Once in a Dragon Moon - Ophelia Bell Page 0,19

added, standing to clear the dishes.

“Not necessary,” Jacob said. “We agreed we’d hire a housekeeper when we found a new trainee so we could all focus on training. I made a few calls, and someone’s coming in an hour to start taking care of cleaning and whatever else we need. All three of us are fully dedicated to Ksenia from here on out.”

He gave Ksenia an indulgent smile that was a far cry from the broody, overthinking man he’d been last night when he’d caught Teague kissing her. In fact, Gunther hadn’t seen Jacob filled with so much enthusiasm for getting down to the training gym in months. Not since before they discovered Silver Fangs’ deception.

Gunther nodded. “Then let’s get to it.”

“Come on, gorgeous,” Teague said, pushing his chair back and reaching for Ksenia’s hand.

She eyed him with amusement and shook her head. “Wow, a girl could get used to being catered to.”

“Give it fifteen minutes and you won’t feel so pampered anymore,” Teague promised.

True to Teague’s word, less than half an hour later, Ksenia’s cheeks were flushed and her skin coated in sweat as Jacob put her through her paces on the obstacle course he’d set up on the sand outside the gym. The lake shore was the perfect stand-in for the arena, and they took full advantage of it. Watching her run, jump, and tumble, pretty much obeying each and every one of Jacob’s commands with ease, made Gunther even more sure that this match had to be destiny.

Still, he was impressed that she didn’t make a peep about some of the more demanding challenges. The climbing wall was the one that had slowed down the wolf brothers, but Ksenia leaped to grab the handholds several feet above her as if gravity was merely a suggestion. She clung to the big wooden contraption, only slowing to find her footing when the jutting angle of it exceeded ninety degrees, shooting out over the water. It had been his idea to construct the wall that way, since falls were inevitable and it would be better if their trainees didn’t get gravely injured while they were still learning. The water would still hurt from that height, but it wouldn’t break any bones.

“My word, I think she’s going to make it on her first try,” Jacob murmured as Ksenia slowly and methodically worked her way to the lip of the ledge. “Maybe she doesn’t need to shift at all. Look at her go.”

But just as she was making her way the last few grueling feet along the hardest part of the overhang, one hand slipped. Gunther’s heart leaped into his throat as she caught air. Teague covered his mouth with one hand, a muffled curse emanating from behind his fingers.

Gunther winced, preparing for the inevitable splash when she hit the water, but a split-second later, enormous bronze wings erupted from Ksenia’s shoulders, slicing through the pair of slots built into the back of her armor just for that purpose. She shot up with ease, landing on the top with her wings still visible, but folded behind her.

“Well, fuck me sideways,” Gunther muttered.

“Yeah, I guess we don’t have to worry about whether she can command her dragon well enough to selectively shift.”

She grinned down and waved at them from high atop her perch, then called out, “What the hell, guys? You look like you’re surprised I could fly. I am a dragon, after all.”

7

Ksenia

“Who are you?” Teague marveled when Ksenia landed in front of them, opting to fly down rather than climb.

She gave him a bemused look. “You know my name, or did all the sex last night turn your brain to mush?” She patted him lightly on the cheek.

Jacob chuckled. “After your tryout, we were worried you couldn’t selectively manifest your dragon. That we’d have to teach you how. There were so many moments when you could have gained an advantage yesterday if you had.” He just stood there, shaking his head and regarding her like he was seeing her for the first time.

Ksenia frowned. “Why is that such a marvel? I’ve been doing that since I was a kid. It’s something my clan’s fighting masters teach the aspiring hunters from an early age. But I don’t use those tactics if I don’t need them. You didn’t see me lose yesterday, did you?”

Not to mention she and her friends had agreed they wouldn’t shift unless absolutely necessary. Now that she was mated to these three, she’d opted to test them with a