Chapter 13 TWELVE
\[NYRA'S POV\]
Training with Kade is intense.
I don't think that's even the right way to put it when he's determined on pushing me till I break, so he can put me back together and break me all over again.
It's been four days.
Four days since I woke up after the attack, my head pounding like someone placed a speaker in my brain.
Four days since Kaelen informed me that I will be undergoing serious training on how to reign in my power and use it for better purposes.
And four fucking days since I discovered I'm supposed to accept the bond with the brothers if I want my powers.
I doubt that will be happening anytime soon. I hate Kade, Lucien hates me and Keiran is just so fucking indifferent. The only person who's warming up to me fast is Riven.
He's kinda sweet, if you don't mention the times when he deliberately gets on my nerves just to piss me off. A smile spreads across my face when I think of the time when he took me shopping two days ago in a place called Chicago.
It was a human city mind you. I've never seen as many humans as I did that day. He even got me something called a phone and said it was used for communication and other stuff. He laughed when I looked at it like a piece of garbage.
Asshole!
I finish up the buttons on my shirt before tying my hair up in a ponytail. After one last look at my reflection, I decide I'm good to go.
I step outside and head to the sonic room, where I take my magic lessons.
“You're late!" Lucien says, his stern professor's voice in action. I resist the urge to point out that it's just two minutes. TWO MINUTES!
“Welcome to day two of magic lessons with professor Lucien Thoren,” I say, taking a seat on the sofa, leaning back. " Please stay tuned for more updates on how horrible Lyra's day is going to be.”
He stares me down with mismatched irises, like he'll love to strangle me. For some reason, I'm always left mesmerized by his eyes.
One, a soft vibrant gold and the other a dark gray, both emotionless and charming enough to have you cumming in your panties from just a look.
" I'm to teach you…"
“Yeah, I know," I cut him off already knowing when he's going to say. We had our first lesson two days ago, and he's never stopped reminding me that he's here to teach me how to harness my magic and blah fucking blah.
“So, " he begins, opening the impossibly large book he used yesterday. “Now that you already know the history of the Dark Moon prophecy, how about we get into actual business."
He moves close to the hearth and tosses a couple of logs in it causing the fire to flare up. He then takes a candle from the shelf and places it on the table before turning to me.
“So, " he begins. “As the Lunar Heir, you have control over a vast number of things. Firstly, fire. You can bend it, harness it and use it to your advantage." He nods to the candle. “Let's see you try to light the candle using fire from the hearth, without moving the candle."
But my mind isn't on the candle, the hearth, or whatever nonsense he’s saying about “harnessing fire” and “Lunar Heir responsibilities.”
Absolutely not.
My mind is on him.
Lucien Thoren.
The moodiest, grumpiest, prettiest disaster of a man to ever walk the magical plane.
And today, thanks to four days of nonstop training and zero sleep, I have hit the exact level of mental instability required to do something stupid but yet incredibly satisfying.
Something along the lines of seducing the bastard.
Because honestly?
If he’s going to stare at me like that, like I’m an equation he’d rather solve by burning it, then the least I can do is make him uncomfortable.
I tilt my head, watching him as he rolls his sleeves up his forearms.
Big fucking mistake Lyra. Those arms could break me in half and I’d say thank you with a pretty smile.
He turns back and catches me staring. I don't make any move to look away
His mismatched eyes narrow.
“What are you thinking about?”
You, obviously.
But I shrug instead. “Nothing educational, I can assure you”
He sighs like I personally offended his ancestors. “Focus, Nyra. The candle is waiting.
“The candle is boring,” I say, crossing my legs a little too slowly. “Let's do something fun instead."
Lucien freezes.
Oh?
Did I just catch the unshakeable, emotionally constipated Lucien off guard?
His jaw locks. “Nyra. Don’t start what you can't finish.”
“Start what?” I ask innocently, leaning back on the sofa and arching just enough for his eyes to drop, very briefly, to my chest before snapping back up.
He looks a little uncomfortable and I can't help the satisfied feeling that blooms in my stomach.
Victory!
He drags a hand through his hair, looking like he wants to bash his head into the wall.
“Your lack of discipline is astonishing.”
“My charm is astonishing,” I correct. “The lack of discipline is just a cute bonus only you get to enjoy.”
“Nyra.” His voice dips, dangerously calm. “Light the candle.”
“Or what?” I purr.
Hell, I don't fucking know where this courageousness is from, but I like it. I'm fully aware he:d rather be exiled than train me. That's how much he hates me.
But he doesn't get to hate me yet look so hot, I can't get him off my mind. The fact that he almost never acknowledges my presence is something Lyric and I feel we need to take care of.
He goes completely still, like I just pulled a dagger on him.
Oh, this is fun.
I rise from the sofa slowly, step by step, like I’m stalking him.
And yes, I’m definitely enjoying how his breath subtly changes. Definitely uncomfortable.
He lifts a hand in warning. “Don't.”
“Why not?” I ask, stepping into his space, dropping my voice to almost a whisper. “Afraid I’ll bite? You know I don't.”
“Afraid you’ll lose focus,” he mutters, voice thick with restraint.
“That’s not a no.”
He clenches his jaw so hard I can hear it. He steps back, but that doesn't stop me from following it.
“Nyra,” he warns again, voice low enough to give me goosebumps. “Stop.”
“Why don't you…,” I whisper, stopping right in front of him, so close his breath brushes my lips. “Make me.”
“I swear to the Moon Goddess,” he breathes, “you are going to be the death of me.”
“And you,” I whisper, brushing a finger down the front of his chest, “are going to be a very fun obstacle.”
He grabs my wrist.
Heat shoots through me so sharply my knees nearly buckle.
But his voice? Ice cold it could put Antarctica to shame.
“This is not happening,” he says, too controlled to be unaffected. “Not now. Not ever. You don't know what's at stake. You don't know how risky this…whatever you are trying to do is.”
Oh, so he's actually affected by my presence. He's just stuck playing the perfect gentleman.
Pathetic!
“That so?” I whisper, lifting my chin. “Because your heartbeat says otherwise.”
His pulse jumps under my fingers.
His eyes flicker—gold brightening, grey darkening.
I can feel the bond tugging, ravenous, starved.
He lets out a harsh breath and steps back, putting distance between us like it’s the only thing keeping him sane.
“I am your instructor,” he grits out, turning away. “You will respect that.”
“So if you weren’t my instructor?” I challenge.
He pauses.
His hands curl into fists at his sides.
And his voice, barely audible, comes out rough.
“There is nothing between us Nyra, there never will be. That mate bond is a mistake.”
He won’t look at me.
Because he knows as well as I do that if he does, he won't be able to keep his hands to himself for much longer.
So he gestures sharply at the hearth.
“Magic, now!.”
I stare at the candle, then back at him.
“You make this seem like a chore not a lesson," I grumble, turning towards the hearth. “Won't hurt to actually make the lessons a little more interesting and stop acting like I'm the reason behind your problems.”
I lift my palm and imagine the flames at the hearth bending toward me, towards the candle. I'm not completely clueless when it comes to magic. I watched Melyn practice her magic back at home.
Power surges, hot and wild, rushing through me like a second heartbeat.
Suddenly I'm feeling a little mischievous.
With a crackle , the fire leaps from the hearth and practically explodes the candle into ash.
The table catches sparks, and Lucien curses.
I grin. “Whoops.”
His glare is enough to peel paint. “You did that on purpose.”
“Maybe." I shrug. “Hard to focus when someone’s staring at me like I’m dessert.”
His breath catches.
Then he growls, actually growls.
“Training. Over. Get out!”
“Gladly,” I say with a smirk, tossing my ponytail. “Next time, professor, maybe try not being so distracting.”
His eyes flash dangerously.
“Nyra.”
I pause at the door and glance back.
His voice drops to a low, sinful whisper I feel all the way down my spine.
“Do that again…and I might not stop next time.”
Oh damn!
Lyric practically howls in triumph.
I walk back into the room till I'm in his space, our skin almost touching. I raise my gaze to meet his and smile. “Maybe you shouldn't stop then."
I see it. The restraint he's holding onto, slowly slipping away and God, I've never felt so accomplished. He grabs my waist and pulls me flush against him.
The door slams open. “Lucien…”