A Touch of Gold and Madness by K.L. DeVore

Author:K.L. DeVore [K.L. DeVore]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: K.L. DeVore
Published: 2023-11-06T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 32

Gray

The next morning, I arrived heavy-eyed in the combat training arena. Pink hues peeked on the horizon, and the cold air seeped into my bones. I desperately craved the warm comfort of the jacuzzi in my bathroom oasis. The leggings and long-sleeved tee I wore provided little protection from the chill.

The arena was yet another wooden structure built by the Elementals. Chrome explained this to me yesterday during our tour of the property. It wasn’t designed like the lodge, where it breathed comfort and home. This place smelled of musk and vengeance.

Like the lodge, beautiful log beams lined the high, vaulted ceilings, but that’s where the similarities ended. There were no wall windows, decorative staircases, or natural oasis embracing its comforting arms around the building. Windows were kept to a minimum and installed near the ceiling. It was an open arena split up into designated sections for training. This place was designed for war prep.

Dummies bordered the oak walls. White lines marked the entire floor with sparring circles. A hallway led to the entry of the training room, where all the weapons were stored and cleaned.

Rows upon rows of built-in nooks stored a cache of various small blades near the dummies. Sorted by their blade styles and sizes, I selected an array to test—three knives, two daggers, and five throwing stars—and slid them into my weapons belt. I backed up to the marker line on the floor to stand near the opposite wall.

I hadn’t stretched, but it didn’t matter. In real-world situations, I never got the chance to warm up before a fight. I wielded the knife in my hand, growing familiar with its hilt in my palm. Its blade had a slight curve to it, making it different from what I was accustomed to. The throwing blades Kinetics used are shaped similarly to the kunai. Its blade weight was heavier, whereas the one I held was lighter and more balanced.

I closed my eyes and breathed in deeply, imagining the knife’s tip piercing my target between the eyes. I shifted my body into the proper stance, holding the hilt in the correct grip. When I opened my eyes, I released my breath. On the exhale, I launched the knife with power and ease. It cleaved the air apart while it sailed and rotated into the target. It didn’t hit the perfect mark, but it was close. The curve and the weight difference in the blade threw me off.

Void’s baritone voice vibrated through the weapons’ area. “Not bad for changing blade styles.”

Elementals strolled in as others prepped their blades and stretched their muscles to begin their training for the day.

Void stood off to the side of the blades’ cache with his dark, corded arms crossed over his chest. His vacant stare assessed me, and I squirmed under his scrutiny. He’d pulled his locs back into a low ponytail that draped down his back.

I shrugged. “Throwing blades have always been my favorite.”

He maintained his vacant stare. “You are too unaware of your surroundings,” he finally said after several quiet beats.

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