Page 41 of Rebellious Royals

"So," I said when Bracken headed for the door. "I was wondering if it might be ok to ask about - "

"Rain!"

The sound of Bracken's voice carried through the gym. My zez didn't often yell, but he apparently knew how to make it count when he did. Then again, his job was to train a bunch of teen fae how to handle combat, so a parade voice was probably a useful thing.

"What?!" I called back.

But instead of an answer, I heard footsteps headed our way. Not just one set, either. This sounded like a few people, but no one was really talking. Confused, I shared a look with both Keir and Hawke, but they looked as clueless as I was.

I was just about to go check on that when Aspen skipped into our training room. Ok, that wasn't expected!

"What are you - " I tried, but Bracken and Ms. Rhodes followed after her with Torian and Wilder at the back.

"I realized something today," Ms. Rhodes said as she gestured for Aspen, Wilder, and Torian to join Hawke, Keir, and me. "We have spent most of this semester trying to divide you by your abilities. Some warriors..." She gestured to my group. "...and some who rely on powerful magic."

"Jack!" my crow called as he swooped into the room, proving he'd woken up for this.

"And a few assistants I don't know how to categorize," Ms. Rhodes admitted as she bowed her head to him. "But when a problem comes at the court, it comes at the entire court." Then she turned to Bracken. "So if you're ok with it, I'd like to have all of them train together for the remainder of this semester."

"And you want me to teach them?" he asked warily.

Across the room, Torian scoffed.

"No," Ms. Rhodes assured my adopted father. "In truth, Bracken, I'm not sure you can. A prince, a queen, a Morrigan, Earth magic, a jevadu, a duke, a shadow, and a crow? No, none of those are what I'd consider normal, and yet this group all seems to work well together."

"So why are we doing this at the gym?" Keir asked.

Bracken ducked his head and chuckled. "I'm going to make a guess that it's because of the protections on the building?"

"And the privacy," Ms. Rhodes admitted. "After-hours, the Never has plenty of people wandering through it. Sadly, I can't guarantee being down there wouldn't become an opportunity for an attack. Out here?"

"I'd know," Bracken said in understanding. "Yes, that does make more sense."

Keir made a little noise to get everyone's attention. "I think the royalty needs to learn how to use weapons too."

"Hey," Hawke said with a lopsided smirk. "I know how to use a sword, thank you very much."

"You're not the royalty I was talking about, Your Grace," Keir taunted, because Hawke's title had been granted, not inherited.

Aspen made a face. "We have to use swords?"

"I actually think it's a good idea," I told her. "Sorry."

"But..." She looked at Torian for backup, then over to Bracken. "I don't know how to fight!"

"Maybe you should learn," Bracken said. "Aspen, you're a queen now. That means someone will have a complaint at some time, and the more you can protect yourself without relying on others, the longer you will reign."

"And Rain thinks it's hot," Keir pointed out.

This time, it was Ms. Rhodes who glanced away with a smothered chuckle. "It's also a good way to block the Hunt, and we know they'll eventually come back," she said around her tensed lips.

"I don't like the idea of iron around Aspen," Torian said flatly, dropping that into the room.

"Too bad," Keir told him.

"In a fight is one thing," Torian snapped back. "But in training? What will that do to her magic? Besides, she's more powerful with her mind than a blade!"

"Maybe a little sword?" Aspen asked, sounding almost eager about the idea. Maybe the "hot" thing had worked better than expected.