Page 48 of A Touch of Stars and Stones (Kirrian #1)

twenty-seven

. . .

Ever

“ S tars above, Aslendrix, give me strength. Wake up, Ever!”

My body jostles into consciousness, and my eyes crack open, but I only find the darkness of my room.

“What time is it?” My head is still swimming with sleep, but I recognise the voice. Deep. Too deep. And not the one that sounds in my dreams.

“Early. And you’re a heavy sleeper. Sorry, I wouldn’t usually barge in like this, but I couldn’t bang down the door and risk waking the whole residence.”

Calix.

In my room.

Because we are meant to be training this morning.

I let out a groan and bury my head into the pillow.

“Oh, I don’t think so. You agreed to all of this, so unless you’ve got a damn good counteroffer, we’re doing this.” Amusement plays in his words, and I find myself smiling despite myself.

“Fine.” I dramatically shove my arms from the cocoon of blankets and push them down.

“Want to put some lights on? What are we doing today? Going to show me how to throw a punch like you?” I muster the enthusiasm by remembering the pain he inflicted.

A good motivator. “Or at least help me to block the next one.”

He chuckles under his breath as he sets about lighting a couple of the candles on the walls. “Baby steps, Ever. But I admire your spirit. I just hope you’re not all talk.”

“Insulting me and we’re not even out the door. Bodes well.” I drag my legs from the bed and stretch before finally spotting Calix in the soft light of the room and remembering too late that I’m only wearing the cami top and matching shorts that seemed to be the only nightwear provided by Kyra.

“Ah, if I can trust you not to go back to sleep, I’ll meet you in the hall.” Calix keeps his head down as he walks out and closes the door behind him with a soft clink.

I close my eyes and swallow the embarrassment. Ten minutes later, I’m washed, dressed in my usual training gear and boots, my hair wrestled into a loose braid, and looking for Calix in the hall.

“Calix?” I hiss. It’s nearly pitch black, just an orange glow from the dining hall’s fire creeping around the curve of the corridor.

“Come on.” He appears next to me as if from the shadows themselves, and we head outside.

The air is fresh, warm, and peaceful, like the day hasn’t quite decided on what to bring with it other than scorching heat. The atmosphere is brimming with warmth already, and sweat starts to tickle my spine from just stepping outside.

“Run. Stretch. Then we’ll see where you’re at.”

I nod and remember him coming in to breakfast, already out and training before most of us were awake. And that’s what I have in store for the foreseeable if our plan is to work.

We reach the edge of the training ring. “Across the circle, to the centre and back. Don’t try to race me. Just go at your own pace.”

“And why can’t I run with you?”

“Oh, you’re welcome to try, but this isn’t about besting me. It’s about training you, which means I can’t have you pass out on me before we even start.” He shrugs as if that’s explanation enough.

I want to pout and protest, but I know running is not my favourite pastime, and he’ll likely beat me running backwards. Taking a calming breath, I close my eyes for a moment, listen, take in the stillness, the quiet of pre-dawn, and search for the little well of power in my chest.

It’s there, waiting, as if sensing I’m looking for it.

And then I open my eyes and push my legs to run. Not a sprint, just a comfortable pace across the sandy dirt.

Calix blazes past me a few moments later, and I force myself not to try to run after him. Like he said, I need to focus on myself and what everyone is doing to help. The least I can do is be a good student.

We warm up, and Calix sets out the instructions, complete with demos, the exercises to stretch my legs, back, and arms. All simple, but I find my legs already aching after one repetition of the routine.

“We’ll do this every morning. You’ll start to gain mobility, and then we can up the strength portion of your training. What you’ve done on your own is a good foundation, but less effective than if you had a partner. Another fail for Rowan. Man, he’s a jerk.”

“Okay. And then what?”

“We’ll spar. Like I do with Ten and Crim. Or others. Teach you how to block and defend.”

“And attack,” I interrupt. I’m not going to be helpless.

“Yes, Ever, attack too. But don’t push it, or I’ll put you on your arse again. I told you I won’t go easy on you, and I don’t intend to, but one step at a time or there won’t be any point in this for you.”

“Sorry. And thank you,” I add quickly.

He just shrugs again and then sets about giving instructions.

The sky has turned a deep pink, with strands of orange and gold streaking through it, signalling the sun won’t be far off when we’re through. I’m tired and drenched with sweat, but I have a heavy, satisfied hum in my muscles from the workout as Calix leads us back to the residence building.

“So, does anything special happen for the new moon?” I try to sound casual.

I couldn’t ask Ten after last night when he insinuated, in an oh-so-infuriating way, that at the new moon, we could touch without any consequence.

Relief had choked me, quickly followed by the images of me kissing Ten like he held my next breath.

My mind just… summoned the vision. I even thought I could taste him on my lips.

We’d said goodnight very swiftly after that.

Another detail about Kirrasia nobody thought to share, especially one so vital, that on one day of the month, you don’t need to worry about what your touch can do—your powers are nullified—as Aslendrix passes into her next phase.

I’m itching to read more about it in one of the textbooks, and I still can’t believe I haven’t stumbled upon it on my own, but then, I’ve only been scanning the text, focusing on those missing five letters.

“We don’t mark it officially. Usually, the taverns are a little fuller; there’s music, and people are out to have a good time.” He smirks at me, and my cheeks flush with the hidden meaning in his words. Luckily, my skin is already pink from the workout.

“And us?”

“Us?” Calix looks at me, but his blue eyes only trail down to my lips before he looks at me again.

My eyes blink rapidly at him. “Trainees? Do we get a day off because of the no power thing?”

“Oh, right. Zuns no. We still train, just no power. In fact, it can be a good thing to stop us relying too much on them.”

“Are you saying I could take you on in a fight and might win?”

“Oh, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I’ll still kick your arse, but it just might not shatter your bones.” His grin is full of confidence and ego, but in a kind way. It’s then that I realise that I like him and want to call him a friend, far more than his sister, despite the damage he inflicted.

“You spar with Ten and Crimson. Are you always dampening your power?”

“Most of the time, and when we’re training in class, unless it’s a specific exercise, like with you.”

“How? Do you lessen it, control it?”

“Think of it like a force within you. At least, that’s what I do. Strength might be an easier power to access and build or lessen because you do it every day anyway, like you did today. You ran, but not flat out.”

His words are another way to look at my magic. Simple. Straightforward. I’d assumed something as special as magic must be complicated, but clearly, it is just instinctual. Most of the time, I don’t have control. It just happens.

“And remember, it’s only the latent that’s within us that we need to dampen when sparing just one or one. Touch is what turns our gift into something else, to our advantage or against. Even turning someone deadly.”

Like what I’d done. Is that what he meant?

“Before the Transference, the three of us were pretty equally matched. Or at least, Ten would beat us, but we were both pretty adept at making him work for it. What we inherited shifted all of that. Ten’s still adjusting, so we’ve not had much practice at being at full strength since.

” The additional personal detail isn’t expected, but I’m pleased he shared.

He’s definitely not the internal brooding type like his friend.

“But it’s different for you. And by default, all of us. The rules aren’t the same when it comes to you. That’s why I’m here.”

“Not because Ten asked you?”

“He did. But he didn’t force me. I remember what it feels like to connect with you. Stars, Ever, when I think about it, what it could lead to, it’s pretty awesome. And a little terrifying.”

“Until the new moon.”

“Until then. And the full moon will be when we’re all at our strongest. Our powers are all tethered to Aslendrix, so they will rise and fall with her.”

Ten is waiting for us just outside the residence building as we arrive, his arms across his chest, his legs crossed at the ankles, with his head studying the ground. In the post-dawn light, he’s still cast in shadow, and a darkness clings to his body, obscuring his face.

It doesn’t hide the memory from last night. The realisation that for one day and night, there will be no power. No fear of touch.

It’s exactly what I need to hear, and it takes away the fear that has been mounting inside of me without me even really identifying it properly.

Touch is such a simple thing, taken for granted before I arrived here in Kirrasia.

And the thought that I wouldn’t be able to do that—a simple hug, a brush of contact, or more—had been slowly, steadily wearing me away.

“Hey! Checking up on us?” Calix calls to Ten, who raises his head to us. His eyes are shaded with smudges of bluey black under each one, and I know it’s not just the bruises from Calix that caused them.

“Hey.” His voice has more gravel to the timbre than usual, and I try to ignore how sexy that one syllable sounds. “You’re still walking, so I’m assuming he took it easy on you.”

“Hardly,” I scoff. “We’re taking baby steps.” I look at Calix and smile.

But Ten doesn’t smile back. He furrows his brow at Calix.

“We’re going to see Kamari,” he orders and turns without further greeting or explanation.

“Now? Can I eat first, or at least grab some water?” It’s hot, and I look like I’ve showered with my clothes on. My hair, the strands that refused to obey, have combined with those that worked free and now cling to my face, finally tamed with sweat.

“We’ll get something at The Court after we’ve met her. Come on. We need to be back before classes start.”

He pushes off the building and heads in the direction of the bridge.

Conversation over. Decision made.

I give a little shrug and mouth, ‘thank you’ to Calix before following after Ten, who seemingly isn’t in a great mood.

I fall into step beside him, my legs working hard to keep up with his punishing stride. He doesn’t say anything, so I follow his lead and keep my mouth shut.

But I do risk quieting my mind and concentrating on that well in my chest—the quiet—and use it to see if I can pick up on any sense from Ten, any feeling.

We’ve both been able to do this before, unconsciously perhaps, but we were meant to be practising.

That’s what all of this was about, so I reach for Ten. But all I feel is ice and cold.

Disappointment chills my skin as we reach the bridge, unobstructed by the guards who stand there, and continue to The Court.