Page 28 of Spirit Trials (The Spirit Kingdoms #1)

I walk back into the main room. Harper and Kinsley are still at the table, as well as Lox. “Oh good. Lox, you’re still here. We need to get back to training. Would you be willing to help?”

Lox gives me a look that I feel like sees too much, so I look over at Harper and Kinsley instead. “We already lost several hours sleeping; we need to use the rest of the time to prepare.” When neither of them move, I clap my hands. “Let’s go.”

Harper stands up and pushes her chair in. “What crawled up your backside?” At her question, Lox snorts out a laugh that’s quickly cut off when I give him a look. I lead the way towards the stairs and nearly run into Jamik.

“Jamik, good. You can come too. We’re training.

” I don’t leave him a chance to say no. When we get to the basement, I turn and face them all.

“Jamik and Lox are really good; they know what they’re doing.

So, whatever they say to do, do it. Hector will work with you on your bow skills as soon as I can get him down here.

” They all stare at me, and it just frustrates me. “Come on. Let’s go.”

“What is your deal?” Harper asks.

“What’s my deal?” I return. “We are going back out there in less than a week. We have to go through all this again. We barely made it through this first trial, and each trial is going to get harder.” When Harper and Kinsley both keep looking at me like something is wrong, I snap.

“I don’t want either of you to die or me either! Is that so bad?”

Kinsely’s face softens. “Okay. I get that.” She turns to Jamik. “All right. Teach me what I need to learn.”

“She doesn’t know how to go on the offensive or how to wield a knife properly,” I tell Jamik. Kinsley gives me a look, and I shrug. “It’s the truth.”

I turn to Lox, but Harper holds up a hand. “I got it. I already know my weaknesses.”

I nod and turn away and start on my own with the training Rysden did with me before.

It doesn’t take long before I’ve worked up a sweat, but it’s not enough.

Anger and frustration burn through me, and I’ve got nowhere to direct it.

And then Rysden is there. He steps in front of me, dressed head to toe in black, his shirt pulling tight over his chest and biceps.

“Let’s go.” Any warmth I received from him earlier is gone.

This is the cold man I first met outside my village.

He tosses me a knife that I catch midair.

The hold is so natural now after hours of training with it and keeping it always in reach while I was in the trial.

He doesn’t give me a moment to prepare. He takes me through the paces and shows me no mercy.

“Harder.” “Watch that left foot.” “You missed an opening.” “Faster.”

His commands come over and over. Finally, he calls a rest. I try to catch my breath and put my hands on my knees. I hate it that he’s not even breathing hard, nor has he broken a sweat. “Outside,” he orders to all of us.

I stand up and wipe my forehead. “Right now? It’s dark.”

He levels a look at me. “I thought you didn’t want you or your friends to die.”

I scowl. I’m not sure if he overheard me or if one of the guys told him, but I hate having my words used against me.

Without another word, I follow him up the stairs and outside.

I don’t look back at Harper or Kinsley; I have a feeling they’re probably cursing my name right now.

When we get outside, Rysden doesn’t slow.

He walks towards the trees behind his house.

They’re visible only because the moon is bright tonight.

When we get there, he turns towards the three of us.

Lox and Jamik stand a few feet back but don’t say a word. “Each of you pick a tree to climb.”

I face the trees because I’ve done this so many times in my life, and multiple times in training. “You have got to be kidding,” Harper mumbles under her breath.

“Does it look like I’m kidding?”

I recognize that tone from Rysden; he’s most definitely not kidding.

I head over to the best tree I can find, hoist myself up, and easily climb to the top.

I hear a lot of muttering; I think it’s still coming from Harper.

I settle myself on a branch and wait for them to reach the top, so we can climb back down.

The girls finally reach the top, and I prepare to climb back down.

“Congratulations, you made it to the top. Now, see if you can stay there all night.” He turns to walk away, and I stare at his retreating back in shock.

“Are you serious?” I call out.

He doesn’t bother turning back around. “Deadly.” Lox and Jamik follow him a moment later.

I stare at the three men as they head out of view and eventually disappear inside. “What in the world, Farrah?” Harper practically screeches.

“Are we really going to stay up here all night?” That’s from Kinsley.

I’m still staring at the house. “Farrah!” Harper demands.

I have a decision to make. Either we do what Rysden says, or we head back inside to our warm comfortable beds. My shoulders drop, and I turn to look at my branch before I sit down and try to get comfortable. “You’re not seriously thinking of staying out here?” Harper asks.

“I am. Look, you two don’t have to stay out here.

I chose this; I was the one that wanted the guys to train us.

I’m not sure what Rysden’s trying to prove, but I’m not going in there.

I’m going to stay out here all night. I’m going to prove that I can do this, but you two have nothing to prove.

I’m not going to back down, but you two can. ”

Neither of them says a word for a little bit. “If you’re staying out here, then I am too,” Kinsley says.

“Ugh,” Harper groans. “Fine. If you’re both staying, I’ll stay too. We’ll prove to the Wolf Prince jerk that we’re tougher than he thinks.”

“He’s not a jerk,” I say softly, but I don’t think either of them hear me.

“What’s going on between the two of you anyway?

” Harper asks. I lean against the tree trunk and try to get comfortable.

It’s not like I haven’t done this very thing a million times before; it just feels different knowing it’s going to be all night.

But I solace myself with the fact that it’s just a few hours.

As soon as the sun rises, I’ll be back inside where it’s warm.

I shiver and wish I would have brought out a fur with me.

“Farrah?” Harper interrupts my thoughts, and I remember her question.

“Nothing’s going on between us.”

“Riiiiight,” she says.

“No, seriously.”

Harper snorts out a laugh. “I think you actually believe that; you’re more delusional than I thought.”

I close my eyes. “Really? We’re back to the whole ‘me being delusional’ thing again?”

“Yes. Because you are.”

“I’m not, Harper. There’s nothing between us.”

“You may not think so or believe it, but Harper’s right,” Kinsley says in her sweet voice.

“Of course, I’m right,” Harper snaps. “The man nearly murdered his friend when you were injured and bleeding everywhere. Then he grabbed you and hauled you upstairs caveman style and wouldn’t let anybody near you.”

I open my eyes. “Really?”

“Which part of that do you not remember?” Harper asks.

“He wouldn’t let anybody near me?”

“Harper and I both tried to come see you, but he wouldn’t let us in,” Kinsley says softly.

“Yeah, I even made that idiot with the smile try; and he couldn’t get in either,” Harper adds.

I can barely help but snort at her description of Lox. “Is everybody an idiot to you, Harper?”

“Pretty much.”

“Well, I don’t know why he did that, but there’s really not anything between us,” I say with finality.

It’s quiet for a few minutes, and I study the area around me. “Why were you upset when you came in after talking with him?” Kinsley asks quietly.

“I wasn’t upset.”

“Do you make it a habit of lying to yourself often, or are you really just that unaware?” Harper asks.

I take a breath. “Okay, fine. I was upset.”

“See. Was that so hard?” Harper asks, and I resist the urge to roll my eyes.

I think about how to put into words the conversation we had. I want to share with them, but I also don’t want to break my own heart again. “I was just reminded of the task I have ahead of me, and that I can’t afford to be distracted.”

“Yeah, the prince could be a distraction,” Kinsley says.

“A hot one,” Harper adds. “Though he’s psychotic.”

I ignore that comment. “I have to win these trials.” There’s a desperation to my voice.

“Why?” Kinsley asks without any judgment in her voice.

“I need to win the money, so I can get back to my mom and brother and help them have a better life. Maybe move to a city. It wouldn’t be as grand as this, but it would be a city with protection and an easier life.

” I’m instantly hit with regret as soon as the words are out of my mouth.

“I’m sorry. That was heartless of me. You girls need the money even more than I do. ”

Harper laughs, but there’s no warmth. “All the money in the world won’t help us, Farrah. You’re better off winning it. If our spirit animals don’t show, we’ll be right back where we started.”

Her words and hopelessness break my heart. “Well, that’s another reason I need to win then.”

“Why is that?” Kinsley asks curiously.

“So, I can become famous and maybe change this stupid rule about the banished.”