The picture was starting to become clearer. Gracelyn wanted to fight, to be part of the guard, so she made sure to train when no one was around.
“If you don’t need anything else, I have to get my time in. I only have a short window.”
I followed after her when she walked away. She huffed but said nothing else when I bumped her shoulder. She was rather small, but at the same time, she seemed sturdy, like she could handle herself.
I’d never been in the direction she was leading, and as we weaved through some more hallways, I was led to a room with drying linens.
“But wait.” I stopped mid-step. “That means you have to do both your morning work and wake up at strange hours of the night to train, just because they don’t think you’re ever going to be good enough?”
Her jaw worked. Jerking her chin down, she pushed open a wooden side door hidden behind a pale sheet.
“Cora wasn’t joking when she said you guys were still living in the dark ages.”
“I know, but I hope when you manage to free magic, we’ll be able to modernize and bring Fae together again. Maybe we would be able to have more progress if we were able to explore the human world without fear.”
“You want to go to the human world?” Crisp air caressed my skin, and I inhaled when we stepped out.
Longing gleamed in her eyes. “I do, I wish I could escape out there. I wish I could disappear.”
I said nothing as the pain in her voice seeped into my conscience. She was in pain. My brain automatically jumped to the big-shouldered brute I saw her covet that day. Flynn. I stayed quiet because, more than anyone, I knew how that felt.
Gracelyn stopped soon after stepping out of the door. I frowned when all I saw was the towering wall that protected the castle. My eyes adjusted to the surroundings quickly. She reached her arms overhead and stretched to the side. I tensed when she lifted one of her daggers.
She was about to kill me.
Adrenaline rushed through me. As long as I’d been here, my fear had tapered only a smidge. Looked like I was right to doubt the kind façade they’d shown me so far.
I froze and closed my eyes, feeling helpless. I was an absolute moron for trusting Fae. They’d gotten my guard down just to kill me. Maybe this was why Cora kept telling me to get her if I wanted to go anywhere. My heart pounded in my ears. I could have ducked. Hell, I could have caused a storm, anything except stand there and take it.
A swoosh sounded, followed by a thump. I peeled my eyes open to find Gracelyn looking at me like I was insane. Looking in the direction her body was angled, I saw three human-shaped boards side by side, speared into the dirt. Right in the middle of the middle board, her dagger was embedded in the space where the heart would be on a person.
I gave her an amazed look. She grinned wickedly and lifted her other arm. It went flying, and I looked at the same board. It was plunged into the neck. My mouth dropped.
“You must show me your ways.” I sounded breathless, but I couldn’t help it.
When Ty said he was going to train me, this was what I had in mind, not all those mental exercises he put me through. Gracelyn smirked. She knew she was good.
“Come on, Ty won’t train me to fight or defend myself.” I rolled my eyes. “He’s trying to help my focus.” And according to him, I was still too distracted.
She nibbled on her lip and flicked the long braid off her shoulder. “I do not know if that would be best.”
“Please.” I clasped my hands together. “You saw how pitiful I was. I would have just taken it if you were trying to kill me.”
“I’m sure Tyran will be showing you how to fight.”
I huffed at her words. “It won’t be until he thinks I should know, and who knows when that’ll be. I need to learn how to protect myself somehow. What if—” I couldn’t force the words out of my throat as fear and anger swirled in my stomach. I took a deep breath, reaching for calm. “Someone who’s hurt me is still out there, and if she ever comes back before I’ve learned to protect myself…” I trailed off, my heartbeat picking up again at the thought.
Her expression tensed with concentration, and she looked up at the dark, overcast sky. I wasn’t sure if she knew who I was talking about, but I could tell my words touched her. When resolve crossed her face, I knew I’d succeeded in reaching her.
“It involves a lot. There’s balance and moving certain muscles. It’s an art. Yes, you are Fae, and you’re already strong, but you have to learn and practice—a lot.”
It sounded like she was trying to sway me from it, but I just blinked at her.
“All right, let’s see what you have.” She bounded over to the daggers and jerked them out of the wood. She was next to me in the next second, reaching it out to me.
I grasped it, my blood rushing with adrenaline. The heavy weight in my hand felt terrific, and I automatically felt more protected. My finger traced the sharp blade from base to tip.
“Shouldn’t this burn me?”
“Iron would. That’s steel.” She deftly flipped the dagger in her hand, then sighed at the question in my eyes. “Iron is outlawed to all except Fae Guard. Plus, we’re practicing, wouldn’t be the best idea if we got ourselves a case of iron poisoning during practice.” Her grin was cheeky, but she turned serious just as quickly.
“You’re going to have to angle yourself like this.” Gracelyn demonstrated the side tilt, and I mimicked her. “This
