Firebolt (The Dragonian Series)(66)

“You're really good at this,” I said, impressed.

“Thanks, Sweetheart. I used to play with a lot of weapons as a kid. My father is one of the best weapon experts in Paegeia. I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” He walked to the target board to retrieve the axe.

I pinched my arm. He was such a god, and I had to make sure that this wasn't a dream. He came back and handed me both axes gently.

“Shall we?” He was formal again and bowed in front of me.

“Just go easy, please.” I tried to remember what Professor Mia told me and stood up straight, not taking my gaze away from him.

“Okay.” He dropped his sword and picked up a shield. “Tell you what; you just swing away until you get the hang of it.”

I blew out a big gush of air and my hands trembled, but I decided to try it. I swung at him with the axe in my right hand and took my eyes off him for one second. He blocked my blow with his shield while stepping forward. With one push of his shield, I fell on my butt.

“Why are you holding back?” He lowered his shield and lent me a helping hand.

“It doesn't feel right; you don't have any weapon to fight back,” I complained, and put both axes down on the ground to accept his hand.

He pulled me up. “You rather I pick up the sword again? It's hardly a fight, Elena?” His smile went straight to his eyes, which made me want to grab him.

“Fine, don't complain if I hurt you.”

He shook with laughter, making me feel like an idiot.

“With weapons, not easy,” he teased.

I squinted, raising the axe in my right hand, keeping the left back, holding it defensively as I crouched low and approached him. The axes felt good in my hands, much lighter than Excalibur. My quick attacks surprised Lucian, judging by the look on his face, though my blows rattled off his shield harmlessly.

Somehow, I knew what to do next, as if the axes and I were meant to be together. When pain grew in my side, we stopped.

He didn't speak but stared at me with huge eyes. We burst into laughter.

“That really felt good.”

“I think you've found your weapons. You're really good with them, Elena.”

I hated compliments but had to admit it felt great. Becky might be right about this class becoming my favorite.

“Beginners luck.”

“There's no beginners luck in fighting, only in gambling.” We started again when the pain in my side faded.

He was better prepared this time and blocked all my blows, except the last one where he tripped over his own feet. “Dammit, Elena! Whoa!”

My stomach did a double somersault.

Damn, this is fun. Who would have thought?

The third time, he didn't fall, but it was a hard and long fight. When we’d had enough, we were both breathless. I couldn't believe it felt so easy now that I’d finally found the right weapons. They were going to be my twins, and we would never be separated, that is if someone didn't take them from me because they used to be Queen Catherine's.

“Do you think Professor Mia knows about them?” I asked Lucian as I put the axes back in the cupboard with the other weapons.

“I have no idea. She should know, but then I’ve never seen them before, so she might not.” He was no longer out of breath, but his skin glistened with sweat.

We walked hand in hand to the main building, chatting about our session. I could tell that he truly enjoyed it, and I couldn’trecall a time when I’d seen him this excited.

Satisfaction was a sweet feeling, and it made me feel as if I was finally getting somewhere. I found my second wind and ran up the stairs to my room. I reached the fourth floor in no time. A smile ran across my face as I thought about Lucian. I was crazy about him,and I’d never felt anything like this before. For the love of blueberries, why did he have to be a prince?

I took a shower and couldn't wait to tell Becky and Sammy about the axes.

Sammy came in first after her drama lesson. Her eyes lit up as I told her about my little discovery.

We both fell silent as the door opened and we watched Becky drag a huge saddle into our room.

She smiled from ear to ear and her face looked flushed.

“That. Was. Amazing!” She left the saddle by the door, threw a pair of flying shades that could easily be mistaken for swimming goggles on top of her dresser, and collapsed on her bed.

“You finally rode George?” Sammy said.

“Yes, and it's the best feeling in the world. I can’t explain it.” She turned around and rested her head on her one arm to look at us. “Lift off was really scary. I didn’t like the speed at first, and George must have sensed it somehow, because he slowed down until I was ready for more. He took me high above the clouds,and I actually wanted to cry when Master Longwei told us to go back.”