to Fionn. “Nothing will happen to you. I won’t let it.” Her grin was flirtatious. “After all, I’d hate to be deprived of my daily dose of eye candy.”
Fionn’s shoulders relaxed a little and he rolled his eyes. “Stop flirting with me, Rose.”
The eye rolling only made her want to flirt with him more.
As if he sensed this, he sighed in exasperation and strode past her to gesture up at the church. They stood in front of wrought iron gates that guarded the steps up to the entrance. Construction cranes towered between and above the unusual church spires. “It’s time to train.”
Rose stared up at the building. The basilica was incomplete, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t astounding. Gaudí’s design of the Roman Catholic church was like something out of a sci-fi alien flick. Rose glanced from the astonishing architecture to Fionn. “Here?”
“We won’t be interrupted by supernaturals here. They tend to avoid religious places.”
“You mean vampires hating crosses is a real thing?”
Fionn shook his head. “No. Please do not think of fighting a vampire with a cross.” He examined the building. “Many young supernaturals, including witches and warlocks, feel physically discombobulated on hallowed ground. There are a few theories as to why. Mine is that faith en masse creates energy—in a way, its own sort of magic. That energy is strongest in places like churches. I believe it’s an antithesis to the energy supes are created from, the energy witches and warlocks tap into, and that’s why it makes them feel physically discomfited.”
Genuinely intrigued, Rose studied the building. “Why do you think it’s an antithesis?”
“Because human belief in their deities comes from a spiritual plane. Our belief in our magic comes from the natural plane, from what we see with our eyes. The former is faith. The latter involves no faith, merely acceptance. Acceptance is important, but faith, I’ve learned, has its own unique power. At least that is what I’ve surmised over the centuries.” He turned to Rose. “The only supernaturals I’ve seen enter a place of religion are those who have turned to gods to explain their existence.”
“There are supes out there who believe God made them this way?”
He nodded. “They think the stories of the fae are fairy tales. Remember, very few people in the supernatural community believe the origin story is true.”
Well, that made the prospect of going on the run seem a little more plausible if she wasn’t constantly up against fae fanatics. She sighed and studied the basilica. “I don’t feel uncomfortable.”
“You will. And that’s why I brought you here. In a fight, you’ll most likely be outnumbered and thus disoriented. You need to learn to focus through that.”
Aghast at the realization he truly meant to train her inside La Sagrada Familia, Rose gaped. “You can’t train me within the sanctity of a world-famous church.”
“I can and I will.”
“Uh … I’ve been in there, Fionn. There are security scanners, cameras, and a lot of guards.”
Her mentor tsked at her as he stared down in mock disappointment. Then he lifted a hand and waved it comically. “Faerie,” he reminded her.
The whole thing was so un-Fionn-like, Rose couldn’t help a bark of laughter. If anyone looked the opposite of the human depiction of a faerie, it was Fionn Mór.
The lights that lit up the basilica illuminated Fionn’s face and the amusement glittering in his green gaze.
Grinning, she crossed her arms over her chest, waiting for two tourists to stroll out of earshot. “So, what are you going to do?”
“I’m doing it. Their cameras are, as we speak, on a constant loop. Once we get in there, I’ll take out the guards—I’ll just knock them unconscious,” he assured her before she could protest.
“How are you going to do all that if you’re disoriented?”
“My dear Rose.” His tone was exasperated but the endearment still caused a flutter in her stomach. “I’m the oldest motherfucker on this planet. Very little can disorient me.”
That flutter intensified. “I’m not gonna lie … the ‘oldest’ part should put a girl off, but the whole badass immortal thing is pretty hot.”
Fionn closed his eyes and pinched his lips together for a few seconds. When he opened his eyes, his expression was admonishing. “Stop flirting and concentrate.”
She enjoyed irritating him way too much for it to be normal. “I’m a great multitasker. I can do both.”
“If God exists,” Fionn muttered up at the church, “give me patience.”
Deciding to offer him a reprieve, she clapped her hands. “Okay, in all seriousness, if we’re going