens.”

I school my face and lock on a mask that doesn’t show my fear of what that might mean for her. Sure, she beat Crimson, but I’m not sure that’s going to hold. She was running on anger and luck.

“You better start sharing, Crimson. There’s no way she’d normally beat you. What’s her secret?”

“Fuck off, Calix. She had you on your knees when we ran the obstacle challenge.”

“She’s the first person to draw blood. They’re going to have to up the training now. Enough of the easy stuff.” Calix sounds gleeful at the prospect.

“What’s your plan then, Cal? Hope a long blade will do the trick, keep her away from physical contact?” I ask.

“You worry about your plans, and I’ll worry about mine. Now, Crim, spill.”

“Honestly, hands-on, it felt like she was siphoning power, but not in the same way as when we give each other a boost. It was as if she was draining me. Makes sense that you hit the deck, and I couldn’t counter.” He nods to his sister, and I take on board the intel.

Before I’ve finished eating, Rowan enters with Perrin, and I’m suddenly very grateful that he’s the Custodian who still has his power.

All the others have been Advocates or have aged past the time their gifted magic drains from them, replacing the balance provided by Aslendrix—the path my father now faces.

“Morning. I’m glad you’re all here. Training starts in ten minutes. We’re at full capacity now. We look forward to seeing what you’ve got.”

Everyone starts to file out, but my eyes struggle to show any interest in my food, and refuse to move from Ever. She stands with Micah and heads outside, giving me the perfect view of her walking away in figure-hugging training gear. Nothing I’ve not seen on Crimson or the others.

However, there’s no point denying it looks better on her, and she is going to be a fucking distraction.

“You good, Aten?” Azur asks. He’s generally quiet. Shrewd. I just shoot him a glare that has him cocking his head to the side and chuckling. “See you out there.”

“Despite the events of the last few weeks, we will be expecting you to focus entirely on training in preparation for the first trial,” Rowan bellows at us as if it were us taking it easy.

“But one of you needs to understand how their skills compare to the others. So, Ever, you’ll be up against each of the trainees this morning.

Micah, Aten, Calix, and Ascella first, in ring one.

The rest of you, take ring two. Today will be physical combat.

No weapons but using your powers. We’ll build up to teams of three. Go!”

We walk over, and I try hard not to hover over Ever.

She seems relaxed, her arms loose at her side.

I take a few steps closer and concentrate on her.

I’m sure I felt her anxiety the night we came here and looked up at the stars.

Kamari said we’d be able to tune into those, so I concentrate and imagine my magic as a physical presence.

Even blocking everything else out, I can’t pick up any emotion from her.

“We’ll go first.”

“We will?” Ever’s face turns to Micah’s, her green eyes dazzling in the light.

“Sure. Show them how it’s done.” He grins at her.

She glances back and runs those eyes over me, Calix, and Ascella.

“Come on. I trust you.” He beckons her inside the ring, and I shift my feet back and forth as they take positions.

To his credit, Micah doesn’t go on the offensive.

Instead, he coaxes Ever. She’s not used to this, but his strategy is sound, and she finally makes the first move, striking forward, but it’s clear she doesn’t know how to fight.

Her training has been limited to technique and drills, rather than how to combine a series of moves to attack or take someone down.