“What are you doing here?” Vaela stepped towards Timura. There was something about her eyes. Something different. Harder than when Vaela had last seen her. Or maybe just tired? It hadn’t been that long since she’d been on the brink of death.

Shadows still clung to Timura’s legs, like a skirt made of darkness. She waved a hand at the Shadows–a banishing motion. The Shadows fell away and sank into the ground. She wore a dark cloak that almost melted into her dark hair.

The figure Vaela had seen in the alley. How long had she been following them?

Timura strode forward until she was in front of Vaela. No, it wasn’t her imagination. Timura’s face was sharper, her cheekbones more prominent. That injury had taken a toll on her. The softness had been burned away. But her eyes had that same determined look back in the Hoops arena. She grabbed Vaela’s hand. “You left me in Xufont.”

A lump formed in Vaela’s throat and she nodded. Was this it? Timura had come to yell at her. For abandoning her while she laid, barely alive, in the Healer’s tent. For taking her dream and setting off with Hermit to train. For stealing her destiny.

Timura smiled and squeezed Vaela’s hand. “Thank you.”

Vaela drew back, her hand jerking away, but Timura held it tight. “You aren’t mad?”

Timura laughed. “Oh, I was plenty mad! After all we’d been through, I’d thought…” Her fingers brushed along Vaela’s palm and Vaela swallowed hard. Timura shrugged with one shoulder and released her hand. “Well, never mind that. Yeah, I was mad.” She put her hands on Vaela’s shoulders. “But when I calmed down, I realized why you did it.”

“I-I’m sorry.”

Timura shook her head. “You were protecting me. Just like before. Like always.” She leaned even closer, their faces almost touching. “So I decided I wouldn’t give up. I couldn’t give up. I’m here.” Her eyes burned with fervor, almost uncomfortable in its intensity. “For my dream. For you.”

Too dangerous. Even before, when Vaela thought only Kaverlna and some Church cronies would be chasing them, she’d left Timura behind to protect her. So much had already changed. It wasn’t a disgruntled priestess hounding them. If Hermit was to be believed, it was one of the Twisted themselves.

But could she truly stand in the way of Timura’s dream? It had been one thing to make the decision for her when Timura had been unconscious. Now here she was, awake and willing.

Vaela’s throat eased and her shoulders relaxed under Timura’s hands. Surely Timura could train with them? Grow stronger and tame her Power. Yes, she could fill Timura in on only the details she needed. That should be all righ–

“Vaela?” Adyr’s voice echoed from the next room.

Vaela jolted and stumbled back a step, breaking contact with Timura. She glanced at the double doors, her heart slamming against her chest. Adyr!

Timura stepped in close, her voice low. “Vaela, do you understand me?” Adyr called out again and a flicker of annoyance raced across Timura’s face. “What does she want? Can’t she figure out a simple bath on her own?”

“You can come in. I-I’m ready.” Nervousness and eagerness twined through Adyr’s voice.

Timura’s eyes slid back to Vaela, her face calculating. “She wants you to join her.” She stepped back, Shadows licking up from the floor.

Vaela reached out. “Timura.”

Timura’s nostrils flared, her chest heaving. “I’m here. Whether or not you want me. And I will get stronger.”

Stolen story; please report.

“Look, just listen to me. I want you here. We can train together. But…” Vaela’s eyes strayed to the bath doors. How did she explain without hurting Timura? That Adyr made her skin tingle, her blood race.

Timura hugged her arms around herself, the Shadows swirling at her legs. “I see.” She stepped towards the door, but spun and skirted in a sharp arc around Vaela.

What was she doing? Vaela turned and caught Timura’s arm. “Stop!”

Timura ripped her arm free and shoved her way past the double doors. They slammed open, clacking off the walls, the sound echoing through the cavernous room.

Adyr jumped, her body jolting in the water. “Vae–” Her eyes widened as Timura stormed in and Adyr retreated several steps through the water. “Who are you?”

Timura walked up to the edge of the bath, glaring down at Adyr. Vaela raced to her and grabbed her arm. Timura pulled herself free once again and snorted at Adyr. “So you’re her.” Adyr covered her chest and backed up until her back hit the lip of the bath. The water around her stopped steaming and Ice hardened around her hand where it poked above the surface. Timura squatted down and whipped her cloak behind her. Shadows lapped at her shoulders like black flames. “I’m Timura. And I’ll be joining you.” She dipped a hand into the water and scooped some out. It trickled from her cupped palm and she shook the droplets off. “Later.” She rose and spun, her cloak swooshing as it whipped out. The motion fanned the last of the steam across the surface of the water. She walked to the doors and faced Vaela. “I’ll be back with my stuff tomorrow.” She pulled the doors closed.

A thin layer of Ice formed around Adyr across the once-steaming bath. “Who was that?” Her voice was tight like her throat was constricted.

Vaela extended her palms out towards her. “I can explain.”

Adyr smashed her fist into the layer of Ice, shattering it. “WHO?”

Vaela cringed and sat down, hugging her knees. She deserved to know. If they truly were going to train together. And it’s not like anything happened between her and Timura. Or that anything remained.

Her lips buzzed with the memory of Timura’s lips against hers, the Shadow in her blood calling out to Vaela–eager, willing. How it had felt to have Timura’s essence inside her. The exhilaration of Power. More than Power. Of knowing. Knowing someone so completely, so deeply their very emotions rushed through your own body. Vaela closed her eyes. “She’s a friend.”

“A friend?” Water trickled back into the bath, then dripped onto the floor. Vaela opened her eyes to Adyr standing out of the bath and pushing to her feet. Some drops of water Frosted to Ice and tinkled against the floor. Adyr’s eyes were an ocean of hurt. She retrieved her clothes and walked to the doors.

Vaela stood. “Wait. Listen, there’s nothing–”

“I’m going to train.” Adyr pulled one of the doors open. “I suggest you do the same… Champion.” She slammed the door closed behind her.

Vaela pressed her palms against her eyes and fought to control her breathing. She’d dragged Adyr with her, from the life she’d known, into all sorts of danger. And now with Timura here…

But she couldn’t send Timura away. She had a right to follow her dream.

How could she possibly stand in the way of that?

Vaela tore the tunic off over her head and kicked her boots and pants aside. No plumes of steam emanated from the bath anymore. She slid into the cool water. The top layer was still cold where Adyr’s Ice melted. Vaela wrapped her arms around her body and waded to where Adyr had stood. A few thin rafts of Ice bobbed from her movements. She picked one up, the cold stinging her fingertips.

Timura had seemed different. At first impression, she looked more worn–not fully recovered from the fight. But now, Vaela wasn’t so sure. She hadn’t seemed weak or tired. Almost… hardened. Like she’d been broken down, but reforged into a denser whole.

And her command of the Shadows. It was better than before. Could she already be stronger as well?

The Ice melted between Vaela’s fingers and slid down her arm to rejoin the water. What had Hermit said about which Power to choose to train?

Yes–pick a Power based on the blood she’d have access to. Adyr’s Ice would be strong, but she could never ask Adyr to Sacrifice to her. Not after what she’d been through. And Hermit’s Shadow was a natural choice, though fearsome to tame even a portion of it. Not like Timura’s. If she used her blood, Shadow might come to her faster. And wasn’t that what she wanted? The Power to be invulnerable. To never be hurt again.

Maybe this was for the best. A lump formed in Vaela’s throat and her chest tightened. She hugged herself and stared at the doors where Adyr had left. Maybe she and Timura were just right for each other.

Vaela rubbed her palms over her upper arms, causing water to swirl around her. It was chilly from the melted ice and she leaned against the wall of the bath. Her heart pounded through her chest, circulating warm blood through her body. The effects of Adyr’s Power pressed around her and goosebumps prickled along her arms.

She didn’t mind the cold.