Page 27 of Maleen

AFTER THE EMOTIONAL talk with Cynder, I invite her out to the training field. She’s going to need to master her magick, and I know what it was like to keep it all locked away. She agreed, but only after she could check in with Evander’s crew and see how Dante was healing up from the attack at the Driscol estate.

Talyn walks silently beside me, eyeing Nero who continues to snap and hiss at him occasionally.

“Nero! Do you really need to do that? He hasn’t even been an ass today.”

He hisses again for good measure. “I need to remind him not to fuck with us. This one is my least favorite of your buffet of males.”

I raise my brow. “Buffet of males?”

He glances back at me like I’m the one who’s lost it. “Because of all the meat? The sausage? I bet his is the smallest.”

“Nero!”

Amusement from my other bonds jumps down our connection, and I can’t help the heat that enters my face.

“Do I want to know why you’re blushing and your bird keeps hissing at me?” Talyn asks with a smirk.

“No, you probably don’t” I answer dryly. “That went well with Cynder, right?” My nerves feel shot about the whole situation, but in a way, it’s weird to know I have a sister, even though it changed everything for those two.

“She’s always had a level head. She’s rash and has an attitude. Reminds me of you, actually.”

“I do not have an attitude! I’m just passionate about some things.” He rolls his eyes but I continue. “Are you coming down to the training yard? Batsil is intense. I almost miss your brutish way of training.”

His brow rises. “Even when I had you pinned in the mud?” The blush moves down my neck and I’m sure I’m the same shade as Killian’s eyes. “Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend training. I have some matters to attend to.”

My heart sinks. “Okay, I will see you tonight at dinner with the others then.” My pace quickens and he calls out to me.

“Maybe we can go for a walk later?” he asks hesitantly.

“I would like that,” I smile softly at him before continuing on my way.

Nero scoffs. “A walk. Who wants to go on a walk?”

“Maybe he just wants to talk? Who knows.” His annoyance with Talyn makes me laugh and I quicken my pace. Batsil won’t take kindly to my being late.

Thankfully it doesn’t take me long to reach the field where Lennox and Roz are waiting for me, and no Batsil in sight. I nearly sigh in relief before her voice sounds behind me.

“Cutting it close, aren’t we?”

“Sorry, Captain Batsil,” I mutter, hurrying over to my friends.

Roz is bouncing on his toes as he throws a smile my way, while Lennox nods, the shadows deepening under his eyes. I frown and make a mental note to check in on him after training. It’s obvious and understandable that he hasn’t been sleeping well.

Nero takes off and circles above before making his rounds of the castle. “Knock her on her ass Rav, I’ll be back after.”

“Alright.” Batsil claps her hands together, but before she continues, Cynder comes striding onto the field. “I’m sorry but this is a closed training session,”she starts.

“No, my sister will be joining us.”

Batsil pales. “Sister? That’s impossible.” She whips her gaze from one of us to the other, searching for similarities.

Roz grabs me by the shoulders. “You have a sister and you didn’t tell us?”

“I just found out myself, but yes. It’s a long story that I will explain later,” I tell him.

He practically vibrates with impatience and I can tell he has a thousand questions that are threatening to pour out of his mouth, but after a moment he nods before turning to Cynder. “Welcome to the family, Cyn!” he announces, throwing his arms wide as he grins toothily.

She mutters a thanks and gives me a look that I interpret as “Is he always like this?”