“Arwyn! Raydir! Where have you been?” Rosie shrieked when she saw us. I had successfully changed back into my clothes and given Raydir his shirt before we walked back toward the cabins.

“What is it, Rosie? We were just out at the lake,” I replied.

“So you didn’t see it?” she asked. Her lips dipped into a frown. “The rogue?”

Raydir tightened his grip around my waist. “That was a rogue?”

Rosie sighed. “You saw it. But you’re unharmed? It didn’t attack you?” Her voice was riddled with concern. “Come, let’s discuss this inside.”

Without another word, we followed her into a room off to one side in the Grand Cabin. Inside, we were met a handful of folks from the valley. Amongst them, I recognized Bennett, Caesaria, and Darius.

Great. Just what I need right now.

“We’ll begin the meeting now,” Rosie stated, taking a seat at the head of the table. She gestured to a few empty chairs, and Raydir and I took a seat next to each other. “Now, Raydir and Arwyn, could you please tell the council what you saw out at the lake?”

I swallowed and looked at Raydir.

He gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. “Certainly. Arwyn and I were swimming at the south end of the lake. We saw the rogue stalking along the bank. It regarded us, but kept a reasonable distance.”

“Did you engage with it?” Darius asked.

What is he doing here? I thought to myself.

My job.

I stifled a yelp with a cough, waving my hand for Raydir to respond. What the hell? I thought you said our connection was supposed to go away after the alignment?

“We assessed the situation, and I instructed Arwyn to use her powers to keep it at a distance,” Raydir replied, frowning at me.

Darius rolled his shoulders. Guess I was wrong.

Another hand squeeze from Raydir. “Once she trusted herself, she was able to conjure a water funnel to scare off the rogue. Luckily, it worked, and the rogue skulked off into the woods somewhere.”

You lied to me, Darius.

“And did you see which way the rogue went?” Rosie asked.

Raydir glanced at me then back to Rosie. “No, we were more focused on getting away safely.”

“I see.” Rosie clasped her hands in front of her.

Darius shot me a look. This isn’t the right time, Ar.

Raydir nudged me with his foot and threw me a look as if to say, cut it out. “What do we know about the rogue? Besides the information I just told you.”

“Rogues are more dangerous than either type of wolf we have in the valley,” Bennett explained. “And they only develop when someone has fully succumbed to their inner wolf.”

You can’t really expect to keep delaying this, can you? I paused, my eyes snapping to attention. “So, they attack often? My father wasn’t the first attack? Of course he wasn’t, what was I thinking, my sister was.” I turned to Bennett. “My sister was attacked by a rogue, did you know that? When your carriage went down and she died, that was because of a rogue.”

Bennett nodded carefully. “I know. And I’m sorry I could not tell you. It’s been so important to get the facts that we have before we worried you with anything.”

I froze. “What do you mean?”

“There might be a connection between the attacks.”

Dread filled my heart. “Oh my God. The rogue, it’s going after my family, isn’t it?”

Silence fell over the room.

“Answer me, dammit!” My voice shook with fear. I couldn’t lose anyone else.

“It’s okay, Ar.” Raydir wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close to his chest so that I could hear his heartbeat.

“Yes, we believe that’s a possibility,” Rosie said.

“What do I need to do?” I asked.

“What?” Bennett asked, clearly surprised.

“The training. I told Cae I wanted to train, and she said the Council has already approved it. I want to protect my family, I want to learn how to fight. So what do I need to do?”

“Arwyn, you must understand that you can’t fight this rogue on your own,” Rosie said.

I raised my eyebrows. That didn’t sound like she was trying to talk me out of it. “I understand that. You’ve built this community out here in the valley, and if my father and sister really were targets, I might be next. Which means I’m in danger. The valley is in danger. We need to do something about it. So, I’m in. I want to learn how to control my powers.”

“Controlling your powers is different from learning to fight,” Bennett clarified. “The Council agreed for you to undergo power control, not combat training.”

Raydir rested his hand on top of mine on the table. “They’re right, Ar. Right now, you need to focus more on your powers. Combat training can come later.”

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

I opened my mouth to protest, but Caesaria stopped me. She glanced at the other council members. “We need to make a decision about who will train you to control your powers. The council has already discussed Darius as your best option.”

I shook my head. “Anyone but Darius. Cae can train me.”

She put her hands up in defense. “Sorry, Ar. I can’t train you. Conflict of interest. Same with Bennett.”

“And Darius isn’t a conflict of interest?” I blurted before I could stop myself. Clearing my throat, I continued. “I just mean while I do personally know Darius, he’s new to the valley. Wouldn’t it make more sense for me to train with someone else more experienced?”

“I could do it,” a girl’s voice piped up.

I swiveled in my chair to see the healer who’d helped us the day I’d brought Darius in when I shot him in the arm.

She sent a smile my way. “Rosie, I have the training that Arwyn would need and I’m happy to help her out.”

“What about the medical cabin, Izel?” Raydir asked her.

Izel shrugged. “You did both. Why can’t I?”

“I’m with Izel on this,” I said. “She can train me.”

Rosie pursed her lips then sighed. “It’s…a consideration. Arwyn, this isn’t a choice we make lightly. It’s understandable, your hesitation to let Darius train you. But we now have an impending danger which means you can’t be picky about who trains you. You already discovered your powers, and control is the hardest part. Especially in the face of danger.”

“So then why Darius? Like I said, he only just got to the valley recently, and suddenly he’s like this god who must be worshipped.”

Caesaria shot me a look while Darius smirked, looking way too pleased with himself. I sent him a glare from across the table.

Don’t you dare say anything.

Wouldn’t dream of it.

“Darius is the best option because he seems to be connected to you. And having lived as a wolf since he was a child, he has more knowledge about control than all of us combined. Plus, he was the one who suggested it.”

What?!

Darius snapped his eyes up to look at me.

I locked my gaze with his. “If I agree to have Darius help control my powers, will you find me another trainer for combat? Maybe Izel?”

“Arwyn, we don’t think that combat training is the right fit for you right now,” Bennett said.

“Why not? What good is controlling my powers if I can’t fight too?”

“She has a point,” Darius piped up. “Even if it’s mild combat training, it might still be a good idea. I’ve seen what she can do with a bow and arrow; it’s impressive.”

Flattering me now, are we?

Just trying to get you what you want.

“Fine. Arwyn, we will grant you a vote in this decision.” Rosie cleared her throat. “All in favor of letting Arwyn complete mild combat training in addition to power training?”

Out of the seven of us, four hands went up. Me, Darius, Caesaria, Izel, and Rosie.

“All of those opposed?”

The remaining two hands went up. Raydir and Bennett.

“It’s settled then. Arwyn, you will begin combat training tomorrow morning. We will find you a trainer. Darius will still help you with power control. In the meantime, let us know if you see the rogue again. It’s very important that we get this situation under control as quickly as possible.”

“Agreed,” Bennett said. “Meeting adjourned.”

Everyone began to stand up and scatter. Everyone except for me, Raydir, Caesaria, and Darius. You could seriously cut the tension in here with a knife.

“Well, this has been fun,” Izel said. “But I have dinner plans with a friend.” She got up from the table and left the rest of us alone to talk.

“Um, Arwyn, can I talk to you outside for a minute?” Caesaria asked, not waiting for an answer before dragging me outside.

“If this is about me not accepting Darius as my trainer, I’m sorry about that, but I just can’t—”

“He’s a god who needs to be worshipped? Seriously Arwyn!” She lowered her voice. “Did something happen in Gwyniar? Are you having second thoughts about Ray?”

I winced. She was right, and I hated when she was right. “No, nothing happened to make me second guess my relationship. I didn’t know what else to say. I just don’t understand how or why we’re connected.”

“Well, clearly you still have your mind connection with him.”

“Clearly. Wait, what? You can tell?”

“Oh come on, Ar. You are not subtle at all. Your face gives it away, any time you link him you scrunch your nose like you’re trying to make a sneeze go away.”

“I’m not that obvious. Am I?”

Caesaria patted my arm. “Don’t worry, Ar. Darius is clueless about these sorts of things.”

She bit her lip. “Anyway, I know this isn’t exactly the most ideal situation, but Darius isn’t going anywhere.”

“Yeah, unfortunately we’re stuck with him.” I muttered.

Her blue eyes locked on a spot somewhere behind me. “Promise me something, Arwyn?”

I raised my eyebrows. “Yeah?”

“Promise me you won’t let Darius come between you and Raydir.” She rested her hand on my arm.

“I promise. Ray isn’t going anywhere.”

But neither is Darius, the voice in my head taunted.

***

“You’re really going to do this, Arwyn?” Raydir asked me as I dressed the following morning.

I pulled on a corset vest—courtesy of Caesaria—and checked my reflection in the mirror. “I have to, Ray. I don’t really have a choice.” I kissed his cheek. “But I also have you if things get too intense, right? You can heal me.”

Raydir smirked, pulling me close to him. “I do have my ways.” He leaned down and captured my bottom lip between his teeth, tugging slightly as my fingers tangled their way into his hair.

“Mm, Ray, I really do have to go.”

“Pity.” His thumb brushed against the fabric under my breasts.

Just when I was about to blow off training to spend a little extra time in bed with Raydir, someone pounded on the door to our cabin. Given the circumstances, the last time that had happened, we hurried over to open it.

A guy from the valley I didn’t recognize stood in the doorway looking flustered as his gaze dropped to the floor then quickly back to my eyes.

“Um, Arwyn?” he asked. “I’m Fletcher, your trainer.”

My eyes swept over the guy at the door, glanced at Raydir, then back to the guy. “You’re my trainer?” Fletcher was about my height with sandy blonde hair that flopped into his eyes. He kind of reminded me of a puppy dog.

The guy nodded. “Yeah.”

I glanced at Raydir who just nodded. “Where do we start?”

He led me from the cabin, and we walked to a clearing. “You’re an acquator, right? Water bender?”

I nodded. “Yes. Have you trained a water bender before?”

“You’re actually my first water bender trainee. But it should be fun.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Because?”

He flicked his wrist, summoning a ball of fire. “I’m an ignitus. Fire bender. It’s the perfect contrast to the acquator.”

“I thought Darius was going to do my power training.”

“He will. We’re just starting with a few basics and then we’ll eventually put what you learn with your powers to use in combat.” Fletcher held out a hand. “Shall we?”

It was now or never. This was my chance to prove myself, to prove I could do more than sit on the sidelines because that wasn’t who I was. I needed this more than anything.