The Omage Vated to the four
Sixty
The gra wote, ne zahared to the tang web big with other pathing session sede Castenander Lynne’s wards. These tarde, as you from the wis gwa at kan bride, but instead of Lynne, it was Rowena Mending in the the stene, kat ways curated
Italy saw Rumena unadha of dinner task, and her gresaren bawdy
“Change of plans the wwwww, her who tinged with esant Commander Lynn has been called away on a mission. Training is postponed until further st
The collective sig of what was almost comicat
“Yes!” Austin eximed, throwing his fists into the air. “Finally, a d
Alex chuckled, slapping Austin on the back. “Don’t celebrate too much, little brother. We don’t know how long this break will last.”
I couldn’t help but smile. Relief washed over me, and I silently thanked the universe for this unexpected reprieve, My muscles. arted, and the thoupit of a day to recover felt like a blessing
Elijah exchanged a glance with swish, who gave him a subtle nod as they’d silently agreed to make the most of the free time.
As you exited the arena, Elijah spoke up. “We’re going for a run in the woods–it’s been too long since we’ve shifted. Want to join 467”
Isaiah chimed in with a teasing grin. “Yeah, Storm), it’ll be fun. Especially seeing you strip to shift.”
I rolled my eyes, lightly slapping him on the shoulder. “I’ll pass. I don’t like giving peeping Toms a show.”
“You’re the peeping Tom?” Ales interjected with a laugh. “Remember the time you peeked on Austin and Olivia under the bleachers?”
“Hey! Don’t bring up the past? Austin protested, his cheeks flashing
“Oh, you mean back when you were a man whore?” I quipped, narrowing my eyes at him.
Austin sputtered, his face turning even redder. For some reason, the memory left a sour taste in my mouth, and without thinking, I turned and walked away.
“Nice going.” Austin grumbled as Alex smacked him on the back of the head.
I didn’t wait to hear their bickering, I needed space, and thankfully, Elijah seemed to sense that. He caught up with me, grabbing my arm and pulling me to a stop.
“So you’re skipping out because you’re hung up on something that happened ages ago?” he asked, his voice low and serious.
“Exactly,” I said, poking him in the chest. Then I walked off again, leaving him standing there.
My plan for the day was simple: do absolutely nothing. I filled the afternoon with lounging in a hot bath, letting the scented oils and warm water soothe my sore muscles. But as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the world in shades of orange and gold,
restlessness set in
By the time evening arrived, I found myself heading back to the training arena. Dressed in my gear, I told myself it was just for a Jight workout. Deep down, I knew the truth–1 wanted to get better.
1/3
Sixty
When I stepped inside, I wasn’t alone.
Elijah was there, his tall figure silhouetted against the fading light. His shirt was off, his muscular frame gleaming with sweat as he moved through a series of precise sparring strikes. Each motion was fuld, his control and discipline evident in every step.
For a moment, I just watched him, my heart skipping a beat. Elijah had always intrigued me. Even when he pretended to ignore me in the past, my heart had always betrayed me, quickening at the sight of him.
“Didn’t expect to see you here,” I called out, stepping closer.
He paused, turning to face me. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “I could say the same for you. Shouldn’t you be
resting?”
“I could ask you the same thing,” I shot back with a grin.
He chuckled, setting down the wooden practice dagger he’d been using. “Fair enough. What brings you here?”
“I wanted to keep moving,” I admitted. “Maybe spar with someone who won’t go easy on me.”
He arched a brow. “You think I won’t go easy on you?”
“I’m counting on it,” I said, my tone playful but challenging.
We moved to the center of the arena, the open space giving us plenty of room movements, his patience surprising.
to
maneuver. Elijah guided me through a series of
“Good,” he said as I landed a solid punch against the pad he held. “But keep your left foot planted. You’re leaving yourself open.”
“Like this?” I asked, adjusting my stance.
He nodded, his gaze approving. “Exactly. Now, again.”
くらぎ
We sparred for what felt like hours, the intensity of our movements growing with each round. My muscles burned, but I didn’t want to stop. There was something exhilarating about sparring with Elijah He didn’t hold back, and I found myself rising to his challenge in a way that was both thrilling and rewarding.
Finally, we collapsed onto the mats, gasping for air. The stars above were beginning to peek through the darkening sky, and a cool breeze drifted through the open space, a welcome relief against our heated skin.
I turned my head to look at him, a soft smile on my lips. “You know, I’ve always kind of had a crush on you,” I confessed, my tone light but honest.
Elijah’s brows lifted in surprise, but he smiled. “A crush, huh?”
I nodded, laughing softly. “Yeah.”
He rolled onto his side, propping himself up on one elbow. “You’ve always had a way of drawing my attention, Stormi. Even when I didn’t want to look.”
His words caught me off guard, and I felt my cheeks heat. I tried to play it off with a joke. “Well, I’m glad noticing me.”
A
uld annoy you into
Elijah laughed, the sound deep and rich. It was rare to see him this unguarded, and I found myself captivated by the sight.
For a moment, neither of us spoke, the silence between us comfortable. The air felt charged, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he
felt it too.
