“How many of you are there in the Elite Guard?”
“Seven,” said Tristan as he strode over to us, before Cade could answer.
“Only seven? I thought there would be more of you.”
Tristan glared at me.
Cade laughed. “It’s not an insult, Tristan. She doesn’t know much about the High Fae, so it’s understandable she wouldn’t know how many are left.”
Tristan rolled his powerful shoulders. “We are the last of the fire-fae warriors of Elfi,” he explained finally. “For centuries, our numbers have dwindled almost to extinction, and now fae with the ability to produce silver fire are rarely seen. Your mother was the only fire-fae to be born in the last century, and then there’s you. Only one of the Elite can teach you to master this ability. It is our only defense against the dark magic of the Drakaar and their demons.”
A group of fae boys and girls, some older than me and some younger, sparred with staffs in the center of the field. Tristan thrust a staff into my hand. “Let’s see what you can do. I presume you have learned basic fighting skills?”
I nodded, not sure of myself. I had never fought with a staff, but Santino had taught me to fight with sticks, and I had learned a few basics with swords and daggers when I trained with Baron Tanko and Rafe at the academy. I adjusted my grip as I stood at the edge of the field, watching the others and wondering which one I would have to spar with, when a sudden blow to the back of my knees dropped me to the ground and the staff clattered out of my hand.
I cursed under my breath and looked up, shielding my eyes with my hand.
“Get up!” growled Tristan.
I pushed myself up and picked up my staff, turning to my attacker. A young girl about my age with hair like the noonday sun tucked behind her unmistakable pointy fae ears stood before me.
She started circling me, lithe and nimble, the staff twirling effortlessly in her experienced hands.
Thwack! She hit my arm with the staff.
I held my staff with both hands and tried to block her next blow. Again and again she hit me—arms, back, legs. She was too fast, a blur. I could hardly see her, let alone anticipate her moves.
A blow to the stomach knocked the wind straight out of me, and I doubled over. She kicked me hard and sent me sprawling backward, the staff clattering out of my hand as I fell.
“She’s useless, Tristan,” the girl said as I tried to get up. “She can’t even hold on to her staff.”
“Again,” barked Tristan, coming over and helping me adjust my grip. “Keep your legs wide, one foot slightly behind the other to brace for blows. I expect you to have improved by the end of the day.” He turned to leave.
“Where are you going?” I adjusted my stance as he had suggested. “I thought you were supposed to train me.”
“I am to oversee your training, Aurora,” said Tristan, his eyes cold. “Heal yourself and start again. I want you to spar with Skye for the rest of the day. There is a problem in the outlying villages I must go and check out. I will be back to inspect your progress.”
He turned and left. Cade gave me a pitying look and hurried after Tristan.
Skye came at me again, and I raised my staff, gripping it firmly with both my hands. My arms shuddered as I blocked her blow.
She smiled, her azure eyes flashing. “So, you do know how to fight.”
We sparred for the rest of the day. I kept healing myself and getting up, only to be beaten down again. But I didn’t give up. I pushed myself and studied how Skye moved, graceful and surefooted, never missing a step. At the end of the day, after hours of trying to defend myself against the beatings, I collapsed on the ground and lay down, my chest heaving from the exertion.
Skye came up to me and put out her hand. “You did well.” She smiled and her face lit up. “Sorry about the beatings, but Tristan told me not to go easy on you.”
“I didn’t expect you to.” I clasped her hand and pulled myself up, my legs a wobbly mess. I touched my face and winced. I hadn’t healed my lip, and it was still bleeding. I ran my finger over the wound and the bleeding stopped, the cut on my lip closing as if it was never there.
Skye’s eyes went wide. “Your healing power is very advanced. And it’s a good thing too. I don’t think it would be a good idea to go to the feast tonight looking like that.”
“What feast?” Cade had mentioned a feast as well.
“There is a gathering tonight, I presume to welcome you to court,” said Skye as we walked back to the palace.
“But I have nothing to wear.” I was not in the mood for a feast or a ball or any of the other court stuff. I was done with all that frivolity. I had a job to do and I was exhausted.
Another girl with flaming red hair and a voluptuous body came running up to talk to Skye and whispered in her ear.
Skye’s eyes went wide and she turned to me. “I have to go, sorry.” She grimaced. “Apparently, my mother has arrived in Iris for the feast and is on a rampage because I wasn’t there to greet her. I’d better go and calm her down.”
She turned to the redhead. “Brianna, please help Aurora find something to wear tonight. She recently arrived and has no formal clothes.”
“Of course.” Brianna smiled, her green eyes studying me like a cat’s. “I’ll have something sent to your room right away.”
“Thank you.”
Tristan and Cade fell into step with us, emerging unexpectedly out of the shadows. Brianna’s face lit up when she saw Tristan, but he didn’t notice her.
“How did she
