Fires of War (War and Deceit #4) - Erin O'Kane Page 0,37

told me we were going for another run, but he instructed me to bring my staff. He’d been quiet, but I could feel his eyes on me as we ran, and when I stumbled and had to stop to catch my breath, he didn’t chastise me. As we ran, I realised he was taking me back to the valley, his quiet place, and that made me look at him in a different light. I’m not sure why, but the fact he’s willing to share it with me, to train me here, means something to me. We made our way past the ridge we stood on yesterday and ran along a winding path down to the bottom of the valley.

He hasn’t said a single word to me since we left the tribes, which is not all that unusual, but he also hasn’t been scowling at me. I would have asked him why he was acting so…different, but as soon as we reached the bottom of the valley, he started my training immediately.

“No,” he corrects, and the sound of footsteps has me raising my head to find him offering me his hand. “You are just too slow.” Frowning, I take his hand, standing up with a groan as my body protests. Eldrin crosses his arms over his chest again, looking stern as I brush myself down. “You’re not using your fae abilities,” he accuses.

Sighing, I look away, staring at the small copse of trees in the distance. I’ve been unable to access my speed and strength like I had yesterday, much to my disappointment. I brace myself for his abuse, for him to berate me and tell me I’m useless.

“You’re fast for a human, but you won’t win against an elf.”

Shocked at the partial compliment, I turn to look at him, only to find him staring at me intently. He seems to be waiting for something, some sort of reaction from me, but as I continue to stare at him in confusion, he takes another step towards me, his anger rising now. “If I wasn’t holding back, I would have killed you.” He emphasises the words to get his point across, but I don’t react.

What is going on with him today? He’s been quiet, but he usually picks fights with me every other conversation. Even during my training when I’m not doing what he says, he’s scolding me, but with none of the bite I typically expect from him.

Shaking my head, I pick up my staff, ready to go should I need to. “What’s going on?” My eyes skim over him. He looks tense, although my question seems to surprise him. “Why are you being nice to me?”

“You think this is nice?” he queries with a short laugh. Ignoring the flip in my chest at the sight of his smile, I arch a single eyebrow. He knows exactly what I’m talking about. Taking in my expression, he frowns again and nods his head once, letting out a frustrated breath. “I’m not very good at this… I heard what you said the other night, and I want to be worthy of a place at your side, even if friendship is all that is… I’m trying.”

His words floor me. Is this really Eldrin? The same elf who regularly instigates fights and is sullen and rude? I can’t even begin to describe how much his declaration means to me. He’s centuries old, set in his ways, and has even more emotional baggage than I do, but he’s willing to try and change for me.

Without even realising what I’m doing, I take a step towards him, reaching out. “Eldrin…” I don’t know what I would have done if I touched him, but the desire to be closer to him, to show him what his words mean to me are driving my actions. There’s a look of longing on his face, but at the last second, he turns and starts walking away from me, leaving my hand grasping empty air. Frowning at the disappointment piercing my chest, I stand and watch him.

Glancing over his shoulder, he realises I’m not following and frowns, gesturing for me to hurry up. “Come. Let’s try something else,” he demands. His voice is back to normal, that soft tone he used is gone, and it snaps me into action.

Minding my staff, I jog to his side, watching him out of the corner of my eye. “No more fighting?” We’re walking towards the small grove of trees, which surprises me. We’ve never done