Page 86 of To Scale the Emerald Mountain

We begin again, her attacking hard, and me focusing all my energy on blocking.

Remember your strengths.

When Nana comes at me aggressively, I bend my body backwards, supporting my weight on my weapon to hold my back parallel to the ground. I spring forward while she’s catching herself from her missed strike and land a harsh blow on her shoulder.

“Yes! That’s it. Use your speed and flexibility,” Nana praises me, and I beam, instantly reinvigorated.

We continue for over an hour.

Nana bests me often, but my fight and skill comes more naturally to me today than it did during those long days in the woods with Locane. When we finish, I’m sore and shaking from the exertion but more confident in my abilities than when the day started.

Hunger churns in my gut, demanding to be rectified, and I groan happily when I return to my chambers and find a tray of food with soft curls of steam wafting from it. I eat a few small bites of spiced chicken and a piece of charred, garlic flatbread before collapsing on my bed and fall asleep for the rest of the day.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

ELLYA

Asurreal week slips by.

I’m falling into more of a groove with the staff, but it’s still lackluster. Just the thought of using my gifts is tiresome, and I continue to drain my wells of power with easy jumps.

Nana continues to sleep in my room and train with me most days. Although I still don’t speak to her much, my barbs aimed at her are softening—even if only slightly.

After day three, Kraeston doesn’t let me go back to my room after training and instead takes me on tours of the city. We see street performers and explore museums. He shows me the urban farms surrounding the city, and we browse all sorts of shops. Every day he takes me somewhere new.

Back in my room after one of our outings, I’m pacing with too much anxious energy. I lie in my bed and try to sleep. My body flips and turns, trying to get comfortable. But I’m too restless, like there are fire ants crawling in my veins with incessant demand to move.

Pacing around my room for several minutes, my eyes keep darting to the cozy pillow nook, perfect for reading. I chastise myself for not exploring any of the libraries in the city or the palace yet.My eyes roam to the door leading to the study connected to my chambers; images of shelves stacked with books flash in my mind.

My feet tread to the door.

I walk out on the mezzanine level, and it’s quiet in the study while I scan the walls of bookshelves nearest to me. All ancient with peeling letters; all in languages I’m not familiar with. Strolling to another row, the quiet tick-tock of a clock carries in the pleasant silence. The muscles in my shoulders ease, and I think at this moment I’ve never felt so peaceful.

My hope was for something fiction, perhaps another world to get lost in; but the next row of books only houses subjects ranging from mathematics to history. I remind myself that this isn’t a real library. Striding towards the stairway, I peer past the balcony ahead of me.

A set of dark, thick lashed eyes are watching me intently, sitting behind the desk below.

Shit.

Alec appears to have been in the middle of writing something. His pen still touches the paper, ink seeping out continuously to blot out his words.

We make eye contact, and time seems to stand still for a silent beat.

I should leave, I think to myself.

If I did, would he follow?

Instead, I find myself asking him accusingly, “Have you been just sitting there staring at me?”

“Yes,” Alec answers honestly before looking down at his papers—noticing the ruined mess. He curses, crumples the paper, and tosses it in a waste basket with ease. He leans back in the chair, pulling his arms back and stretches wide, accentuating his broadshoulders. “Can I help you find something?” Alec stands and starts walking to the staircase, stopping at the foot.

“Are you in here a lot?”

“Far more often than I care to admit.” His full lips tilt up at the corners.

“And why does the door tomychambers lead intoyourstudy?“ My tone is haughty.

“Because they used to be my chambers.” Alec holds his arm wide, inviting me to join him.