Page 172 of Ashborne Phoenix

Grace’s brow furrowed. ‘Where are you going?’

I swallowed, and backed away. ‘I think… I think I need to burn off some steam.’

‘You don’t have to leave, I’m not angry.’

‘I know. But you need to rest. And I need to move.’

Her eyes locked on mine. I cleared my throat. “Thank you, Terra. If there’s any problem and you need to leave, send a messenger to the gym. I’ll come immediately.”

Terra nodded. “I will. But you take your time. It will be good for you to get outside, I think?”

That was what Kham had said, too. I nodded hurriedly, though I didn’t agree in the slightest.

‘I love you. I’ll be back as soon as I can.’

‘I love you, too. Please don’t worry.’

I would, but I didn’t tell her that. Instead, I slipped out of the room and started down the hallway of the castle, forcing myself to remain on course.

‘Kham?’ Even in the link, I snorted, and my heart ached. I was angry. At myself. At this situation. At God… My dragon knew what to do.

‘I’ll speak with Runar,’ he sighed.

I nodded, though I wasn’t sure it was the right thing to do. My steps were slower, measured, forced at first. But the farther I drew away from Grace, the more of the castle that passed, my steps only grew faster.

The churning was back. My guts tangling inside, twisting, coiling, screaming. And I knew if I felt like that when Grace was alone again, I wouldn’t help her at all. I’d only throw it all at her. I never wanted to see fear in her eyes again. But the fury was building inside me. Which meant I had to let it out. And while Kham agreed with Donavyn, I didn’t feel like crying. I felt angry.

I’d been too cooped up. I needed to fight.

I rolled my shoulders, but it only made my heart flip with nerves.

By the time I got out of the castle, I was running. Straight for the training gym which would be empty at this time of evening.

‘Runar says Gil comes. He’ll meet you there in twenty minutes. He will be ready.’

I nodded grimly. ‘Thank you, Kham.’

Broken Man

SOUNDTRACK: Gravity by Holding Absence

~ VOSKI ~

The whir and slip of our feet on the mats echoed in the empty gym rafters as Gil whipped around to dodge my right hook. I cursed when my fist barely glanced his shoulder, but I knew him too well, and he was tiring.

I knew he’d feint a drop into defensive stance, but turn it into a full rotation to bring his elbow up and around in a whip-quick shot to my temple.

It was a power move, and he’d given me a fat ear with it, more than once.

But I was angry, and frustrated, and humming with energy, and he was at the end of a long day on patrol, and… not furious with the world.

Anticipating him, I yanked both fists to my temples in defense, but snapped at the waist, dropping below his blind blow, because he’d had to turn his back to bring the arm around—leaving his ribs undefended for a blink when he raised the elbow.

I took the clear shot at his kidney, smiling when he grunted, flinched, and retreated, staying on the balls of his feet and positioning for another swing, but his hands were high to protect his head, and the spark of anger burned in his gaze.

“Kidney shot, Vos? I thought we were just blowing off steam?” he muttered, panting.

“We are.” Sweat dripped off my brow, and down my bare chest, but I was hardly blowing. My skin hummed with unspent energy. And the best way I knew to quiet my mind was to focus on a threat.