Page 24 of Ava’s Love of the Dragons (Of Dragons, Love, and Destiny #2)

Ava didn't sleep a wink that night, yet she was wide awake when she entered the arena before sunrise. Magg was already there, pummeling the punching bag, but refrained from making any biting comments. Ava glanced at her briefly before she started running.

She would have preferred to run all night, as it helped her think. Puzzle pieces fell into place, connections became clear, and the feeling of being powerless against the course of events dissipated. After all, she was doing something: running.

She didn't count the laps she ran, completely lost in thought, and only looked up when she no longer heard Magg fighting.

The cadet was looking towards the weapons cabinet beneath the stands, where Master Clark and Kilian were standing, talking to each other.

Kilian wore his fighting leather and didn't look like he'd slept at all.

He towered over the trainer by more than half a meter, yet he behaved respectfully towards him.

She couldn't blame Magg for staring at Kilian. She usually did the same herself.

Deliberately, she focused her gaze on the track and increased her pace in an attempt to outrun her feelings.

But it didn't work. The fact that Kilian was within reach and she knew he wouldn't push her away if she wanted to approach him didn't really help.

Although she wasn't one hundred percent sure about that.

He took his job seriously; he had made that clear several times.

Draco looked over the wall. He had positioned himself outside the arena in front of the cliff and was monitoring the surroundings. Thalara was on the other side, and they took turns flying over the area. No mage would be able to sneak up unnoticed.

"Everything will be alright, Ava, have faith."

Of course, Draco had sensed how her heart had clenched at the sight of Kilian. And he probably heard every single one of her thoughts, which was why she might have been better off finding a sport where she had to stop thinking.

"The main thing is that you and the other dragons survive. That's the most important thing to me."

Draco puffed out a few clouds that rose like smoke signals towards the sky, but said nothing.

Lilly jumped into the arena alongside Marcus and waved to her.

If she wasn't mistaken, the girl was holding two rolls in her hand.

Of course, Lilly wouldn't have missed the opportunity to watch Kilian during combat training and had simply moved breakfast outside.

It probably wouldn't be long before Lynn showed up to drag her into the classroom.

Marcus watched her attentively, radiating a calmness and peacefulness that didn't match this training facility.

He raised his hand in greeting and winked casually.

Somehow, his relaxed, easygoing manner made her feel good.

She waved back at the two of them and ran over, and Lilly held out a roll to her.

"We're bringing you breakfast."

Ava looked at the raisin roll in disbelief. It hadn't even been nibbled at. "You're voluntarily sharing food?"

"Sure, I've already had five and there are more inside. Lynn might be a real slave driver when it comes to lessons, but she gives me two extra breakfast breaks, and I think she convinced the cooks to bake more. There are definitely advantages to looking starved." She grinned.

Smiling, Ava grabbed the roll and broke off a piece. "Thanks, I don't need more than this." She popped the bite into her mouth, took Marcus's canteen, and took a good swig.

Then Kilian's voice rang out across the arena.

"Ava!"

Surprised, she turned to him. He no longer sounded like the man who had to restrain himself from getting close to her, but like a tough trainer who wouldn't tolerate any excuses.

Lilly leaned towards her. "Better not keep him waiting, or you'll have to do a hundred push-ups."

"He wouldn't dare!" But one look at the dragon fighter was enough to confirm that she was facing the leader of the royal army and not the mysterious man who rushed to save her life and sat with her under the starry sky at night to talk.

She said goodbye to her friends and jogged over to him.

He stood with his legs apart in the middle of the sand pit, his muscular arms crossed over his chest, and nodded at the daggers tucked into her belt. "Are those your preferred weapons?"

If only she knew...

She shrugged her shoulders, still feeling uncomfortable with the weapons topic. "They're small and handy. So far, I've managed best with them."

"Then show me what you've learned." He beckoned her over, a clear invitation for her to attack.

Great.

She drew the daggers and began circling him, but hesitated. She could hardly attack him with the sharp blades. It had been easier with Magg because the cadet made no secret of her hatred towards Ava, but it was different with Kilian...

She considered and ventured a small attack from the side, which he deflected with a simple slap against her forearm.

She retreated and tried again, but he effortlessly warded her off once more.

As she launched the third attack, he knocked both daggers from her hands, grabbed her by the waist, and spun her around so that her back hit his chest. He held her wrists tight, preventing her from freeing herself.

Or did she just not want to? Her breathing changed, his scent enveloped her, his heat transferred to her, and as he leaned forward and brushed her ear with his lips, goosebumps raced across her skin.

"What do you want, Ava?" His whisper sounded rough.

Her breath came in bursts as she was consumed by his entire being, unable to answer.

"Do you want to be defenseless, helpless, at the mercy of the mages? Or do you want to stand up to them and save the dragon world?" His voice sounded beguiling, though his words had the exact opposite effect.

Determined, she pushed his arms away and wriggled out of his grip. She spun around lightning-fast. "I'm not helpless! And I will save the dragon world!"

A smirk flitted across his lips. Was he just playing with her? But in the next moment, his expression became deadly serious. "Then stop with the weak maneuvers and attack me already!"

She was overcome with emotion, which left her with only one choice: Either she would touch him right now or she would channel her pent-up emotions into an attack. She didn't need to ask anyone for advice to make the right decision. She raised her hand, let out a battle cry, and leaped at him.

He effortlessly blocked her.

Instinctively, she imitated Magg's technique, ducking under his hand and launching her next assault.

Again, he deflected her with ease, which only spurred her on more.

She circled him, feigned a retreat, unexpectedly lunged at him, and almost caught him on the shoulder.

But he seemed to always know what she was planning.

Had he studied every fighting technique there was?

Long after the sun had risen and there were drops of sweat on Ava's forehead, he disarmed her with two effortless strikes, but didn't pull her close again. Not the least bit out of breath, without even a single bead of sweat on his temples, he calmly pointed to the daggers in the sand.

"Pick them up."

She panted, wiped her forehead with her forearm, and bent down to retrieve the weapons. As she straightened up, he stepped right next to her. She backed away, expecting a surprise attack that would highlight her carelessness, but he simply pointed at her weapons.

"I want to show you how to hold them so your opponent can't knock them out of your hand."

"Okay." She swallowed and nodded, unsure if her voice sounded breathless because of his proximity or because of the intense training.

He positioned himself much too close behind her and took her right hand in his, stroking her fingers with the other.

"You need to change the angle you hold the dagger at.

Just like this." He pushed the handle forward a bit.

"When you aim, you mustn't think about your technique, but focus all your attention on your target. The weapon flies where you look."

She just nodded, fully aware that she hadn't thrown the daggers yet.

He looked directly at her, as if reading her thoughts. "When you aim, you must want to hit."

"But I don't want to hurt you."

"I know, that's why from now on you'll be fighting against Magg again."

On cue, the blonde came running. She didn't look thrilled, probably because it didn't help her to train with someone weaker.

"Hey."

Surprised, Ava raised an eyebrow. Was that a normal greeting?

"Hello." After all, she didn't want to stand in the way of a future friendship. But judging by Magg's distant expression, they wouldn't be braiding each other's hair any time soon.

"Fight fair!" With those words, Kilian stepped back two paces and crossed his arms over his chest. She wasn't sure if it was better to be constantly observed by him or to fight directly against him.

She had to be careful and focus her attention on Magg instead of letting his gaze throw her off balance.

But Magg could be relied upon in this regard. She immediately sensed Ava's unease and launched into an attack, which Ava deflected at the last moment.

"Hold your forearm diagonally in front of your face, Ava!" Kilian practically barked the order—all that was missing was a whistle.

Magg had already started her next advance, which Ava ducked under, but her training partner had anticipated this and struck her on the shoulder blade with the handle of the dagger. The blow was so hard that there was a crack and Ava fell to the ground.

"Stay fair, Magg!"

She innocently raised her hands. "I thought she had to beat Elora."