Katarina by Anne K Whelan

Author:Anne K Whelan [Whelan, Anne K]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: AKW Publishing
Published: 2020-05-19T04:00:00+00:00

15

Kaden

Being at the arena with Kat had been… challenging, to say the least. I knew she was capable of so much more than she believed; she’d shown Parker and me that when we practiced at home. Taking her to the arena seemed to have knocked her confidence instead of improving it. She’d been quiet all the way home.

When we got back, Veronica and Deanna came over. While they did their girl talk thing, Parker and I went out to the front of the house. With mugs of coffee, we sat on the steps in the sunshine.

“That could have gone better,” Parker said.

“It could have gone better,” I agreed. “It’s frustrating. Kat has all she needs inside her, but under pressure, I don’t know if she can hold it together. I can’t say I’m not a little worried.”

She had learned magic faster than I thought she would, but it still wasn’t enough. Not when she couldn’t handle even the notion of battling in front of others.

“I’m not worried,” Parker said, his eyes looking straight ahead. “She just needs a little more time. We both know who she is, Kaden. Maybe if you told her, she’d have the confidence to do what we know she can do.”

I glanced at him for a second before taking a sip from my mug. “It’s too soon,” I told him. “She’s already had a lot to take in since she’s been here. She doesn’t need any more big revelations yet. Besides, I want her to learn to believe in herself before she knows the truth.”

Kat had told me a little about her life as an Underling, mostly things about that arrogant girl she was friends with. Rose was not a good person from what I could tell. She’d played on Kat’s insecurities, always making sure that Kat felt as if she were second best. It wasn’t just what she’d told me, though. Underlings were beaten down, frowned upon like they were less than everyone and everything. It was a way of life for them. I needed Kat to find the inner fight I knew she possessed. I wanted it to come from inside her, not from the things I would eventually have to reveal about her.

I’d seen it in her, in the flashes of brilliance she’d shown when we trained together at home. With each victory, her confidence did grow. But that confidence needed to be carried into battle, and she wasn’t there yet.

“You’re right,” Parker said after a minute or two. “She’s had enough to deal with lately. We need to encourage her more. Let her know we believe in her.”

I tried to do that as often as I could, but sometimes I found myself frustrated with her. That was another good reason for having Parker around. He was patient. I would help her as much as I could, but stepping back and letting Parker work with Kat was more beneficial for her. That was the reason I risked splitting myself one more time; to give her the best protection and training I could.

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