CHAPTER 444: THE UNSTOPPABLE MATES

Evaline:

Sunday came far too quickly, and apparently, so did my training schedule.

I barely had time to breathe before Kieran was standing by the doorway, arms crossed and that familiar unreadable expression on his face that told me there was no use in arguing.

By the time I was done with the breakfast, he had already packed a small bag for me and was waiting near the door.

"Elder Ren is expecting us," he said simply, and that was that.

I bid my little boy and my mates goodbye before following Kieran out of the house.

The car ride was quiet. Outside, the early morning mist still clung to the trees and fields. The air was crisp, cool enough that I could see faint puffs of my breath on the window. I tried to relax, watching the scenery glide by, but my thoughts wouldn’t settle.

Kieran glanced my way once, his hand resting loosely on the wheel. "You didn’t sleep enough last night."

I turned toward him, trying to sound light. "How could I, when your brothers wouldn’t let me?"

His lips curved faintly, a teasing glint flashing in his eyes before returning to their usual calm. "I didn’t hear you complain then."

"No," I said softly, looking out the window again, "I didn’t."

When we reached Elder Ren’s clinic, the familiar scent of herbs hit me immediately. The old healer greeted us with a smile that didn’t quite hide his sharp gaze.

"Good, you are here," he said, motioning for me to follow him inside. "Let’s see how your control has improved since Friday."

Kieran again found his spot under the old tree in the backyard. He never interfered when Elder Ren trained me, but I could always feel his eyes on me - watchful, protective, sometimes a little too intense.

Once again a line of villagers was waiting in there. Some were old, some young, all with injuries or ailments that needed attention. I swallowed, suddenly feeling the weight of their expectant eyes.

"Start with her," Elder Ren said, nodding toward a young woman with a bandaged arm. "Remember what I told you last time - focus your intent first, not your power. And trust your power."

I nodded and knelt in front of the woman. Her arm trembled slightly as I reached out, peeling the edge of the bandage away. The wound underneath was deep but clean, already healing. Still, the pain was clear in her eyes.

I took a deep breath and placed my hand gently over the wound. Warmth spread from my palm, faint and golden at first, then brighter, pulsing with my heartbeat. The air around us shifted, thickened. The familiar hum of my power grew in my veins... soft at first, then stronger, demanding, exhausting.

The woman gasped softly as her skin began to knit together beneath my touch.

When it was done, she flexed her hand in disbelief. "It’s... gone."

I smiled weakly. "You’ll still need to rest it for a day or two."

Elder Ren nodded approvingly but didn’t let me rest. He brought the next one - a child this time, coughing harshly. Then another, a man with a burn on his leg. Then another.

By the time I finished the sixth, my vision had started to blur around the edges. My hands were trembling. The energy that had burned so warmly at first was now fading fast, draining from me with every touch.

Elder Ren must have noticed, because he handed me a cup of bitter tea. "Drink this. You are pushing too hard."

I took a sip, grimacing at the taste. "Feels like I have been running for hours."

"That’s because you are trying to heal without pacing yourself," he said calmly. "You can’t pour from an empty vessel, child. Rest for a moment."

I nodded and looked toward the tree, where Kieran still stood. Our eyes met. He tilted his head slightly, silently asking if I was all right.

I managed a faint smile. "I’m fine."

He didn’t look convinced, but he stayed quiet.

We continued until the sun reached its peak. By then, sweat clung to my skin, and I could barely keep my eyes open. My power was still responding to my call, but sluggishly, like a candle burning its last flame. When Elder Ren finally told me to stop, I nearly sagged in relief.

"That’s enough for today," he said firmly. "You have done well."

Kieran stepped forward then, placing a steadying hand on my back. "Are we done?"

Elder Ren nodded. "For today. She’ll need rest and food. I might have a theory about her power, but we will need to test it further."

"We will see you next weekend, Elder." Kieran said before guiding me toward the car.

- - -

But rest, as I found out later, was apparently not part of my destiny.

Barely had I fed Lioren and put him down for his nap when River appeared by the door, arms folded, his expression somewhere between amused and impatient.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Ready for what?" I asked warily, already suspecting the answer.

"Training," he said simply. "Oscar’s already waiting outside."

I groaned softly. "Can I at least pretend I didn’t hear that?"

His lips twitched in that lazy half-smile that always made it impossible to stay annoyed with him. "You could. But then I would have to carry you out there myself."

I gave him a look. "You wouldn’t."

"Try me," he murmured, leaning closer. His voice dropped to a whisper near my ear. "You forget, little mate, I like it when you struggle."

My face warmed instantly, and he chuckled before straightening and opening the door for me.

Oscar was already in the backyard, his shirt gone, sparring staff in hand. The late afternoon sun cast a golden sheen over his skin, highlighting his tattoo, and his eyes lifted when he saw me.

"Took you long enough," he said.

"Maybe because someone didn’t tell me we were training today," I muttered, stepping into the grass.

He smiled faintly, that infuriatingly calm, perfect expression he always had. "You should be used to surprises by now."

River joined him, tossing me a wooden staff. I caught it clumsily, and he raised a brow.

"Your stance first," Oscar said, walking around me, assessing. "Feet apart. Center your balance."

I did as told, adjusting my position. The first few rounds went well enough - simple parries, blocks, and steps. But the exhaustion from earlier was still lingering. My muscles burned with every move, and my focus started slipping.

River noticed, of course. He always noticed.

"You are holding back," he said, blocking my next strike easily. "Stop thinking. Move."

"I’m trying-"

"Don’t try," he interrupted, his tone low, firm. "Do."

Something about the way he said it - steady, commanding - sent a shiver through me.

I exhaled, adjusted my grip, and this time when he lunged, I dodged and countered in one swift motion. The staff met his with a sharp crack that echoed across the yard.

He smiled. "Better."

Oscar leaned against a tree, watching us with an unreadable expression. "You should spar with her next," River said, not taking his eyes off me.

Oscar grinned. "Gladly."

I didn’t even have time to protest before River stepped back and Oscar took his place. Unlike River, who fought with precision and calm, Oscar moved like water - fluid, unpredictable, teasing. Every time I thought I had him cornered, he would slip away, only to appear behind me.

At one point, he caught my wrist mid-swing and twisted, pulling me closer until his breath brushed my ear. "You are tired," he murmured. "I can feel it."

"I’m fine," I said, panting.

He laughed softly. "You are stubborn."

His grip loosened slightly, and before he could blink, I spun and brought the staff to his side, stopping just short of hitting him. His brows lifted.

"Hmm," he said, stepping even closer, the staff now trapped between us. "Maybe not that tired."

"Maybe not," I whispered back.

He leaned down, eyes gleaming. "Careful, dear mate. I might start thinking you are trying to seduce me mid-spar."

Before I could respond, River cleared his throat behind us. "If you two are done flirting, maybe we can continue the lesson?"

Oscar smirked, stepping back. "You are just jealous brother."

River didn’t dignify that with a response, though I caught the faint twitch of his lips.

The session lasted for full two hours before I was finally rescued by Draven.

* * *

Author’s Note:

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